July 13, 2010 - Edition 562 TG
Shoptalk

TG Report

Learn the latest about industry change, IBR, and default prevention at TG's NASFAA sessions
Two topics are stirring up much discussion in the student aid industry — the recent shift in federal student lending and default prevention. TG presenters will offer sessions that touch on both topics at this year's National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Annual Conference, to be held in the Mile High City of Denver.

TG's Jeff Webster participates on panel during ACSFA hearing
Think of them as conversations — the formal and informal talks that go on between the federal government and the student aid industry on issues practical and policy-related. Jeff Webster, TG's assistant vice president of research and analytical services, along with a few other researchers, recently took part in such a conversation with the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.

With latest TG Connection, TG offers help to you and your borrowers in winning the default prevention game
Schools are adopting a statistical perspective on default prevention and various forms of personal intervention, including coaching, workshops, and communications. The latest edition of TG Connection showcases these approaches and offers examples that schools can use to help devise a campus default prevention game plan or to enhance one already in place.

TG's IBR calculator incorporates latest regulatory changes
TG provides a simple calculator tool for helping to determine whether a borrower qualifies for Income-Based Repayment (IBR). The calculator now incorporates the latest regulatory changes to IBR, which took effect July 1, 2010.

As industry changes, TG modifies its lender survey tool
Formerly, schools could use List Assist℠ to create and manage surveys for lenders of FFELP loans. Recently, TG removed the FFELP survey component. Schools can still use List Assist to create surveys for lenders making private student loans.

Industry Update

Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program applications available — borrowers need to apply quickly!
The 2010 Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program Application To Participate and Service Agreement is now available. Qualified civil legal assistance attorneys are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Policy Report

2010 Common Manual update available
The 2010 annual update to the Common Manual is now available. This update includes all of the policies approved since July 1, 2009.

Latest IFAP postings
ED assembles Title IV federal student aid guidance, resources, and information on its Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) website. Recent postings, listed by topic, cover common origination and disbursement, ED Notices in the Federal Register, and FDLP processing.

Smart Solutions
College-bound students in high school often use the summer to explore college possibilities. As part of your outreach efforts, offer these students and their families some guidance on making an informed choice about college. TG's Adventures In Education offers tips on what questions to ask in evaluating college options and how to begin a college search.
News Briefs

Smart phones and other digital devices are becoming tools of the trade for instructors teaching history, botany, ethnography, and other subjects. Learning consultants and developers are teaming up to produce special teaching applications that live on devices with a GPS component. These applications link images, video, and audio to a physical location, or GPS anchor. College students using a smart device with such an application can then explore the environment around campus and locate — as an example — historical sites or other points of interest. Once located, these sites trigger images or video on the GPS-enabled device. The experience offers a different, often more vivid way of learning than reading a textbook. Applications can be designed to teach a variety of other topics, from plant life to languages. Learn more about this technology-enhanced form of pedagogy.