By Marlene Seeklander Schools now have a report available to help them in performing outreach to remind former students of their loan repayment obligations, particularly those who are delinquent on one or more of their student loans. In a June 9 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced that they have the Delinquent Borrower Report (DELQ01) […]
NSLDS Delinquent Borrower Report now available Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Institutions will have additional due diligence requirements as part of the Department of Education’s efforts to protect the integrity of the federal student aid programs. In a June 6 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education (ED) announced its nationwide effort to eliminate identity theft and fraud in the federal student aid programs. This
Department of Education launching efforts to prevent fraud through identity verification Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander You may want to update your financial aid reading list with the latest volume of the 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook that has just been released by the Department of Education (ED). A June 5 Electronic Announcement from ED announced the availability of Volume 8 – The Direct Loan Program. This volume includes information for schools
2025-26 FSA Handbook Volume 8 – The Direct Loan Program – now available Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander You can make a note on your 2026-27 planning list to check out the recent additions to the 2026-27 FAFSA Specifications Guide. The Department of Education recently announced the addition of several volumes to the 2026-27 FAFSA Specifications Guide. These volumes include: Throughout the 2026-27 cycle, the Knowledge Center website will be updated with changes to the FAFSA
Updates to 2026-27 FAFSA Specifications Guide Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Student loan borrowers will see slightly lower interest rates starting July 1 for Direct Loans borrowed on or after July 1, 2025. The new interest rates were announced by the Department of Education in a May 30 Electronic Announcement. The interest rate is a fixed rate for the life of the loan. For Direct
Direct Loan interest rates for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2025 announced Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals will have the opportunity in a June webinar to ask questions about recently released Department of Education (ED) and Federal Student Aid (FSA) guidance. In an Electronic Announcement this month, ED announced an upcoming webinar that will focus on topics presented in the Federal Update presentation held earlier this year.
Upcoming Federal Student Aid webinar with Q&A format Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals who need to finish any of the 2024-25 award year specific training courses need to do so soon before the courses are removed. Since most of the online courses in the FSA Training Center are award year specific, the 2024-25 training courses will be removed on June 27 and replaced
2024-25 award year training courses on the FSA Training Center will be removed soon Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Schools needing to report Federal Work Study (FWS) wages are encouraged to send a test file prior to sending data for real. In a recent Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced that the FSA Partner and School Relations Center will conduct Campus-Based school testing from May 21 through September 30, 2025, for
Campus-Based school testing for reporting Federal Work Study wages now available Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education is among the federal offices closed for the Memorial Day federal holiday on Monday, May 26. The May 19 Electronic Announcement states that the Federal Student Aid (FSA) processors and contact centers will be closed on May 26. All FSA websites will be operational on the holiday. The FAFSA Processing System
Memorial Day holiday closings Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Schools that have not yet closed out their 2023-24 Direct Loan Program year need to make note of the upcoming closeout deadline. A May 19 Electronic Announcement reminds schools that Thursday, July 31, 2025, is the closeout deadline and last processing day before the end of the program year. This means that all
Closeout deadline for 2023-24 Direct Loan Program year Read More »
