Federal Updates

ED announces webinars on loan purchase and participation interest programs
Last week, ED released an e-announcement regarding two webinars on ED's plans to purchase FFELP loans and participation interests in FFELP loans under the provisions of the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (ECASLA).

TG Updates

TG names Donna G. Smith director of center for financial aid policy in community colleges
Donna G. Smith has been named director of TG's Center for Financial Aid Policy in Community Colleges.

TG and Council release annual report on council activities and projects
TG and the Council for the Management of Educational Finance (Council) recently published an annual report on the Council's accomplishments for 2007-08.

TG releases demo of upcoming lender survey tool
TG recently produced an online demo of the product. The demo offers a preview of the tool’s principal features and includes a summary of its key benefits for schools.

TG-supported program helps Ohio students earn dual credit
With the support of a TG grant, the Stark Education Partnership, Inc., and other organizations have created a program geared to help Ohio high school students graduate with dual credit coursework in subjects like math, science, and foreign languages.

Trends and Issues

Question of the week
If a student borrower inadvertently exceeds her Stafford annual or aggregate loan limit, she is ineligible to receive additional Title IV funds until the overborrowing is resolved. One of the ways she may resolve the excess is to make satisfactory repayment arrangements with the loan holder. Does obtaining a Consolidation loan constitute "making satisfactory repayment arrangements"?

Legislative Update

The House and Senate leadership recently issued a statement that the current congress will complete its work by September 26 and adjourn without a post-election lame duck session. The intention is to pass a continuing resolution extending current year appropriations, and any other laws requiring reauthorization, which cannot be acted upon prior to the end of the current fiscal year.

This process will affect the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). Though extended through July 31, 2008, the HEA may need to be extended once again for several months — unless the conference committee report can make its way onto the House and Senate calendars before the end of the month.

Learn more by reading the full Legislative Report on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/lege_report/2008/lr_080721.cfm.

This, That, and the Other...

The Occupational Outlook Handbook has been a source on career information for hundreds of thousands of job-seekers, including college students and college graduates. The Handbook is designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. Serving as a catalog of hundreds of different types of jobs-such as computer technician, doctor, and lawyer — the Handbook provides information on the training and education required, projected earnings, expected job prospects, typical job duties, and a listing of general working conditions.

The Handbook serves in other ways: It offers job search tips and even links to information about the job market by state and region.

The Department of Labor issues the Occupational Outlook every quarter at www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm.