Tech Talk

USA Funds Launches Microsite for Financial Aid Professionals
USA Funds^® has launched a new Web site component for financial aid professionals. Learn more.

USA Funds Web Site How-To: Tool Menu and Financial Aid News Feed
The redesigned financial aid professionals section of the USA Funds Web site offers several new features, including a tool menu that you can expand from the top of the page to display three new ways to access the information you need. Read more.

Product Enhancements Offer Added Flexibility, Information and Integration
USA Funds will enhance USA Funds Loan Counselor^® June 22 to provide interim counseling and the option to associate school-assigned identification numbers for counseling records. Read more.

USA Funds Products Unavailable This Weekend
USA Funds will implement system upgrades beginning June 20 as part of enhancements to electronic products and services. As a result, several products will be unavailable during the following times this weekend. USA Funds Loan Counselor, USA Funds Debt Manager^®, USA Funds Connection^® and USA Funds Loan Solutions^SM will be unavailable to school administrators and students from 7 a.m. Eastern time Saturday, June 20, until 7 a.m. Eastern time Monday, June 22.

USA Funds Update

New Edition of ‘USA Funds Education Partnerships’ Available
USA Funds has issued the latest edition of a quarterly newsletter highlighting USA Funds’ support of programs that enhance preparation for, access to and success in higher education. “USA Funds Education Partnerships” focuses on College Access Challenge Grant initiatives that USA Funds is supporting in Mississippi and Nevada, a USA Funds program that promotes staff volunteerism, and the role that partnerships play in promoting higher education success. Download a copy of the newsletter using Adobe Reader.

Reminder: Third Graduate and Professional Schools Web Forum June 25
Targeted specifically to schools that serve graduate and professional students, the June 25 USA Funds University graduate and professional schools Web forum will focus on the new income-based repayment option, which goes into effect July 1. The Web forum is scheduled from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time. Learn more and register.

Operations Bulletin

Education Department Issues Guidance on IBR Income Documentation
The U.S. Department of Education announced that, in calculating income-based repayment, a lender may obtain a copy of a borrower’s most recent federal tax return instead of requiring that the borrower complete the consent for disclosure of adjusted gross income from the Internal Revenue Service. The guidance also notes that a lender may accept a borrower’s written certification that no tax return was or will be filed.

Announcement Updates Customer Service Contacts for Loans Purchased and Serviced by Department
The Department issued updated customer service contact information for Federal Family Education Loan Program loans that it purchases and services. The contact information includes toll-free telephone numbers and Web sites for schools and borrowers.