January 12, 2010 - Edition 535 TG
Shoptalk

Industry Update

Neg Reg update
For this round of Neg Reg, ED has established two committees, or "teams," to develop proposed regulations on a variety of issues. Team I is discussing issues relating to program integrity. The team has so far reached tentative agreement on the issue of retaking coursework, while other topics remain under consideration.

Loan Purchase Programs update
On January 5, ED published Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans (ECASLA) announcement #79, which announces a 0.71 percent participant yield rate for the quarter ending March 31, 2010.

Reminder: Extenuating circumstances provisions for PLUS loans
The Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act (ECASLA) created a specific expansion of the extenuating circumstances under which a lender may approve a PLUS loan, even if adverse credit is identified in the applicant's credit history for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2008.

Current special allowance rates: quarter ending December 30, 2009
Rates have been announced for the last quarter of 2009.

TG Report

TG to offer financial literacy symposium for proprietary schools in January
TG's first symposium for the year, to be held on January 26 in San Diego, will provide attendees with strategies for building effective financial literacy programs and offer insight into improving existing programs.

TG's Public Benefit Grant Program now accepting Letters of Inquiry from interested institutions
TG is pleased to announce that its Public Benefit Grant Program is now accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects to be funded in the 2010-11 academic year. Application guidelines and materials are available online.

Join TG at Dallas regional training
TG offers a full-day workshop on regulatory and industry topics on Thursday, January 28, at the Dallas Baptist University. Among other things, the training provides an overview of the latest legislative and regulatory developments affecting federal student aid programs.

Help families and students estimate college costs with TG's EFC calculator
To help students and families budget for college expenses, TG's Adventures In Education (AIE™) offers a number of online calculators, including the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, Calculator.

Policy Report

Common Manual updates
Common Manual updates have been approved and incorporated into the Integrated Common Manual.

TG closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
TG will be closed next Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. TG will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, January 19.

Smart Solutions
Offer your students a primer on one of the basic elements of the financial aid process — completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. TG provides this helpful overview through its Adventures In Education Web site.

News Briefs

More families are considering 529 college savings plans that provide a diversity of investments, especially investments in companies that offer eco-friendly products. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, demand has grown among savings plan investors for "green" funds. In response, a number of 529 college savings plans have added more socially responsible investments to their investment rosters. At least one — the District of Columbia College Savings Plan — provides enough funds to create a diverse SRI portfolio. Learn more about the "greening" of 529 college savings plans.