Shoptalk 542, March 2, 2010

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. This year's conference will be held from April 7-9 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in Austin.

TG's conference offers opportunities for attendees to learn, discuss, and focus in new ways on helping students attain their educational and career goals in 2010 and beyond. The speaker list below offers a spotlight on a few such presenters. Consult TG's online agenda for the exact place and time of each event.

David Bergeron, acting deputy assistant secretary for policy, planning and innovation, ED — In a general session on April 8, Thursday, Bergeron will provide an ED update.
Patrick Kennedy, business operations and program management services, ED — Kennedy is serving on the Direct Lending Onboarding Team and will present during a general session Thursday morning on the transition to the Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP). This session will include question and answer opportunities.
Fred Sellers, senior policy analyst, ED — In a general session on April 9, Friday, Sellers will present information on "Two Pells in One Award Year" via videoconference. This session will address the new Federal Pell Grant Program statutory requirements that will affect all schools. The session will feature a post-presentation question and answer period.
The THECB's Kathryn Ford and Connie Cooper will address the Texas perspective on legislative changes to the Hazlewood Exemption Program for veterans and qualifying dependents.
Jane Caldwell, director of grants and special programs (THECB) and Janie Alcala, associate director — Outreach at Texas A&M University, will present on the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). Both speakers will discuss student eligibility requirements for in-state tuition rates at public institutions. They will also address how schools must process financial aid for resident students under H.B. 1403/S.B 1528.

In addition, industry experts will lead the following sessions:

Dr. Barry Simmons Sr., National Chair of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), will present on "Leadership as a Conglomeration."
Melet Leafgreen of Texas Christian University will present with TG's senior policy advisor, David Garza, on "Navigating Student Loan Disclosures."
Ted Middleburg of MBA Systemic Leadership will speak on "Coaching Your Team to Success."
Tim Ranzetta of Student Lending Analytics will present on "Loan Analysis and Trends."
Leonard Gude of Regent Education will speak on "Four Generations at Work in the FA Office."

Several breakout sessions featuring expert panels have also been scheduled, including panels on these topics:

Gearing up to implement Direct Lending
Community college policy nuts and bolts
Income-Based Repayment
Creating a successful campus default aversion program
An inside look at promising financial literacy practices
Inspiring Generation Next
Direct Lending servicing

Refer to the online agenda for more session date and time details as well as speakers and session descriptions.

To register
Visit TG Online to register before March 19, 2010. If you prefer to speak with someone directly, contact TG's event planning coordinator Judith Cunningham at (800) 252-9743, ext. 2905, or send an email message to judith.cunningham@tgslc.org.

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, which provides key facts on college access and success for Texas families and students. 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.

"The State of Student Aid presents a comprehensive view of higher education in Texas, with an in-depth look at student population, financial aid needs, and borrower data," said Sue McMillin, TG President and CEO. "The report is an important resource for state and federal leaders who are working to ensure students have the means to get a postsecondary education."

The updated report supplies new information, such as the rate of college enrollment among high school seniors, enrollment by ethnicity and income levels, college student credit card debt levels, and details about why students do not apply for financial aid.

"Our analysis provides insight into the barriers that Texans experience trying to complete a college education," said McMillin. "We believe the State of Student Aid report can help the higher education community understand and help meet those challenges."

To learn more
TG's State of Student Aid is available for viewing online.

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. The tool includes an online query form which customers can use to quickly and conveniently gather information on financial aid topics.

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. The design helps simplify the process for asking questions and makes finding information easier.

Ask TG is available through interfaces that serve the unique needs of two different groups of TG customers:

Financial aid and student loan professionals can access Ask TG through TG Online by selecting the "Schools" or "Lenders" links.
Families, students, and borrowers can access Ask TG through TG Online by selecting the "Borrowers" or "Families and Students" links.

All-purpose tool
Ask TG's information covers a wide range of topics collected from the more than 29 years that TG has provided customer service to schools and students. To date, visitors have viewed more than 140,000 answers to FAQs and asked more than 6,000 original questions of the database — many of which have been added to the FAQs to help those with similar inquiries in the future.

Ask TG offers a versatile set of features to help schools and other customers get the most from their queries. Ask TG visitors can:

Submit questions for direct answers on student loan and financial aid issues. Visitors who need a need a hard copy can print the answers for their files.
Browse or search archived questions and answers.
Set up an individualized "My Stuff" profile to organize questions submitted and answers received.
Subscribe to receive updates by email if the answers are later revised because of policy or regulatory changes.

Have a question?
Feel free to Ask TG™. Ask TG, TG's online query tool for borrowers, schools, and lenders, offers a database of frequently asked questions about financial aid, student loan processing, and TG's products and services. To submit a question, visit tgslc.custhelp.com.