By Marlene Seeklander It’s okay if you’re not entirely sure where you plan to go to college when completing the FAFSA. You can go ahead and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) even if you haven’t made a firm decision on where you plan to go to college. The FAFSA is designed so
The complete guide to adding or deleting colleges on your FAFSA Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander College professionals can play a role in helping students succeed by helping them access benefits for which they are eligible. The Department of Education recently shared information for students who may qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP provides benefits to low-income individuals and families to help supplement their food
Student eligibility for SNAP Benefits Read More »
Higher Ed News Vol. 17 – Issue 2 FSA Training Center releases new learning tracks Federal Student Aid is offering more training to help financial aid professionals prepare for and manage the 2025-26 processing cycle. Federal Loan Servicing Center closures due to hazardous weather conditions Severe weather and resulting closures are unpredictable, but the Department
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – January 23, 2025 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Schools that were not able to complete their Financial Value Transparency (FVT) and Gainful Employment (GE) Debt Reporting by January 15 now have an additional month to do so. In a January 17 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced that they reopened the reporting process for debt reporting until February 18 to
FVT and GE Debt Reporting Process reopened until mid-February Read More »
Tip of the Week Questions to ask yourself before applying for scholarships Students should apply for as many scholarships as possible. That’s good advice, but with that advice in mind, students should prioritize some scholarships and maybe avoid some scholarships altogether. In general, you should apply for those scholarships that are a good fit and
Tip of the Week – January 22, 2025 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Schools will have to wait a little longer for the NSLDS post-screening functionality. The NSLDS post-screening functionality has been delayed from the end of 2024 to the spring of 2025, meaning that an updated ISIR will not be generated for applicants with new information. Two recent Electronic Announcements, dated January 10 and January
By Marlene Seeklander Schools have to wait a little longer before they can process batch corrections, but the functionality may be on the horizon. The Department of Education recently announced that over the next few weeks they will work with a group of institutions and their vendors to test batch corrections. After the beta testing is
Batch corrections processing timeline update Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Colleges need to ensure that not only are they telling the truth about their institution, but also that any organization – such as online program managers – are doing the same, according to a recent reminder from the Department of Education. In a January 16 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the Department of Education
By Marlene Seeklander Documentation requirements for American Indians born in Canada trying to establish Title IV eligibility may have become somewhat easier. The Department of Education announced that they have updated the procedures and acceptable documentation in the 2024-25 FSA Handbook. To implement this guidance, formerly known as the Jay Treaty, schools need to look at
Student eligibility for American Indians born in Canada Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Severe weather and resulting closures are unpredictable, but the Department of Education does have contingency plans. In a recent Electronic Announcement, the Department provided some information on temporary closures of their Federal Loan Servicing Centers due to hazardous weather conditions. The Federal Loan Servicing Centers will implement contingency plans and remain open as
Federal Loan Servicing Center closures due to hazardous weather conditions Read More »
