Federal Updates

Closed school corner
The Department of Education announces one new closure.

ED announces forthcoming increase in Stafford aggregate for health professions students
Just this week, ED sent a letter to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), stating that it plans to increase the aggregate Stafford loan limit for health professional students.

Third loan issues Neg Reg session concludes, fourth session planned
After making considerable progress toward reaching agreement on agenda items, the student loan issues team wrapped up its third negotiated rulemaking (a.k.a. Neg Reg) session on March 6.

Latest volume of the 2008-09 FSA Handbook now online
ED has released volume 6, Managing Campus-Based Programs, of the new 2008-09 Federal Student Aid Handbook (FSA Handbook).

TG Updates

Focus on success: TG's system integration with Weatherford College
When a school or lender begins using TG's products, TG devotes a team of technology and training specialists to help them. This team makes it their priority to provide effective service so that schools get the best performance from TG's products. Just one example is TG's recent system integration with Weatherford College.

With TG support, Schreiner University's Student Retention and Success Program targets 'first-time, full-time' students
Through its Office of Student Retention and Student Success, Schreiner University offers help to first-time, full-time students, including scholarships for deserving students and a tutoring program on core classes such as English, history, and college algebra. TG provides direct support for both initiatives with a grant from its Public Benefit Grant Program.

Meet Cal Abbott, TG risk manager and volunteer for Mapping Your Future™
Certainly most people would not guess Cal Abbott's hobby when they first meet him. As TG's investment manager and pension committee chairman, and Mapping Your Future's treasurer, Cal seems like the type to play golf in his spare time. But don't look for Cal on the golf course.

Trends and Issues

Question of the week
After reading the Question of the Week in Shoptalk Online edition 445, I understand that the limit for paying minor, prior year charges with current year Title IV funds will be no more than $200 under the new regulations. Does "prior year" mean semester, award year, or academic year; or can it be any of these?

Tech Report

TG makes changes in the Lender Manifest submittal cut-off time
Because of recent system changes, TG's data reporting team has amended its 2008 schedule for reports to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

This, That, and the Other...

Many state universities seek a diverse student body, one that contributes to the school's reputation for attracting the best and brightest. More state universities are looking at ways to attract such students, even reducing the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition in order to bring good students in from across the country.

According to a New York Times article, schools are motivated partly by a desire to raise more money as states reduce support for their higher education programs. Some universities even target specific parts of the country — for example, neighboring states or adjacent communities across a state border. The University of Nebraska at Omaha will discount out-of-state tuition this fall to students from nearby Iowa counties. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last year began allowing most college juniors and seniors from Alabama and Georgia to pay in-state tuition plus just 25 percent of the higher, nonresident rate.

In several states, including Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, public universities have tried to attract nonresidents by charging them lower tuition if they meet minimum scores on tests like the SAT or ACT.

Read the complete article on the topic at www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/education/08states.html?_r=1&st=cse&sq=colleges+reduce+out-of-state+tuition&scp=1&oref=slogin.