March 15, 2011 - Edition 595 TG
Shoptalk

TG Report

TG releases one-page summaries of Program Integrity Issues
ED recently published final regulations on 14 topics collectively referred to as Program Integrity Issues. To help schools understand and implement the new rules, TG has developed single-page overviews of each Program Integrity topics that offer a description of ED's objectives, program integrity principles, and regulatory requirements, along with the effective date of the new provisions.

"Ask the Experts" at the 2011 TG Annual Training Conference
The TG Annual Training Conference, to be held April 26-29 in Austin, features an "Ask the Experts" evening reception that offers participants the opportunity to meet and talk with representatives from a variety of industry players, including the ED loan servicers, ELM Resources, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Governor re-appoints members to TG's Board of Directors
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has re-appointed Yvonne Batts, Michael Savoie, Frank Houston "Skip" Landis, and Steven Tays to TG's Board.

TG and other guarantors support IHEP study on borrowers' loan management
The Institute for Higher Education Policy is releasing a policy paper based on data provided by five of the nation's largest federal student loan guarantors, including TG. In conjunction with the release, there will be an online forum co-sponsored by TG and other guarantors.

How to stretch those student dollars — or, shopping as an adventure
TG's director of Financial Literacy Operations, Sharon Cabeen, offers tips on the best times to bargain-hunt.

Policy Report

Ask the Policy Expert — Program Integrity Issues
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Q.: Is a school required to have an appeal process as part of its satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy?

Smart Solutions
Adventures In Education's Graduation Planning Calculator offers an all-in-one tool for helping students to graduate on time, including budget worksheets for managing income, expenses, and semester costs.
News Briefs

Higher education today offers a mixed picture of success. Enrollment is up, topping 19 million according to Census estimates for 2011. However, degree attainment in the U.S. lags other industrial nations — some studies place the U.S. below the top ten ranking of industrialized countries in terms of higher education degrees per capita. If students are flocking to college, it appears a sizable portion may not be staying for the long haul. Policy-makers are looking more closely at this phenomenon, trying to pinpoint the barriers to degree completion, such as a competing job, reluctance to borrow, or lack of academic preparation. An opinion piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education suggests a novel approach to keeping students matriculating — games. Instead of a lecture form of pedagogy, the author recommends introducing "active learning" into the classroom with role-playing, teamwork and competitive problem-solving, and similar activities. Read more about this approach to "setting students' minds on fire." Note that some Chronicle articles are available by subscription only.