USA Funds Update

USA Funds to Accept Scholarship Applications Beginning Dec. 15
USA Funds^® will accept applications online beginning Dec. 15 for $3.2 million in USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships^® to help low- and moderate-income students pay college expenses during the 2008-2009 academic year. Learn more about the program. Information also is available in Spanish.

USA Funds Offers Fall Lender Forums
USA Funds’ Fall-2007 Education-Lender Forums are set for Nov. 14-15 in Arizona and California. The free workshops offer the latest information to keep education-lending professionals abreast of the latest developments in the ever-changing education-finance marketplace. The sessions, which begin at 8:30 a.m., cover technology, policy and regulatory initiatives and offer an opportunity for round-table discussion. You can learn more and register online.

USA Funds Staff Profile: Playing a ‘Key Role in Supporting Higher Education’
USA Funds assistant controller Kelly Wolfe’s lifelong love of calculating figures and keen attention to detail are helping her support USA Funds’ mission of advancing higher-education preparedness, access and success. Read more.

Washington Report

President Signs College Cost Reduction and Access Act
President Bush has signed into law the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. Learn more.

President Signs Extension of HEROES Act Waivers
President Bush has signed legislation that would make permanent provisions excusing members of the military from making federal student-loan payments while they serve on active duty. Read more.

Operations Bulletin

USA Funds Policy Experts Offer Points to Consider in FAFSA Requirement for PLUS Loans
Although it is not federally required, many schools require a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid when a parent wants to apply only for a PLUS loan. For those schools considering whether they should require the FAFSA for parent PLUS-loan applicants, USA Funds offers some points to consider. Read more.

Department Releases Revised List for National SMART Grants
The U.S. Department of Education released a revised list of academic majors eligible for grants through the 2007-2008 National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant Program. The letter, GEN-07-06, includes a list of the 10 new academic majors eligible for the SMART Grant and a complete list of all eligible academic majors. The Department did not remove any of the academic majors included in the 2006-2007 list. You can view the letter on the USA Funds Web site using Adobe Reader.