Review of Recent Announcements

As a service to its participating schools and lenders, Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority offers the following review of recent announcements and releases from the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, and related sources.  These reminders cover topics of general interest and importance that relate to the administration of federal student aid.

Dear Partner/Colleague Letters

Date: June 3, 2008
GEN-08-07
Summary: Clarifies how an institution establishes eligibility to participate in the TEACH Grant Program, together with background information on the program.
http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/060308GEN0807.html

Date: June 19, 2008
GEN-08-08, FP-08-07
Summary: Summarizes the recently enacted Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (EDASLA) and the Department’s actions to help ensure that postsecondary students and their parents have access to federal student loans.
http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/061908GEN0808.html

Date: June 20, 2008
GEN-08-09
Summary: Provides the list of academic majors eligible for the National SMART Grant Programs for award year 2008-2009.
http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN0809.html

Date: June 25, 2008
CB-08-09
Summary: Provides information (including questions and answers) about the final Campus-Based Programs 2007-2008 Fiscal Operations Report and the Application to Participate for 2009-2010, which is due October 1, 2008.
http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/0625CB0809.html

Date: June 25, 2008
CB-08-10
Summary: Describes the 2007-2008 Campus-Based Reallocation Form and process
http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/0625CB0810.html

NSLDS Reference Materials

Date: June 2, 2008
Section: Newsletter 17
Summary: Discusses NSLDS changes implemented in January 2008 as part of the annual system updates. Also addresses the new NSLDS email notification that replaces User ID letters and Enrollment Late Letters.
http://ifap.ed.gov/nsldsmaterials/attachments/08NSLDSNewsletter17.pdf

Date: June 13, 2008
Section: Technical Update
Summary: Intended for the organization’s person who works with NSLDS, addresses award year loan submittal requirements for Federal Perkins Loans.
http://ifap.ed.gov/nsldsmaterials/attachments/PK200804.pdf

Date: June 13, 2008
Section: Newsletter 18
Summary: Outlines rules and responsibilities of schools and school servicers, their CEO/President, Primary Destination Point Administrator (PDPA), and individual users.
http://ifap.ed.gov/nsldsmaterials/attachments/Newsletter18.pdf

Electronic Announcements

Date: June 12, 2008
Summary: Clarifies the effect on borrower benefit programs of the Department’s offer to purchase certain FFEL loans.
http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/0612BorrowerBenefits.html

Date: June 13, 2008
Summary: Announces the maximum award amounts for the Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART Grant programs for award year 2008-2009.
http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/061308ACGMaxAwards.html

Date: June 19, 2008
Summary: Provides CCRAA operational implementation guidance and information for the TEACH Grant (see also June 27 announcement).
http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/061908AddtlTEACHGrantOpImp.html

Date: June20, 2008
Summary: Announces that FSA will run program to reduce to zero ($0.00) all SMART Grant disbursements made to student who do not have a Pell Grant disbursement for 2007-2008.  Processing of warning messages to schools began on June 19, 2008.
http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/0620SMARTGrantDeobligation.html

Date: June 23, 2008
Summary: Directs institutions to use the CCRAA-compliant R2T4 paper worksheets to perform calculations for students withdrawing on or after July 1, 2008 for the interim period to September 28, 2008, until R2T4 on the Web is updated.
http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/052308R2T4WebRelDelay.html

Date: June 27, 2008
Summary: Provides additional information about the student aspects of TEACH Grant processing that became operational July 1, 2008.  Institutions are expected to read this announcement and the June 19 announcement for a complete overview of operational implementation of the TEACH Grant Program.
http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/062708CCRAATEACHStudent.html

Federal Registers

Date: June 9, 2008
Summary: Provides notice of deadline dates for receipt of applications, reports, and other records for the 2007-2008 award year.
http://ifap.ed.gov/fregisters/FR06092008.html

Date: June 23, 2008
Summary: Final Rule amending title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations for the TEACH Grant program, General Provisions, Campus-Based programs, the FFEL program, and the  Federal Pell Grant program, as needed to implement the TEACH Grant provisions of the CCRAA.
http://ifap.ed.gov/fregisters/FR06232008TEACH.html

Any questions related to this Bulletin should be directed to UHEAA Policy and Training at 801.321.7166, or by e-mail to mjohnson@utahsbr.edu.

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All rights reserved.