Author name: Marlene Seeklander

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Federal holiday processing and hours for February 16, 2026

By Marlene Seeklander If your school is open on Monday, February 16, don’t forget that federal offices will be closed to observe Washington’s Birthday. The Department of Education recently announced the processing schedule and customer service hours for the various Federal Student Aid centers. The FAFSA Processing System (FPS) will accept data on February 16 but

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Public Service Loan Forgiveness program changes happening this summer

By Marlene Seeklander Some nonprofit organizations could soon be excluded from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program if it is determined the organization has a substantial illegal purpose. Although the final regulations were published October 31, 2025, the Department of Education just recently posted the information on the What’s New area of the Knowledge Center

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U.S. Treasury seeking input on the future of financial literacy

By Marlene Seeklander Anyone with an interest in financial literacy and education now has the opportunity to comment on the country’s future direction on the issue. In a February 3 Federal Register Notice, the Treasury published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input to support the annual review of the National Strategy for Financial Literacy. Commenters

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What current college students need to know about scholarships

By Marlene Seeklander Scholarships are not just for incoming freshmen. Current college students should also be seeking scholarships, looking for funding opportunities throughout their entire college career. Current students are often eligible for scholarships, which may be based on their field of study and may be contingent on maintaining a minimum GPA or demonstrating financial need.

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State agencies and membership & advocacy organizations need to register soon for the 2026 FSA Training Conference

By Marlene Seeklander State higher education agencies and membership & advocacy organizations interested in attending the upcoming Federal Student Aid (FSA) Conference need to complete the lottery submission form prior to the February 13 notification date. The Department of Education previously announced that due to the limited number of seats at the conference site, they would

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Updated 2026-27 Federal School Code List now available

By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education recently released an updated 2026-27 Federal School Code List, which plays a key role in the FAFSA. The Department announced the availability of the updated 2026–27 Federal School Code (FSC) List of Participating Schools.  Although it’s usually not necessary, students can enter these codes on the FAFSA in order

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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – February 5, 2026

Higher Ed News Vol. 18 – Issue 3 A month that could change a life Financial aid awareness really needs a year-long celebration. Department publishes information to assist schools with reconciling financial aid programs Financial aid professionals looking for a little more guidance on reconciling federal financial aid programs have now received some from the

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Tip of the Week – February 4, 2026

Tip of the Week A month that could change a life Financial aid awareness really needs a year-long celebration. Even though February is the only official recognition of financial aid awareness, financial aid professionals and many others are observing it every day. In reality, there shouldn’t be only one month dedicated to financial aid awareness

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Federal Student Aid updates “Aid Application Process” training track

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals can stay current with how to handle federal financial aid data with updated training modules now available. Federal Student Aid recently announced that they have updated the “Aid Application Process” training track with the latest information and guidance that was published in the September 30 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN-25-08.

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