Author name: Marlene Seeklander

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FSA online training courses highlight Cohort Default Rates and Default Prevention

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals can sharpen their knowledge about cohort default rates and default prevention and management by participating in a course offered by Federal Student Aid. Federal Student Aid (FSA) recently announced the release of an online, self-paced learning track on cohort default rates (CDRs) and default prevention and management. It is

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A guide to fall conference season – three ways to justify your attendance

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 By Catherine Mueller With Labor Day approaching, it’s time to start preparing for the next season – that is fall conference season. You may be planning to attend or present at an upcoming conference, however, with tight budgets and reduced staff, the value of conferences may have to be justified. If you need to show why

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Input sought for FSA’s Fiscal Year 2026-30 draft strategic plan goals and objectives

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid stakeholders have the opportunity to provide input to Federal Student Aid (FSA) on their draft goals and objectives which are part of their strategic plan. FSA extended the invitation to institutions of higher education, financial partners, and other stakeholders via an August 24 Electronic Announcement. Feedback is encouraged as it will

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2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook now available in PDF format

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals have another way to access the 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook – via PDF format. In an August 20 Dear College Letter, the Department of Education announced the availability of PDF files of the 2025–26 Federal Student Aid Handbook. This allows schools to download the entire handbook or individual volumes.

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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – August 20, 2026

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Higher Ed News Vol. 18 – Issue 17 Online training available for completing the 2027-28 FISAP In addition to many responsibilities, financial aid professionals have an important responsibility coming up – completing the FISAP (fiscal reports and application to participate in federal financial aid). Guidance released on FVT/GE Data Reporting and STATS early implementation Institutions

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Schools identifying as public institutions must maintain documentation

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By Marlene Seeklander Schools that identify as public institutions for purposes of the federal student aid programs must maintain documentation stating as much and must be ready to provide it to the Department of Education when requested. In an August 17 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education clarified the regulatory requirements for all institutions of higher

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COD system peak processing reminders for 2026-27 award year

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By Marlene Seeklander As schools are ramping up for the start of another academic year, the COD system is doing the same. In an August 17 announcement, the Department shared the following peak processing reminders: Questions can be directed to the FSA Partner and School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978 or via email at CODSupport@ed.gov.

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Tip of the Week – August 19, 2026

Newsroom, Financial Literacy, Latest, Mapping Your Future features, Newsletters, Student Loans, Tip of the Week / By

Tip of the Week A higher education battle It seemed like all hope was lost. The American army had marched for days in freezing cold – some soldiers without shoes, leaving a trail of blood where they stepped. Many were sick and had not eaten for days. How could an army that was so bedraggled

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Department publishes additional materials for the 2026–27 Federal Student Aid Handbook

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By Catherine Mueller Financial aid professionals can now access supporting materials for the 2026–27 Federal Student Aid Handbook. In an August 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the Department of Education announced the availability of the appendices, which include the following: Information previously in the FSA Assessments is now part of training that can be found on

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Online training available for completing the 2027-28 FISAP

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander In addition to many responsibilities, financial aid professionals have an important responsibility coming up – completing the FISAP (fiscal reports and application to participate in federal financial aid). It’s not an easy task, but those responsible for it can prepare by completing an online, self-paced training course. Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced that

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