Washington Report

2009 Budget Projects FFELP Costs Slightly Less Than Direct Loan Costs
The fiscal 2009 federal budget submitted by President Bush to Congress on Feb. 4 projects that the federal costs to subsidize Federal Family Education Loan Program loans will be slightly less than the costs for loans under the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. Learn more.

USA Funds Update

President's Message: Delivering the Finest Education Loan Services
Carl Dalstrom, USA Funds^® president and CEO, reiterates USA Funds’ commitment to outstanding education loan service in the wake of recent staff cutbacks by USA Funds’
guarantor-servicer. Read more.

Reminder: Applications Due Feb. 15 for USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships
The deadline for students to apply for USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships^® is approaching. Scholarship program details and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the USA Funds Web site. Students must submit applications online by Feb. 15.

Reminder: New Federal Default Fee Policy in Effect
USA Funds reminds schools and education lenders that its new federal default fee policy took effect Feb. 1. Read more.

USA Funds University Online Curriculum Updated
USA Funds recently updated its online learning catalog. Contents of the courses now reflect information for the 2008-2009 academic year and the most recent changes in the federal student loan program. USA Funds updates the course library annually. Learn more.

Film Student Gets Boost From USA Funds Scholarship
Joshua Caraballo, a graduate student at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., relies on a USA Funds Access to Education Scholarship and USA Funds-guaranteed student loans to help fund his studies. He also runs a successful film production company and teaches filmmaking. Read more.

Operations Bulletin

January 2008 Integrated Common Manual Available
The January 2008 Integrated Common Manual is available on the USA Funds Web site. View and print the Integrated Common Manual, including a summary of changes approved Jan. 17 by the Common Manual Governing Board. You will need Adobe Reader to download the documents.