GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL
PERSPECTIVES
Submitted by Judy Cramer
(jmcramer@vcu.edu)
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Information Courtesy of NASFAA
The
House Education and the Workforce Committee on September 25
approved unanimously by voice vote H.R.
3076, the Graduate Opportunities in Higher Education Act,
and H.R.
3077, The bill was authored by Select Education
Subcommittee Chairman Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich).
The
Graduate Opportunities Act supports graduate education
programs funded under Title VII of the Higher Education Act (HEA).
It places particular emphasis on subject areas facing the
greatest shortages, including math, science, special
education, and limited-English proficiency education.
"As
my colleagues know and understand, graduate education provides
students with in-depth and advanced courses of study and
creates the foundations on which technological and
intellectual advances are made. These programs will allow this
great nation to continue its leadership into and beyond the
21st century," said Hoekstra. "Graduate education
also plays a critical role in the training of faculty and
teachers who will in turn improve the quality of K-12
education across the country."
Rep.
Ruben Hinojosa (D-Texas), Ranking Member of the Select
Education Subcommittee, applauded H.R. 3076, saying, "If
we are to ensure a high quality teacher in every classroom, we
must address the teacher education pipeline in its
entirety."
H.R.
3076 was passed with several amendments, all of which received
unanimous approval. In particular, Hoekstra offered a
substitute that allows members of the military to interrupt
without penalty a Javits Fellowship if they are called to
active duty. The substitute also gives preference to Graduate
Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program
participants who are preparing to teach K-12 math, science,
special education, and limited-English proficiency education
teachers.
NASFAA's
Graduate Professional Issues Committee met at the NASFAA
Offices in Washington on September 26, 27, and 28 2003. The
agenda focused on the importance of being participatory and
providing input to our own profession. We're
committed to helping schools selected to complete the Survey
of Graduate Aid Practices and Procedures (SOGAPP) to achieve
full compliance. The web-based survey invitation was
emailed to 434 individuals nationally, representing a full
cross-section of disciplines. It'll provide important
information to FAA's ranging from PJ policy to salary samples.
Participation is also important for
Reauthorization. I know we've all felt like it's been going on
forever, and it has, but there is still at least 18 months
ahead. There are 22 proposals regarding the student loan
programs, many of which will help our graduate students,
through increased loan limits and deferment conditions.
Until they are law, there can be changes! The
Reauthorization task force remains open to suggestions so
please attend your Reauthorization sessions at the state and
regional level and provide your input.
Your political support is another way to
participate in shaping the tools we have to work with. Please
make sure you respond to legislative alerts when your voice
can make an immediate difference. Also, encourage your
students to provide their opinions on a regular basis by
making addresses, email addresses, or websites available from
your own homepage. Announce to them when the voter
registration deadlines are and when elections are coming up.
We can all be a part of the solution.
Advice for Avoiding Common Program-Review Findings
Education-loan guarantors perform required program reviews to ensure that schools are meeting all regulatory requirements and guarantor policies in administering the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). A recent presentation at a financial-aid administrators' conference outlined some of the most common problem areas found during program reviews. Among the most-common problems are the following:
* Inconsistent admissions requirements. Schools must obtain a copy of a student's high-school diploma and properly admit "ability-to-benefit" students, if required by the school's policy.
* Missing SAR or ISIR documentation. Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) documentation missing from the borrower's file at the time a student's loan was certified, or discrepancies in SAR/ISIR data can contribute to problems in a program review. In addition, the SAR/ISIRs are the key documents in determining if a student is eligible for a Pell grant.
* Improper verification. Issues include not properly verifying SAR/ISIR information, including required documentation to account for an override of dependency status and missing or unsigned tax-return documents.
* Improper loan certification. The loan period, cost of attendance, Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and estimated financial aid all must be calculated for the same length of time. For example, a 12-month loan period with a 12-month cost of attendance should not be matched with the nine-month calculation for EFC and Estimated Financial Aid.
* Student budget exceptions. Using incorrect student budget figures as a component of the cost of attendance and failing to include FFELP-loan fees in calculating the borrower's cost of attendance are both common errors.
* Failure to notify of the right to cancel EFT disbursements. Schools must notify student borrowers of their right to cancel all or part of their Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) loan disbursement. When a student's school account is credited with loan funds, the borrower must be notified within 30 days before or after the disbursement of the type of loan, the amount of the disbursement and the borrower's ability to cancel all or a portion of the loan within 14 days of receiving the notification.
Correcting the most-common issues before a program review will result in improved compliance and better service to students. For more information about common findings during program reviews, refer to Common Manual 16.3.C.
Submitted by: Richard Burt, USA Funds Services
HURRICANE
ISABEL INFORMATION
Submitted by Janet Sain, ECPI and Karen Koonce, TCC
I
just got off the phone with Anthony Jones from the Dept of
Ed. He wanted to convey his thanks for the emails that I was
able to send his way from the folks in both NC and VA
updating him on the conditions at various schools and
communities. As part of our discussion, he did want me to
share that a mini DCL will be sent out in reference to
the Hurricane. It contains the following information:
1.
Any school affected by the disaster is to contact their
regional Dept of Ed office to inform them of their
circumstances and the extent this impacts their school and
their students. Some schools were okay, but their student's
homes were not.
2.
FISAP deadline is Oct 1st. IF you need an extension due to
the Hurricane, please call the Campus Based Call Center at
1-877-801-7168 and request the extension. They have been
made aware of the disaster impacts and are ready to assist
those institutions who will need it especially if they are
still without power.
3.
Final Pell Reporting deadline for 2002-2003 is also Oct 1st.
If you need an extension due to the Hurricane, please call
the Pell Reporting Call Center at 1-800-474-7286 and request
the extension. They too have been made aware of the disaster
impacts and are ready to assist those who need it.
If
you are aware of institutions who are still out of power and
will not see this email any time soon but you have a way to
contact any of the Financial Aid folks from that school, please
contact them and let them know that the extensions are
there for them and to contact those toll-free numbers as
soon as they can.
Anthony
was unable to discuss whether there would be additional
federal funds to assist students affected by the Hurricane
as they had with Hurricane Floyd. As soon as he knows
something on that issue, I will send out another email to
folks.
Please
send Janet Sain emails in regards to damages as i will
continue to forward them to Anthony. The more information
they have, the more informed decision they can make about
federal assistance. Take care and hang in there. Her
email is JSain@ecpi.edu.
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