Author name: Marlene Seeklander

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Schools are reminded to keep contact information current

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By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education wants to know who to contact when program issues arise, so they are reminding schools and servicers to keep their contact information current. In a recent Electronic Announcement, the Department reminded schools and third-party servicers to keep their contact information in the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) current in

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Financial aid peak processing season – reminders for 2025-26

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By Marlene Seeklander With the start of the 2025-26 school year, the Department of Education is reminding schools that processing financial aid may take longer during this peak season. In an announcement, the Department shared the following peak processing reminders for the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system: Questions can be directed to the FSA Partner

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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – August 21, 2025

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Higher Ed News Vol. 17 – Issue 17 2026-27 FAFSA Preview Presentation now available Financial aid and college access professionals can now access Information and screenshots for the 2026-27 FAFSA to use for planning purposes, communicating changes, and training. Verification reporting available soon; deadlines adjusted Although financial aid professionals still face some deadlines for “verification

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Department of Education updates guidance on use of Federal Work Study funds for distributing voter registration information

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By Marlene Seeklander Institutions will want to take note of updated guidance on the distribution of voter registration information and the allowable use of Federal Work Study (FWS) funds for these activities. On August 19, 2025, the Department of Education (ED) released a Dear Colleague letter GEN-25-05 outlining their interpretation of the allowable use of Federal

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IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix for 2025-26 Verification now available

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By Marlene Seeklander Although the 2025-26 FAFSA processing cycle has been underway for months, the Department of Education has just released the 2023 IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix. The August 14 Electronic Announcement includes the 2023 IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix in Excel format. The matrix is designed to assist financial aid administrators in mapping the

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2025-26 FSA Handbook Volume 9 – The TEACH Grant Program – now available

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals, whose schools participate in the TEACH Grant Program will want to update their reading list with the latest volume of the 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook. A recent Electronic Announcement from ED announced the availability of Volume 9 – The TEACH Grant Program. This volume includes information for schools about the eligibility requirements

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Tip of the Week – August 20, 2025

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Tip of the Week 2026-27 FAFSA Preview Presentation now available Financial aid and college access professionals can now access Information and screenshots for the 2026-27 FAFSA to use for planning purposes, communicating changes, and training. An August 14 Electronic Announcement from Federal Student Aid (FSA) includes a presentation and PDF file with information and screenshots of the

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2026-27 FAFSA Preview Presentation now available

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid and college access professionals can now access information and screenshots for the 2026-27 FAFSA to use for planning purposes, communicating changes, and training. An August 14 Electronic Announcement from Federal Student Aid (FSA) includes a presentation and PDF file with information and screenshots of the 2026–27 online FAFSA form. The screenshots can be

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Department of Education announces key changes to 2026-27 FAFSA Form and Pell Grant Eligibility Updates

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By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education has outlined specifics on how federal budget reconciliation will impact the FAFSA form and Pell Grant eligibility. In an August 15 Electronic Announcement, the Department provided information about the key changes to the 2026-27 FAFSA and Federal Pell Grant eligibility that were part of the Budget Reconciliation Bill signed

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FSA Fundamentals Training Series available to new and experienced professionals

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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals know that understanding the basics is critical to administering federal student aid. For those who are new to financial aid or want a refresher on the basics, the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) offers a Fundamentals Training Series. The FSA Fundamentals Training Series consists of: To

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