For the last several years there seems to have been constant changes made to the application processing system. More ISIR codes and integration of  IRS information  made up many of these changes.  The Department of Education put out an electronic announcement on November 4, 2011 titled:  2012-2013 Summary of Changes for the Application Processing Guide, which discusses the major changes involved in processing the 2012-2013 FAFSA information. Read more »

The Higher Education Assistance Group, Inc. (HEAG) is pleased to announce two webinars scheduled for December 2011 and January 2012. These webinars are free and designed to offer you valuable consulting expertise in a virtual format.   Read more »

SunGard Higher Education has released the "2012-2013 Early Release for Banner Financial Aid, 8.12.1". November is a great time to start updating and testing your systems for January 1st.  Financial aid departments in November tend to have less student traffic, there are limited reports due and staff members begin to relax from the hustle of the fall semester.  It is the perfect time to start planning for the next year.

The udpate is optional, but it will give you a head start for the New Year.  The update includes: Read more »

The first time I met Ray Nault was at the Higher Education Assistance Group (HEAG) office. I had just signed on as a consultant and attended one of his information sessions. The session was great! All the consultants around the conference table seemed to relish in his energy and enthusiasm for technology. Read more »

For those schools new to Direct Loans, reconciliation is a federal requirement and is required of all DL participants. On a monthly basis, schools must ensure that not only do their internal records match (between the FAO and the Business Office), but that their records match with the Department of Education’s. Read more »

As Financial Aid Administrators, we are faced each and every day with opportunities to help our students succeed.  In these uncertain economic times, students and their families rely on us even more to guide them through their college career.  The information we provide and the way in which we provide it can make the difference in whether or not a student earns their college degree.
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As we all know, the only constant in financial aid, is that the rules are constantly changing. With federal aid programs representing the largest source of financial aid at most schools, the government has made strengthening these programs their main priority. It is vital that these programs remain available to the students that need them.

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By Jeff Baker, Director Policy Liaison and Implementation, Federal Student Aid

The following letter from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan was e-mailed to college presidents October 26, 2009

THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WASHINGTON, DC 20202 Read more »