Tech Report

TG to release latest enhancements for AdvanTG Web™ and TG Loans by Web™

Responding to customer need is a cornerstone of TG’s customer-centric product development process. TG’s spring release of AdvanTG Web and TG Loans By Web provides the latest example of that approach.

On April 5, TG will roll out enhancements to both AdvanTG Web and TG Loans By Web. School and lender customers provided many of the ideas for this latest round of changes, including additional fields that make comparing lender benefits easier for borrowers.

TG constantly reviews its products to make sure they’re flexible and meet regulatory requirements. As part of that process, TG surveys schools and lenders, requesting suggestions and feedback. In this way, TG develops products that serve the needs of customers and reflect their priorities.

The following enhancements will be released with the next update of AdvanTG Web and TG Loans By Web.

Changes to AdvanTG Web

Modifications listed here provide schools and lenders with even more flexibility in using the AdvanTG Web product.

• Maximum loan period date edit: The maximum loan period has been extended from one to two years to more closely follow the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
• Disbursements: The late disbursement date has been extended to 180 days after the loan period end date.
• MPN forms updated: Current Stafford Master Promissory Note (MPN) Certifications, PLUS, and Grad PLUS MPN Certifications are to be used with the revised addenda until the revised MPN forms have been finalized by ED.
  • The Stafford MPN expired on February 29; however, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has extended the expiration date to May 31. TG will continue to provide these MPNs and addenda through TG's Application and Printing Service (APPS), located at www.tgslc.org/forms/mpn_index.cfm.
  • Also, effective March 31, TG will begin including a revised Addendum with each PLUS MPN — located at www.tgslc.org/forms/plus_mpn.cfm — generated through TG's APPS. TG's APPS process populates an MPN with information provided by a borrower, and prints and mails that MPN — and the appropriate Addenda — to the borrower for signature. The revised Addendum covers both changes made by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) of 2007. The Addendum currently used only notifies borrowers of changes made by HERA. For more details, review the article in Shoptalk Online edition 441.
• Changes to reports
  • Requested amount and loan period dates have been added on the Application Status Report.
  • AdvanTG Web and Integrated Default Assistant™ (IDA) report headers will display “TG” instead of “Texas Guaranteed” as the source of the reports.

Changes to TG Loans by Web

A number of enhancements in TG Loans By Web and AdvanTG Web will make the application process easier for borrowers.

• Loan Period date sets expanded to 12: TG has expanded the default number of loan periods from 4 to 12. Schools can access the change through AdvanTG Web’s Institution Administration, specifically the LBW Borrower Request School Customized Information screen.
• Auto-dispatch message modifications: TG is committed to protecting borrower confidentiality. Enhancements to TG’s auto-dispatch feature show that commitment. Changes to three auto-dispatch messages — the LBW Certification Initial E-Mail, the LBW Certification Follow Up E-Mail, and the Borrower Initiated Loan Requests-Awaiting Certification — will allow the initial messages to reach the borrower in clear-text format, without encryption, to facilitate the certification of the borrower’s loan. These messages will not contain any specific borrower loan information. Note that post-guarantee messages will continue to be encrypted, since they provide specific financial information regarding a borrower’s loan.
• Lender Comparison of Borrower Benefits: Responding to the need for increased transparency in lender selection and borrower choice, TG has added a new section, “Lender Comparison of Borrower Benefits,” on the Lender List screen. The added section will contain three new fields — “Stafford,” “PLUS,” and “Grad PLUS.” Schools can enter lender URLs into these fields. These URL links are intended to take the borrower to lender comparison sites, such as ELMSelect, Simple Tuition, or other sites, to facilitate actual comparison.
• Duplicate certification requests eliminated: To make the loan submit process more efficient, TG added edits for loan type, school ID, loan period, and loan status. For example, if matches are found, the borrower will be notified of existing request(s).
• Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) file layout changes: TG added support for the 08-09 file layout and will maintain support for 07-08. TG discontinued support of the 06-07 layout.
• New 800 number ready for calls: A new number will be displayed in all locations within TG Loans By Web — (800) 530-1449. The previous number — (800) 845-6267 — will be used to continue to support customer calls with no changes. The new number will add inbound customer call capacity and should contribute to customer satisfaction during peak periods.

Tell us what you think

Be sure to use the Continuous Feedback button throughout AdvanTG Web to provide your thoughts on the latest enhancements. With your help, TG can continue to improve its products and keep up with your changing needs.

Questions?

To learn more, contact TG's product support team at (800) 332-1455, or send an e-mail message to product.support@tgslc.org.

TG offers webinars for latest AdvanTG Web and TG Loans by Web enhancements

Before and after the release of the enhanced AdvanTG Web and TG Loans By Web products, TG will offer training webinars on the latest changes. The webinars will provide users an overview of all modifications to screens and functions and include an opportunity for asking questions.

To attend a webinar

Below, you’ll find a listing of webinar dates. To participate in a particular webinar, visit the TG Online registration page at www.tgslc.org/training/webinars/webinars0804.cfm.

Webinar times

• Tuesday, April 1 Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., CDT
• Wednesday, April 2 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., CDT
• Tuesday, April 8 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., CDT

For more information

If you have any questions regarding upcoming webinars on TG’s electronic products and services, please contact Lisa Felder, TG external product training coordinator, at lisa.felder@tgslc.org.

If you should need technical assistance with TG’s products, contact the product support group at (800) 332-1455, or send an e-mail message to product.support@tgslc.org.

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