USA Funds Update

USA Funds Fall 2003 Student-Loan Workshops begin soon
The Fall 2003 USA Funds Student-Loan Workshops begin Oct. 6. The free workshops provide you with the latest information to help you administer federal student loans and other aid programs. You can view a detailed agenda and list of dates and locations on the USA Funds Web site. Register online using the new USA Funds University Online Learning site.

USA Funds names new customer-relations manager
Victoria M. Keller has joined USA Funds^® as customer-relations manager for Mississippi and Florida. Learn more about her new role.

USA Funds Customer Profile: Hawai'i Pacific University
Hawai'i Pacific University leverages its location to offer strong academic programs to a diverse student body. Learn more.

Debt-Management Perspectives

South Carolina State uses e-mail to garner support for student retention
Greg Branch of South Carolina State University has incorporated e-mail as a tool for building support for the university's student-retention program.

Washington Report

House Democrats introduce reauthorization bill
U.S. House Democrats have introduced the first of what they promise will be a series of legislative proposals for reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. Among other things, the College Opportunity for All Act would eliminate loan-origination fees, permit borrowers to reconsolidate previously consolidated student loans, eliminate the so-called single-holder rule for loan consolidation, and raise the maximum Pell-grant award to $11,600 by 2011.

House committee approves two reauthorization bills
The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce has approved two bills to reauthorize sections of the Higher Education Act. The measures deal with federal support for graduate education and international-studies programs.

Witnesses rap suggestions for tuition price controls
Witnesses told a U.S. House subcommittee that proposals for college-tuition price controls would be unworkable and damaging. Read more.