March 2, 2010 - Edition 542 TG
Shoptalk

TG Report

2010 TG Annual Training Conference to feature industry experts
For the 2010 TG Annual Training Conference, representatives from the Department of Education (ED), the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and numerous industry and TG experts will present a varied agenda, rich in industry information and timely topics.

TG publishes update of State of Student Aid and Higher Education in Texas
TG has published the February 2010 edition of the State of Student Aid and Higher Education in Texas. The annual publication offers a picture of Texas' higher education landscape, including state versus national educational attainment levels, college costs, financial aid programs, and student indebtedness.

TG redesigns its online customer query tool, Ask TG™
Ask TG™ is TG's online database of financial aid questions and answers for borrowers, families, schools, and students. Ask TG's look has been updated to provide a cleaner design and more user-friendly experience for customers while maintaining the same features and functions.

Industry Update

Foreign schools Neg Reg reaches consensus
The foreign schools team (Team II) of the 2009-10 negotiated rulemaking (Neg Reg) process has concluded its negotiations, successfully reaching final consensus on all of the issues the team deliberated.

ED relocates FAFSA gender question
ED released an electronic announcement regarding the relocation of the question "Are you male or female?" on the 2010-2011 FAFSA on the Web. ED moved the gender question from a location in close proximity to fields that are prefilled with data provided earlier in the process to a more visually prominent location.

Survey on ED servicers to begin March 1
ED posted an electronic announcement regarding the second quarter (January to March 2010) surveys of its servicers beginning March 1, 2010. Per contractual agreement with each servicer, ED will annually measure servicer performance in the areas of customer satisfaction and default prevention, using the results to determine each servicer's allocation of future loan volume.

HRSA extends deadline for Nursing Loan Repayment Program
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has extended the application deadline of its Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) until 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on March 11.

Closed school corner
ED announced one new school closing.

Policy Report

Focusing on prior-holder consumer credit reporting after FFELP loan rehabilitation
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) stipulates reporting requirements for defaulted FFELP loans that have been rehabilitated. Specifically, the guarantor or any other holder that reported a defaulted FFELP loan to a consumer reporting agency must request that the agency remove the default status from the borrower's credit history.

Smart Solutions
Occasionally students and parents turn to alternative, also known as, private loans to help cover educational expenses. Before your students consider alternative loans, make sure they understand the general terms that come with these loans. TG's Adventures In Education offers a short primer on issues to consider in taking out alternative loans. Offer your students this resource as they put together funding for the next academic year.
News Briefs

Immigrants or the children of immigrants make up about one quarter of all community college students in the U.S. A number of community colleges are revamping programs, such as English as a Second Language or ESL coursework, in order to better provide their immigrant students with skills for life in the U.S. Westchester Community College collaborates with a local nonprofit to offer ESL classes to day laborers working in and around Westchester towns. The three-hour classes, provided at discounted tuition, accommodate the schedules of its students, many of whom attend in between jobs. The class atmosphere is open with students coming and going as they are hired. In 2008 Westchester Community College inaugurated the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education with the help of a dozen other colleges. The consortium identifies and promotes practices that serve immigrant students. Learn more about Westchester Community College's approach to serving its immigrant student population.