April 5, 2011 - Edition 598 TG
Shoptalk

TG Report

TG to hold credit report telethon for students and other consumers
Next week, TG will host a call-in telethon designed to help consumers, including students, understand their credit report and make the most of the information it contains.

Five TG conference trainings that will sharpen your policy IQ
TG offers a varied and incisive set of trainings on policy and regulatory topics through the TG Annual Training Conference, including sessions on the Program Integrity final rules and veterans issues.

TG financial literacy session focuses on the Credit Basics: How Money Works
Presented in a fast-paced, easy-to-understand format, the Credit Basics session explains the many forms of credit, from simple borrowing and credit cards to mortgages and installment loans.

TG publishes spring 2011 Enrollment Management Journal
The spring 2011 Enrollment Management Journal features articles on the benefits of mentoring, college access for inner-city youths, and a transition program for community college transfers.

Industry Update

ED provides guidance related to helping students enrolled in study-abroad programs in Japan
On March 29, 2011, ED published Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN 11-09, which authorizes schools to rely on previously published information in cases where a student who was enrolled in a study-abroad program located in Japan was affected by the recent earthquake and related events.

Current special allowance rates: quarter ending March 31, 2011
Rates have been announced for the last quarter.

Policy Report

Common Manual updates
The Common Manual Governing Board have approved several changes to the Common Manual.

Smart Solutions
Internships offer the perfect way to explore careers and gain skill in a chosen field. TG's Adventures In Education features a short primer on how to snag an internship and make the most of this professional learning opportunity.
News Briefs

According to reports, including one by the College Board, the U.S. ranks below the top ten countries in terms of higher education attainment. To make up for the lag — and to ensure the U.S. maintains a prosperous, competitive economy — President Obama has challenged schools to increase the number of their graduates by 50 percent over the next decade. This March, ED released several resources, including a college completion tool kit and a grant competition, to help boost national college completion rates. The kit suggests policy, strategies, and resources that states can use in their enrollment efforts. ED also announced that it is accepting applications for the 2011 Comprehensive Grant Program, which forms part of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). The Comprehensive Grant Program will provide a total of $20 million to colleges working to increase graduation rates. Access the toolkit and review the grant competition details.