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TG Updates

Shoptalk Online 498, April 7, 2009

TG Updates

TG to provide $2 million to students through its Charley Wootan Grant Program for academic year 2009-10

TG has allocated $2 million to the Charley Wootan Grant Program. Of these funds, $1 million will be distributed to Texas students, and another $1 million will be distributed to students in other states, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories, to help pay for college education. Applications for grant consideration will be available beginning April 2, 2009.

The first-come, first-served, need-based grant program will provide up to $4,245 per successful applicant for the 2009-10 academic year. Since 2000, TG has awarded nearly $7.8 million through the program, named in honor of the late Dr. Charley V. Wootan, a former chairman of TG's Board of Directors.

"The Charley Wootan Grant Program has made a significant difference to students in Texas and around the nation," said Sue McMillin, TG's President and CEO. "Through this program, TG is able to help individuals get closer to attaining their higher education dreams. This action helps build a foundation for students in order for them to succeed and contribute to our economic future."

For the 2009-10 academic year, TG will offer grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,245 to qualified undergraduate students. Amounts awarded will be based upon a student's unmet financial need. To become eligible, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet other eligibility requirements.

Grants will be awarded for one year only, but recipients may reapply in subsequent years. The grant program is open to students who:

Are high school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll, or are students already enrolled, at least half time, in an undergraduate course of study for the fall 2009 at a Title IV, two- or four-year college or university, or vocational-technical school.
Demonstrate financial need.
Are eligible to receive Title IV federal financial aid funding.

For the 2008-09 school year, more than 650 students received grants from the program. In all, grants were awarded to students in 46 states. Additional information on last year's typical grant recipient includes the following:

Recipients were always first-generation students. Many were also female.
The average grant award was $3,350.
Adult learners (24 years old or older) made up 15 percent of awardees.

About the grant program
The Charley Wootan Grant Program is independently managed by Scholarship Management Services, a program of Scholarship America, the nation's largest non-profit, private-sector scholarship and educational support organization.

To learn more
For questions, contact TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program manager Robert Westrick by calling (800) 537-4180. Information is also available at www.aie.org.

There is no correlation or connection between TG's selection of recipients for grant awards and an institution's or individual's business relationship or potential business relationship with TG. Participation in TG's Charley Wootan Grant Program does not require or impose any quid pro quo condition.

TG Annual Training Conference offers comprehensive training with multi-track format

Each year, TG offers a training experience designed to appeal to a broad range of financial aid interests, from topics in legislative and regulatory change to default prevention strategies. The 2009 TG Annual Training Conference is another example of this kind of comprehensive approach to training, offering over 50 specialized sessions and workshops covering seven different subject areas, or tracks.

Set to debut on Wednesday, April 22, at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas, TG's three-day conference provides attendees a chance to ask the financial aid questions that matter to them on such topics as the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA), Income-Based Repayment, the latest developments in Washington, and more.

Planning your conference experience
Attendees have their pick of sessions grouped according to focus or track. These sessions are led by TG experts, respected presenters from outside TG, or feature panels of school and lender representatives in discussions moderated by TG. Here's a list of tracks along with a summary session description to serve as an example of track offerings.

FAM systems
Sessions focus on the best practices for using various FAMS. Attendees learn from other users about how a given FAMS interacts with TG's products and services.
Debt management
On the Horizon: A Look at the New Three-Year Cohort Data — Participants will preview the calculation and effects of the new three-year cohort default rate. The workshop also considers preliminary data and focuses on what TG is doing to manage effects of the new calculation.
School interest
Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA) of 2008 — Congress enacted ECASLA to help make funds available to FFELP lenders. Attendees at this session learn the ABCs of ECASLA from a school financial aid administrator's perspective. They also find out what tools and processes that TG and others in the FFELP community are developing to help schools.
Lender interest
Income-Based Repayment — This new repayment option will soon be available to both current and new FFELP and Direct Loan borrowers. Attendees learn more about what "standard-standard," "permanent-standard," and "expedited-standard" mean, and how this new repayment plan will work. They also find out how Income-Based Repayment (IBR) may help schools in delinquency and default prevention efforts.
General interest
Show What You Know: The Policy Game — Participants test their knowledge about recent changes in federal student aid policy, regulations, and law. During this interactive session, attendees use a hand-held device to click their answers to a variety of questions on current federal student aid topics. The session offers a wealth of practical information in an entertaining format.
Professional development
Creativity Workshop — Individuals in endeavors such as financial aid spend so much time encouraging and supporting students that they can forget to nurture themselves. This Creativity Workshop teaches the hows and whys of daily self-nurturing.
TG tools
Change Transactions: The Remix — TG has redesigned its change transaction tool for AdvanTG Web™, providing a more intuitive user experience and consolidating a number of screens to streamline processes. Learn more about the extensive enhancements in this session.

Agenda online
The conference agenda is available online and offers a day-by-day breakdown of sessions according to subject and time. The agenda provides a tool for choosing what sessions to focus on, learning more about keynote speakers, and planning for evening events. Receptions are scheduled immediately following general sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., CDT.

Find out more about this year's varied agenda by visiting TG Online at www.tgslc.org/tgconference/index.cfm.

To register
You can register for the conference at www.tgslc.org/tgconference/register.cfm.

Positive+Balance™ presentation teaches students the value of saving now rather than later

Until recently, Americans tended to save less. Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis show that the average American household put away diminishing amounts over the last twenty years.

Economic shifts have reversed that trend. A survey from First Command Financial Services, a financial planning firm for middle-income families, shows that Americans feel less secure financially as the economy continues to slow. They're being more cautious with their money as a result. In fact, the amount of an individual's savings rose to an average of $901 in September from $756 in August, up nearly 20 percent. Americans also put an average of $863 into retirement accounts, up from $560, an increase of 54 percent.

A positive balance: saving and spending
Positive+Balance™, TG's financial literacy training program, offers help to students just learning the fundamental concepts of saving. What's in Your Piggy Bank? encourages students to make a habit of saving money while they are young.

Students learn how compound interest works and find out how to develop a savings plan to achieve short-term and long-term savings goals.

"Many students find reasons to put off saving until later in life and don't realize that time is money when it comes to saving," says TG's financial literacy program manager Margie Harvey. "Waiting to save is like throwing away free money because of the compound interest that is lost."

The presentation also provides details about different savings instruments, e.g., money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and U.S. savings bonds. Although many students can't afford to save a great deal of money while they are in school or when they first start working, they can begin following smart saving practices.

"If they save at all, regardless of the amount, they will at least get used to the idea of saving," says Harvey. "They might be surprised how much a small amount of savings can grow over time."

TG trainers are available to present What's in Your Piggy Bank?. Presentation slides and an accompanying handout can also be downloaded free of charge from the Positive+Balance Community^SM, TG's online resource for educators and financial aid professionals seeking financial literacy solutions and support.

To learn more
For more information about Positive+Balance, visit TG Online at www.tgslc.org/PositiveBalance. If you would like TG's assistance in developing, implementing, or improving your financial literacy efforts, contact your account executive at (800) 252-9743, or send an e-mail message to positivebalance@tgslc.org.

You'll also find a wealth of information and resources on financial literacy through the Positive+Balance Community. To sign up for a membership, visit www.PositiveBalance.org.

Reminder: Product webinars for enhanced AdvanTG Web™ and TG Loans By Web™ offered

Last week, TG unveiled a variety of enhancements to AdvanTG Web and TG Loans By Web. To help users benefit from these modifications and incorporate them effectively into their loan processing, TG has scheduled various webinars that explain the changes and offer time for customer Q&A.

Webinar times and topics
Webinars reviewing the various changes have been scheduled for each product before and after the new release. Here is a complete list.

Wednesday, April 8, 2 p.m.-3 p.m., CDT: TG Loans By Web's open processing and e-sign options

Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., CDT: TG Loans By Web's open processing and e-sign options (repeat)

Tuesday, April 14, 2 p.m.-3 p.m., CDT: TG Loans By Web open processing, e-sign options, and change transaction redesign

Wednesday, April 15, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., CDT: TG Loans By Web open processing, e-sign options, and change transaction redesign (repeat)

To participate in a webinar
Register for one of the listed webinars at www.tgslc.org/training/webinars/register.cfm.

For help
For questions about TG Loans By Web or AdvanTG Web, please contact TG's product support team at (800) 332-1455, or send an e-mail to product.support@tgslc.org.