Author name: Marlene Seeklander

Staying in compliance with an up-to-date Policies and Procedures manual

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals recognize that an up-to-date and complete Policies and Procedures manual is the first step in complying with federal financial aid regulations. However, because of immediate responsibilities, financial aid professionals sometimes find maintaining a Policies and Procedures (P&P) manual overwhelming. And that overwhelming feeling can be intensified when starting a new

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Computer keyboard with a yellow key marked Training.

2026-27 processing cycle learning tracks available from Federal Student Aid

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals have additional training resources available as they work with 2026-27 FAFSA data. Federal Student Aid (FSA) recently released several Learning Tracks that will assist financial aid professionals as they receive and review 2026-27 FAFSA data. The new Learning Tracks include: To check out these learning opportunities, log into the FSA

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Tip of the Week – March 25, 2026

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Mapping Your Future hosts scholarship strategies webinar – recording now available Scholarships can sometimes mean the difference between having enough money for a college education or having to borrow student loans.   Knowing the strategies of how to make the most of scholarships can be a key component in finding money for college. The “Strategies

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Closeout deadline for 2024-25 Direct Loan Program year

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By Marlene Seeklander Schools that have not yet closed out their 2024-25 Direct Loan Program year need to make note of the upcoming closeout deadline. A March 18 Electronic Announcement reminds schools that Friday, July 31, 2026, is the closeout deadline and last processing day before the end of the program year. This means that all

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Computer keyboard with a yellow key marked Training.

2026 FSA Training Conference session recordings now available

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals and other industry partners who were unable to attend the recent FSA Training Conference can now view the session recordings. In a March 20 Electronic Announcement, Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced that the session recordings from the recent FSA Training Conference are now available at the following: In the announcement,

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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – March 19, 2026

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Higher Ed News Vol. 18 – Issue 6 Number of student loan borrowers in default matching pre-pandemic levels Nearly 8 million student loan borrowers with $180 billion federal student loans are in default, according to the latest data from the Department of Education. Reminder of upcoming scholarship strategies webinar hosted by Mapping Your Future Scholarships

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Department of Education releases NSLDS layout changes to accommodate new financial aid requirements

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By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education released new NSLDS layout changes to help the industry prepare for the financial aid procedures required by last year’s federal budget reconciliation. On March 12, the Department of Education announced the availability of the updated NSLDS Transfer Student Monitoring & Financial Aid History User Guide and Record Layouts. A

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Department of Education publishes “E-App User Guide”

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By Marlene Seeklander Schools now have a user resource available to them when completing an important application process for participating in the federal aid programs. The Department of Education has created the “Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs User Reference Guide” for completing what is commonly referred to as the E-App.

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2025-26 FSA Handbook Appendices now available, Department of Education to seek input on future content

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By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education released new content for the FSA Handbook and announced it will be seeking input from financial aid professionals as they “reimagine the content” of the handbook. In a March 16 Electronic Announcement, the Department announced the availability of the Appendices of the 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook and said

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State specific and national scholarship opportunities for students

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By Marlene Seeklander Students seeking additional funds for their college education may want to review these scholarship opportunities to determine if they are a good fit. College Now Adult Learner Scholarship– This scholarship is available to adult students age 19 and older who have interrupted their education for at least one year and who are pursuing a

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