April 19, 2011 - Edition 600 TG
Shoptalk

TG Report

Next week's TG conference to feature ED speakers, varied industry topics
Held from April 26-29 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus, the TG Annual Training Conference promises an eclectic training experience focused on issues important to today's higher education community, including default aversion, financial literacy, and policy developments.

Supplement your exit counseling materials with TG resources
Exit counseling offers a key opportunity to help your students prepare for repayment and get off to a strong financial start after college. TG provides materials to help you amplify the value of exit counseling, including a brochure that explores the repayment process and a set of online presentations.

Remind your graduating students of a few spending plan essentials
TG's director of financial literacy operations reviews the basics of setting an effective spending plan.

TG closed half-day on Good Friday
TG will be closed for a half-day this Friday, April 22, starting at 12 p.m. Central Time.

Industry Update

ED invites schools to participate in the Quality Assurance Program
ED published a notice in the Federal Register inviting schools to participate in the Quality Assurance Program (QAP). This article will provide background information about the QAP to help schools better understand the purpose of the program and the influence and value it has on Title IV administration.

ED publishes corrections to Program Integrity final rules and preamble language
In a recent Federal Register, ED announced a number of corrections regarding the preamble discussion and regulatory language found in the October 29, 2010, Program Integrity final rules.

Smart Solutions
The end of the semester means moving time for many of your students, especially graduates. Help these students cut potential stress and costs from their moving experience with Adventures In Education's "Relocation Guide."
News Briefs

Some colleges are trying to take the guesswork out of course advising, replacing flesh-and-blood advisors with online versions that recommend classes according to a student's academic performance, field of study, and course requirements — the way some websites recommend music or movies based on a consumer's choices. One such school is Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, which recently piloted a "robot advisor" system. According to administrators, the system's great advantage is its more objective approach. An online advisor can consider several factors at one time in making its suggestions, whereas human advisors might skew their guidance by looking only at one variable — the requirements of a major, for example. Learn more about how some colleges are reinventing the college advising experience by reading the complete Chronicle of Higher Education article. Note that some Chronicle articles are available by subscription only.