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 March 18, 2024    .  

Wellesley, Mass., March 18, 2024 – The Higher Education Assistance Group (HEAG), a leading higher education and financial aid consulting firm, announced that Karen Van Dyne has joined the firm as Director of Business Affairs. A seasoned leader in higher e …

 March 8, 2024    .  

Working in financial aid can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with its unique set of challenges, including the stress of shifting goals and changing guidelines, all while managing the expectations of students and families. This constant pressure can …

 March 1, 2024    .  

They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb — a reference to the weather, of course. For financial aid professionals this is an apt description of what we hope March will bring in terms of workload and angry phone calls from students awaiting …

 February 16, 2024    .  

This time of year always makes us think about student loan exit counseling programs. Are they effective and, if not, how do we make them so? For starters, the timing of exit counseling is less than ideal. For enrolled students getting ready to graduate, attend …

 February 9, 2024    .  

Last month Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced the availability of two updated guides that are must-reads for financial aid professionals — the2024-25 Application and Verification Guide (AVG) and the 2023-24 FSA Assessments. The AVG contains all the informatio …

 February 1, 2024    .  

The release of the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been eagerly anticipated, but its roll-out has faced unforeseen issues, impacting students and colleges nationwide. On January 30, 2024, the Department announced that institution …

 January 25, 2024    .  

Financial aid offices are crucial in guiding students’ academic paths in today’s ever-changing higher education environment. These offices, essential in shaping educational experiences, often encounter significant challenges. High demands and intricate procedu …

 January 18, 2024    .  

Heightened Cash Management (HCM 1 and 2) and Reimbursement are alternative methods of receiving funds and making disbursements required by the Department of Education (ED). Here’s how they work… Applicable to HCM1 and HCM2: Schools operating under these paym …

 January 11, 2024    .  

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, institutions are continually seeking innovative ways to optimize their operations, streamline processes, and deliver top-notch services to their students. One crucial area that demands precision, accuracy, an …

 January 5, 2024    .  

There’s been major change over the last year, so it is a great benefit that financial aid administrators have so many training resources. Now, finding the time to take advantage of them is a completely different story! It’s up to you to make it a priority! Her …

 December 21, 2023    .  

The end of the fall semester brings a lot of fun things like holiday parties and much-needed time off. It also means that soon fall grades will be submitted, so if you’re a financial aid administrator, your work may not be done. The waivers and exceptions to t …

 December 14, 2023    .  

As the world of academia evolves, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial aid departments heralds a pivotal shift, transforming what was once a futuristic concept into a practical tool. This handbook is crafted to equip university leaders and f …

 December 8, 2023    .  

This year began much like 2022 ended with the fate of thousands of student loan borrowers in the hands of the courts. In January we didn’t know whether the Biden administration’s universal loan forgiveness program would fly (and it didn’t) or when the first po …

 December 1, 2023    .  

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, financial aid offices face the crucial task of efficiently managing resources while ensuring students receive the support they need. The key to achieving this balance is transforming your office into a data-d …

 November 21, 2023    .  

Preparing for a Seamless Transition: FSA Partner Connect Update In a recent update on November 7, 2023, Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced crucial information regarding the upcoming December 2023 transition to a new and improved system for processing and data …

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