By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid and college access professionals now have a tool available to familiarize themselves with the 2027-28 FAFSA. The Department of Education announced the availability of the 2027-28 FAFSA prototype, which is an interactive tool that allows users to see and interact with most of the pages of the online 2027-28 FAFSA form. To access
2027-28 FAFSA prototype now available Read More »
Tip of the Week 25 years ago – Remembering 9/11 Do you remember where you were or what you were doing on September 11, 2001? Many of us very distinctly remember exactly where we were or what we were doing when the news broke on the radio and TV about the first plane crash. Many
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By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals can now brush up on the latest federal financial aid school eligibility and participation requirements with the release volume 2 of the 2026-27 Federal Student Aid Handbook. In a September 1 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education (ED) announced the availability of Volume 2 – School Eligibility and Operations. This volume
Higher Ed News Vol. 18 – Issue 18 Department releases report on which institutions have reported financial value data; reminds institutions about upcoming 2026 deadline Institutions now have a little less than a month to submit their Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) data for 2026. Federal Student Aid offers webinars aimed at reducing
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – September 3, 2026 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander With approximately nine million student loan borrowers in default, the Department of Education is urging schools to act to help their former students return to repayment. In a September 2 Dear Colleague Letter, Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced two upcoming webinars, which are a part of their initiative to assist schools in
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Tip of the Week Financial aid superheroes Financial aid professionals are superheroes. Granted, they don’t wear fancy superhero outfits or have special powers. Or maybe they do. This time of the year especially, financial aid professionals have always exhibited their “superhero” abilities. As another academic year settles in, a long “To Do” list continues. But
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By Marlene Seeklander Institutions now have a little less than a month to submit their Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) data for 2026. In an August 28 update to an August 11 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education reminded institutions about the October 1 deadline for reporting 2026 data and announced the availability of an
Early Awareness E-News September 2026Vol. 18 – Issue 9 Department of Education announces the launch of Beta 2 testing for 2027-28 FAFSA The testing of the 2027-28 FAFSA continues to move forward, allowing some students and families to complete the FAFSA form early. Preparing for the 2027-28 FAFSA There’s nothing like being prepared to make
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By Marlene Seeklander There’s nothing like being prepared to make something a little easier and less stressful, including completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). With the launch of the 2027-28 FAFSA by October 1, 2026, students and families can start doing some prep work in advance. Federal Student Aid encourages students and families
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By Catherine Mueller Most high school seniors anxiously await life after high school. Many are ready to pursue their dreams. And while that life offers new-found freedoms, those same seniors may experience stress over the responsibilities that come with those freedoms. Your senior year is a time to dream of the future and think about
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