Debt-Management Perspectives
USA Funds Introduces Loan Counseling for Graduate, Professional Students
USA Funds® introduces USA Funds Grad GuideSM, its new online loan counseling program for graduate and professional students. Read more.
Operations Bulletin
Department Outlines Terms of Emergency Loan Purchase Plan
The U.S. Department of Education has provided details of its plans to purchase Federal Family Education Loan Program loans to ensure access to student loan dollars for the 2008-2009 academic year. Learn more.
USA Funds Offers Answers to Questions About Emergency Student Loan Legislation
USA Funds has posted responses to frequently asked questions about increased Stafford loan limits and changes to PLUS loan terms enacted in the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008. This resource is the latest in the Reauthorization section of the USA Funds Web site for financial aid professionals and education lenders.
Use Manual Return of Title IV Funds Process Until Sept. 28
Because of upcoming changes to the Department of Education’s R2T4 on the Web site, the Department has instructed schools to use paper worksheets to calculate the return of Title IV funds for students who withdraw on or after July 1. Read more.
Dear Colleague Letter Focuses on Help for Students Affected by Disasters
Following recent federally declared disasters, the Department of Education issued a reminder regarding assistance for recipients of Title IV aid who are affected by such disasters. In Dear Colleague Letter GEN-08-10, the Department reminds schools, lenders and guarantors of previously announced general guidance for those affected by a disaster, as well as information about a Title IV grant repayment waiver for those students forced to withdraw due to a disaster. You will need Adobe Reader to access the letter from the USA Funds Web site.
USA Funds Update
Town Hall Meeting to Address Recent Legislation, New Regulations
USA Funds will host a town hall meeting July 14 regarding recent legislation and new regulations that affect the financial aid community. USA Funds executives will address questions and take suggestions from school- and lender-customers. Learn more.
USA Funds Joins Fifth Third, UNCF for Financial Literacy Event
Fifth Third Bank’s eBus made a special stop recently at the Fort Wayne Urban League in Indiana. USA Funds and the Central Indiana United Negro College Fund partnered with the Fort Wayne Urban League and Fifth Third on the eBus visit, which focused on issues including financial literacy. Read more.
Washington Report
Higher Education Act Extended Another Month
The Higher Education Act has been extended another month, to give the U.S. Congress more time to complete work on reauthorization of the federal law that underpins major federal student aid programs. Read more.