Workshops offer legislative updates and best practices for financial education

As the financial aid industry continues to evolve, USA Funds^® University spring financial aid workshops will examine how the landscape already has changed and help you prepare for additional transformation yet to come. Workshops also will share information about new USA Funds tools that can assist you in helping your students achieve their educational dreams.

Federal update.
As the financial aid industry continues to evolve, learn about the appropriations process for 2010 and other federal legislation that will influence how educational assistance will be delivered in the future. Examine the final rules issued during 2009 by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as the changes proposed in the current “bonus” round of negotiated rulemaking. Discover how you can help borrowers identify the servicers of their federal education loans. Review the status of the IRS data retrieval project, net price calculator requirements, private loan certification and the calculation of Federal Pell Grant awards. This update will highlight what you need to know to assist your students and help your institution remain in compliance with Title IV laws and regulations.

Financial education, default prevention and student retention resources for financial aid professionals.
Educational costs are rising and students are borrowing more to meet those costs. The weakened economy and a high unemployment rate can affect students’ ability to repay their educational loans. And the new three-year cohort default rate calculation will result in higher default rates for most schools and may have negative consequences for both schools and students. This session will explore how schools can address the effects of rising student loan defaults and prepare institutions for the three-year CDR calculation. You’ll hear suggestions and best practices for providing students with money management skills, developing institution-wide retention strategies and focusing on life-of-loan default prevention plans.

USA Funds update. 
USA Funds^® has invested significant resources in the development of innovative products and services that assist you in helping your students achieve their educational dreams. These tools offer financial literacy, loan counseling, student retention and debt management support. Learn more about these resources and get a better understanding of how you can leverage them to better serve your students and help them realize success in their dreams of higher education.

Year-round Pell Grants.
Pell Grant recipients attending full time during the fall and spring semesters of college often were left with the burden of finding money to pay for summer classes. The Higher Education Opportunity Act expanded Pell Grant funding for eligible students to receive up to two scheduled Pell Grant awards during a single award year. Although the Oct. 29, 2009, final regulations addressed year-round Pell Grants, there still is confusion and much discussion about implementation. This session clarifies the eligibility requirements and implementation procedures, and addresses many of the concerns raised by the financial aid community.

Saying no when you can’t say yes.
No one likes to hear the word “no.” What can you do in challenging situations when you can’t say yes? Understand how meeting a customer’s basic needs can help resolve their level of frustration. Learn how to deal with difficult customers and manage your own stress levels. Walk away with new tools to add to your customer service tool belt.

Attend a workshop to engage with colleagues and hear from experts about these and other important topics. Select your state in the drop down list and complete the information on the next page to register for a workshop.