Author name: Marlene Seeklander

2024 Virtual FSA Training Conference program information

By Marlene Seeklander Participants can now start reviewing the FSA Training Conference session information and descriptions before registration opens in October. The Department of Education announced that program information is available for the 2024 virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference, which will be held December 3-6. Before registration opens in October, financial aid professionals can review

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Temporary change to DHS/SAVE process allows schools to complete third-step verification

By Marlene Seeklander Although it’s only temporary for now, financial aid professionals are getting an elevated permission status with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The elevated status will enable schools to determine whether some non-citizens are eligible to receive federal financial aid. An August 8 Electronic Announcement outlines an interim solution to the DHS Systematic

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Draft Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Completers List sent to schools

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals have another deadline to add to an already busy fall calendar and issues that would have impeded meeting the deadline have been resolved. The Department of Education last week updated an August 5 Electronic Announcement about sending draft Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) Completers List. The list identifies

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2025-26 FAFSA will be available on or before December 1

By Marlene Seeklander To have time for more testing, the release of the 2025-26 FAFSA will be delayed until on or before December 1. The Department earlier indicated they planned to release the 2025-26 FAFSA on October 1 since the form would be unchanged from 2024-25. However, industry groups called on the Department to avoid a

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FISAP for 2023-24 and Application to Participate for 2025-26 now available at COD website

By Marlene Seeklander In the midst of processing FAFSAs and making corrections, schools are facing a couple of important deadlines early this fall. Both the Gainful Employment/Financial Value Transparency report and the FISAP are due on October 1. In a July 31 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education reminded schools about the availability of the 2025-26

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Understanding Take-Home Pay

Updated 2024-25 award year learning tracks and FSA basic training

By Marlene Seeklander Ongoing training is something that just comes with the territory of being a financial aid administrator. To that end, Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced on August 5 newly redesigned and updated offerings in the FSA Training Center Learning Tracks, including an updated FSA Basic Training for New Staff. Since the Learning Tracks are

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2024-25 FSA Fundamentals Training Series launched

By Marlene Seeklander Learning the fundamentals is essential for anyone taking on a new job, but it’s especially true in the world of financial aid. On August 5, the Department of Education announced the launch of Federal Student Aid’s 2024–25 FSA Fundamentals Training Series. Two courses make up this training series: Participants must successfully complete the

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Another volume of 2024-25 FSA Handbook now available

By Marlene Seeklander The latest volume of the 2024-25 Federal Student Aid Handbook released by the Department of Education (ED) may be one you want to bookmark.   The August 1 Electronic Announcement from ED announced the availability of Volume 2 – School Eligibility and Operations. It addresses topics such as administering the Title IV student aid programs:

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