USA Funds Update

USA Funds Offers Spring Financial-Aid Workshops
USA Funds^®’ Spring-2007 Financial-Aid Workshop series begins in April at 63 locations across the nation. The free workshops offer the latest information to help financial-aid professionals administer federal student loans and other financial-aid programs. Read more.

2Futuro Meets Needs of a Changing Student Population
A new education finance and outreach program for Hispanic students and their parents is helping Financial-Aid Director Vernon Bridges meet the needs of the students at his school, California’s Whittier College, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution. Learn more.

USA Funds Supports Kansas Academic Decathlon, Scholarships for Participants
USA Funds sponsored the 2007 Kansas Academic Decathlon and provided additional financial support to fund scholarships for students competing in the event. Read more.

Debt-Management Perspectives

Rate of Student-Loan Dollars in Default Declines
Figures released by the U.S. Department of Education show that the nation’s student-loan guarantors, including USA Funds, are increasing their rate of success in preventing student-loan defaults. Read more.

USA Funds Lists Nine Steps for Appealing Draft Cohort-Default Rates
With the U.S. Department of Education’s recent announcement of draft cohort-default rates for 2005, schools are advised to compare the Department’s rates for their schools with their own records to ensure consistency. USA Funds provides a list of steps to take in reviewing the data and making a challenge, if necessary. Learn more.

Operations Bulletin

Policy Frequently Asked Question: HERA and Aggregate Loan Limits
USA Funds’ policy staff provides guidance about whether the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 affects aggregate limits for student loans. Learn more.