By Marlene Seeklander As schools are ramping up for the start of another academic year, the COD system is doing the same. In an August 17 announcement, the Department shared the following peak processing reminders: Questions can be directed to the FSA Partner and School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978 or via email at CODSupport@ed.gov.
COD system peak processing reminders for 2026-27 award year Read More »
Tip of the Week A higher education battle It seemed like all hope was lost. The American army had marched for days in freezing cold – some soldiers without shoes, leaving a trail of blood where they stepped. Many were sick and had not eaten for days. How could an army that was so bedraggled
Tip of the Week – August 19, 2026 Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Financial aid professionals can now access supporting materials for the 2026–27 Federal Student Aid Handbook. In an August 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the Department of Education announced the availability of the appendices, which include the following: Information previously in the FSA Assessments is now part of training that can be found on
Department publishes additional materials for the 2026–27 Federal Student Aid Handbook Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander In addition to many responsibilities, financial aid professionals have an important responsibility coming up – completing the FISAP (fiscal reports and application to participate in federal financial aid). It’s not an easy task, but those responsible for it can prepare by completing an online, self-paced training course. Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced that
Online training available for completing the 2027-28 FISAP Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Institutions now have guidance from the Department of Education about the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) data reporting requirements, as well as the option to early implement the new Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability data collection. In an August 11 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education provided
Guidance released on FVT/GE Data Reporting and STATS early implementation Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education has once again pushed back its planned publication of all foreign sources of ownership, gifts or contracts involving those institutions of higher education required to submit reports. In an August 10 update to a July 6 Electronic Announcement, the Department has agreed to delay by two weeks the planned
Report of foreign involvement in U.S. higher education further delayed Read More »
Tip of the Week What can you withstand? Growing up in the Ozarks and now living in Texas, I’ve had my share of snake encounters. Some of those encounters have been close calls – like opening the front door and if I hadn’t looked down, I would have stepped on top of a copperhead. I
Tip of the Week – August 12, 2026 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Students in a handful of select locations could have the opportunity to complete the 2027-28 FAFSA early as a part of the Department of Education’s beta testing. On August 7, the Department updated a July 21 Electronic Announcement and announced that they have launched the first phase of the 2027-28 beta testing with
2027-28 FAFSA beta testing phase one launched Read More »
Higher Ed News Vol. 18 – Issue 16 Federal Student Aid fraud alert from U.S. Department of the Treasury Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, particularly when it comes to federal student aid fraud. Updated NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide (July 2026) now available Financial aid professionals now have a new enrollment reporting guide, updated with information
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – August 6, 2026 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Schools with Federal Perkins Loan portfolios that they are assigning to the Department of Education will need to make note of the transition to a new servicer. In an August 3 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education (the Department) announced that they are transitioning the servicing of federal held Federal Perkins Loans from
Federal Perkins Loan Servicer change announced Read More »
