Federal Updates

ED unveils ARRA Web page
With the passage of the new economic stimulus package, the American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA), ED has created a Web page dedicated to providing information to the education community about the legislation.

ED releases Pell grant charts
ED published a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) announcing the eagerly awaited Pell grant payment and disbursement schedules for the award year of July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. Schools must use these charts in awarding all 2009-10 Pell grant awards for full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, and less-than-half-time students.

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

TG Updates

TG sets varied training schedule for upcoming TG Annual Training Conference
The 2009 TG Annual Training Conference offers over 60 sessions on regulatory topics, industry trends, and professional development. The conference keynote address sets a positive tone with a session on "The 5 Best Decisions the Beatles Ever Made."

Cincinnati organization bridges the "college gap" for first-generation students with help from TG
Less than a quarter of Cincinnati residents who are 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree. Only 18 out of 100 ninth-graders successfully complete four years of college. The Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC), a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting college access among city youth, has designed a program to help raise college enrollment.

College connection: TG reaches out to middle school children and parents with college brochures
TG offers two new brochures that provide information and encouragement to middle school students interested in college.

Trends and Issues

Policy potpourri
Is the new 13-month post-active duty student deferment available to all borrowers who are called or ordered to active duty service while enrolled in an eligible school at the time of, or within 6 months prior to, the activation?

This, That, and the Other...

U.S. News and World Report just issued its annual rankings of the best U.S. colleges and universities. The 2009 list categorizes schools in a number of ways including by business and engineering programs. It also offers some classifications for particular audiences, such as "A+ options for B students," that is, colleges that accept strong students with less than stellar grades; or schools with "academic programs to look for," which are schools that offer programs believed to lead to student success, including internships, study abroad, and service learning.

You can find the complete list at http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college.