Federal Updates

U.S. Department of Education

September 4, 2019 – The Department is seeking third-party comments concerning the performance of accrediting agencies under review by the Secretary of Education. 

September 5, 2019 – The Department announced a notice in the federal register requesting an extension of the Military Service/Post-Active Duty Student Deferment request form. The Department is making minor changes to simplify and provide consistency with the military deferment form and other similar forms. 

September 6, 2019 – The Department published Volume 5 – Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds – of the 2019-2020 Federal Student Aid Handbook. 

The Department published a notice in the federal register seeking to replace the approved “Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Program (e-App)” with a new collection instrument that will assist in promoting compliance with section 117 of the HEA.

September 9, 2019 – The Department published a notice in the federal register announcing its modification of the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The Department is updating/modifying the following sections: “Purpose(s) of the System,” “Security Classification,” “Categories of Records in the System,” “Record Source Categories,” “Policies and Practices for Retention and Disposal of Records,” “Administrative, Technical and Physical Safeguards,” “Record Access Procedures,” “Contesting Record Procedures,” “Notification Procedures.” In addition to these changes, the Department has added a section entitled “History” and made modifications to several of its programmatic routine uses.   

September 30, 2019 – Deadline for electronically transmitting Pell Grant and Ira and Afghanistan Service Grant records for the 2018-2019 Award Year to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System. Read more here.

Processing deadline to submit TEACH Grant award and disbursement records is 9 p.m. ET. However, for actual disbursements to generate the appropriate funding level increase in G5 prior to the scheduled G5 shutdown, they must be received, and subsequently accepted, by the COD System no later than 8 a.m. ET on Monday, September 30, 2019. Schools should plan final closeout efforts accordingly. Read more here.

October 1, 2019 – Deadline for schools to submit 2020–21 FISAP electronically and mail in the required signature page. Read more here.

Looking Ahead – 2019 FSA Training Conference. The Federal Student Aid Office has opened registration for the 2019 FSA Training Conference scheduled for December 3 to 6 in Reno, Nevada. The FSA Training Conference is training provided for financial aid professionals by the government for those institutions receiving Title IV funds and is the largest training program in the United States serving the financial aid community. In 2018 more than 2,000 unique schools registered for the conference. Registration is free.

U.S. Congress – Newly Introduced Legislation of Note

H.R. 4253 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow a recipient of an institutional aid grant to use funds under such grant to establish, improve, or expand partnerships with child care providers.

a.       Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 9/9/19

b.       Sponsor: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) 0 Cosponsors 

H.R. 4245 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce the complexity and length of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

a.       Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 9/9/19

b.       Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) 1 Cosponsors 

H.R. 4241 – Student Loan Contract Act of 2019

c.       Summary: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to rename master promissory notes for loans made under part D to student loan contracts.

d.       Date of Introduction: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 9/6/19

e.       Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) 2 Cosponsors

H.R. 4240 – File Once FAFSA Act

a.       Summary: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce the number of times certain applicants for financial assistance are required to file a FAFSA, and for other purposes.

b.       Date of Introduction: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 9/6/19

c.       Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) 2 Cosponsors