USA Funds Update

USA Funds Presents Financial Aid Workshops
USA Funds^®’ Spring 2008 Financial Aid Workshop series begins April 1. Workshops will take place at 64 locations in 30 states across the nation. The free workshops offer financial aid professionals an opportunity to engage with colleagues and learn about changes in student aid policy, key issues in aid administration, and new services that can help in serving students. Read more.

Kansas Academic Decathlon Challenges Outstanding Students From Two States
Student teams from Kansas and Missouri high schools gathered at a USA Funds-sponsored event that tested the students’ intellectual strength and provided an early introduction to higher education. Learn more.

USA Funds Program Prompts Change in Spending Habits
Tricia Rader, a pharmacy student at Midwestern University in Glendale, Ariz., changed some of her spending and saving habits after studying components of the USA Funds Life Skills^® financial literacy program. Read more.

USA Funds Lists Top 100 Lenders
USA Funds lists the top 100 lenders of USA Funds-guaranteed loans through January 2008. Read the list.

Operations Bulletin

Policy Frequently Asked Question: Business Days Versus Calendar Days in Student Aid Regulations
USA Funds’ policy experts provide guidance about whether to consider time frames mentioned in student aid regulations as business days or calendar days. Learn more.

Education Department Announces New Addresses for Submitting Audits
The U.S. Department of Education has advised lenders and lender-servicers of new express mail and U.S. mail addresses to which they should submit compliance audits. Learn more.

Reminder From Department: FAFSA Required for Graduate and Professional PLUS Loans
Schools are reminded that they must require graduate and professional students who apply for PLUS loans to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, according to an announcement recently issued by the U.S. Department of Education. The reminder referred schools to Dear Colleague Letter GEN-06-02, which summarizes provisions of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 — including graduate and professional student eligibility for PLUS loans. You will need Adobe Reader to access GEN-06-02 from the USA Funds Web site.