In case you missed it, here are some of our most popular blog posts from 2017 for college and university 
financial aid offices. HEAG’s financial aid consultants often write on issues related to Title IV compliance, verification, file review and processing support, financial aid staffing support, office evaluations and technology. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions for new blog posts.
Weighing in on the IG’s Compliance Audit of Western Governors University
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General has released the results of a compliance audit of Western Governors University. Citing concerns about an inadequate faculty role, the inspector general called for the department to make the university pay back at least $713 million in federal financial aid. Read more…
Resources for Filing the 18-19 FAFSA
Early FAFSA – This is the 2nd year of earlier FAFSA filing, with the date being pushed back to October 1 and where students and parents use prior prior year income. Updates and enhancements include Read more…
How Could the Equifax Data Breach Impact Financial Aid
Recently hackers hit Equifax in the largest instance so far. It’s estimated that this could affect the personal data of 143 million Americans, essentially 50% of the US population. The hackers accessed people’s names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and driver’s license numbers. So, how could this latest breach impact financial aid and institutions of higher learning? Read more…
Policies & Procedures Manual: Keeping up to Date with Changes
Have you conducted an annual review of your school’s financial aid policies and procedures manual yet this year? With the recent changes in FASFA filing dates, year-round Pell and potential changes to gainful employment and a host of other pending laws and regulations affecting financial aid and the administering of Title IV funds, it may seem like your manual is constantly out of date. Read more…
Gainful Employment Ping Pong: Who Will Score the Next Point
Regardless of your political leanings, the financial aid community may feel like they are in the middle of a game of ping pong. With shifting gainful employment regulations, proprietary for-profit colleges as well as state schools and non-profit universities are waiting to see where the ball will land next. Read more…
2018-2019 FAFSA Changes: IRS Tax Data and Securing Personal Information
For financial aid administrators, verifying tax data can be a tedious process. Modifications to the 2018-2019 FAFSA should be a welcome change. Read more…
Is your school providing great service? Part 1
Instinctively, you may want to answer “yes” to that question. You are a college president, supervisor, or director that wants your students to be taken care of. You have mentioned it several times in staff meetings. You send email reminders to staff and supervisors about what great service does for a college. You know that your institution provides excellent service to everyone you interact with…. but how can you be absolutely sure that you are providing great service? Ask. Read more…
2017-18 Pell Grants – Get The New Payment Charts Here
