June 1, 2010 - Edition 556 TG
Shoptalk

TG Report

Register for TG's June financial literacy symposium in Ohio
On June 8, TG will hold a free, one-day financial literacy symposium at Ohio State University. The symposium is designed to help colleges and universities design and promote their campus financial literacy efforts.

TG's director of financial literacy operations brings a seasoned professional's insight to a growing field
TG's director of financial literacy operations, Sharon Cabeen, believes in the "teachable moment," those times when students are more receptive to key concepts of money management because their experience makes them so. She also advocates educating adults as much as students in financial literacy skills.

TG webinar series to focus on cohort default rates, veteran issues, and the latest regulatory changes
TG's free webinar series on industry topics continues over the next few months. TG will provide presentation materials for each session, which can be downloaded, viewed, or printed.

Industry Update

ED provides recorded training sessions of year-round Pell Grant provisions
In Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) ANN-10-21, ED announced the availability of Federal Student Aid's recording of the online, instructor-led training sessions on implementation of the year-round Pell Grant provisions.

A few resources for writing a policy for summer Pell awards
Since July 1, 2009, an otherwise Pell-eligible student may qualify for a Pell Grant amount that is up to 200 percent of the "Scheduled Award" via two Pell awards within one award year. Shoptalk highlights various resources to consider in writing a Pell award policy.

NCHELP offers free webinar for schools regarding consumer credit laws and regulations
The NCHELP Private Loan Committee has scheduled a 90-minute webinar for schools on the challenges schools face in providing school-funded loans to students.

Closed school corner
ED announced one new school closure in June.

Policy Report

Ask the Policy Expert
Q.: Can a student receive the second-level Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) amount of $1,300 without having previously received the first-level ACG amount of $750?

Smart Solutions
As students line up the funds for next fall's enrollment, many may be weighing the benefits against the disadvantages of borrowing for college. TG's Adventures In Education website offers an overview of borrowing, including the differences between federal and private loans. Offer the resource to your new or returning students.

News Briefs

The College Board's Student Poll conducted a survey of 1,607 high school seniors from late November 2009 to early January 2010 regarding college costs. The survey found that many students and parents rule out colleges based on a school's published sticker price without taking into account financial aid. These findings suggest that parents and students are making decisions about college affordability without accurate or complete information. The survey also found that only about one-third of students or their parents actually used an online financial aid calculator, which can help estimate costs.