Early Awareness E-News June 2026Vol. 18 – Issue 6 Class of 2026 sets FAFSA completion record The class of 2026 has already done great things by setting an all-time high completion rate for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 2026-2027 ACT test dates now available Even though summer break just started for many […]
Early Awareness E-News – June 2026 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Congratulations on your graduation from high school! For most people, it’s one of the big milestones in life. Like most high school graduates, you may be just now catching your breath after all the activity surrounding the end of the senior year. It’s a good time for you to relax and reflect on
June checklist for high school seniors Read More »
Higher Ed News Vol. 18 – Issue 11 Hundreds of thousands of FAFSAs selected for identity verification Financial aid professionals will be busy checking student identity after a few hundred thousand FAFSAs were selected for additional verification. Final regulations on Workforce Pell and other Pell Grant student eligibility published Financial aid administrators now have access
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – May 28, 2026 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Anyone interested in the 2027-28 FAFSA can now take a look – or perhaps a second look – at the form. In a May 26 update to an earlier Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced that they are seeking feedback on updated draft 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
Updated 2027-28 FAFSA documents now available for comment Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals who are working hard to implement the latest final regulations now have some resources available from the Department of Education. In a May 20 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced resources available for financial aid professionals and other partners to aid in the implementation of the final regulations through
Resources available for implementing Working Families Tax Cuts Act final regulations Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals now have access to updated financial aid training materials in what should be an easier-to-navigate training center. Federal Student Aid (FSA) recently announced that they made changes to the FSA Partner Connect training that is available on the FSA Training Center. According to the announcement, FSA revised existing training courses
Federal Student Aid announces changes to the FSA Partner Connect training Read More »
Down Time in Financial Aid The cuckoo clock hung in my family’s den, and it served our family well. The clock told us the time and provided many hours of enjoyment with its music and “cu-ckoo” sound. However, the clock was also a sensitive timepiece that regularly needed maintenance to keep working. So, every year,
Tip of the Week – May 27, 2026 Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Add some on-the-job experience to your education and you are positioning yourself for a successful career. After all, most employers want to know that you have both classroom education and hands-on experience no matter what career field you’ve chosen – whether it’s a technical or building trade, an art or craftsman skill, or
Key differences between internships, apprenticeships, work-study and part-time jobs Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Graduation ceremonies have recently wrapped up for students, and it won’t be long before move-in day on college campuses. If you plan to live in a residence hall for the fall semester, you can start preparing now by knowing what you plan to take with you. The Mapping Your Future Packing list for
A handy packing list with everything you need for college Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals may have questions about how the new regulations will impact the various Federal Student Aid (FSA) systems. FSA recently announced a new learning opportunity – FSA Systems Changes Resulting from OBBBA – that will increase knowledge of the FAFSA Partner Portal (FPP), the Common Origination and Disbursement System (COD), and
