Direct Loan Source June 2010

Interview with Nancy Hoover

The Direct Loan Source had the opportunity to sit down with Nancy Hoover, National Direct Student Loan Coalition Chair and Financial Aid Director at Denison University, to talk about the Coalition's experience helping schools transition to the Direct Loan Program. Read more.

Direct Loan Transition Reports

Direct Loan Transition Reports, summarizing schools’ progress in transitioning to the Direct Loan Program, are now available on the Federal Student Aid Data Center. To date, schools are transitioning on schedule and are projected to do so throughout the remainder of the year.

Student Lending Analytics Survey

In a recent survey of 200 postsecondary institutions conducted by Student Lending Analytics, 83 percent of respondents rated their level of satisfaction with the Direct Lending implementation process to date as “acceptable” or higher. View the survey results.

Featured Topics

Foreign School Information Web Page

Last month, we added important information to the Foreign School Information Web page that will be helpful to foreign schools as they transition to the Direct Loan Program or become eligible to participate in the Title IV programs. The Web page now includes the following informational areas: Direct Loan Setup; Direct Loan Processing; Eligibility; SAIG and System Connectivity; Frequently Asked Questions; and Handbooks and Guides.

Federal Student Aid has also posted sample communications to help foreign schools communicate with U.S. students and their parents about the transition to the Direct Loan Program. The sample text is available on the Foreign School Information Web page under the heading, Sample Communications.

Foreign schools that wish to participate in the Direct Loan Program and have not yet submitted their Direct Loan enrollment packets are encouraged to do so at their earliest convenience. For more information on completing the enrollment packet, please review our Foreign School Updates. Questions can be sent to your point of contact or via e-mail to foreignschooldlenrollment_fsa@ed.gov.

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Training for Foreign Schools
This month, Federal Student Aid kicks off our instructor-led, Direct Loan Training for Foreign Schools workshops. These training workshops, offered in both a two-day format and an expanded three-day format, are designed to assist foreign schools with the transition to the Direct Loan Program. Each workshop will focus on key aspects of awarding and reporting Direct Loans made at foreign schools and will include hands-on computer training. View the foreign schools training calendar.

Training for Graduate/Professional Schools
As part of the Direct Loan Webinar Series for Graduate/Professional Schools, we are offering the following webinars. Find out more.
Direct Loan Basics for New Participants—June 22 at 3 p.m.
Direct Loan Processing 1, 2, 3—June 23 at 3 p.m.
Using the COD Web Site To Assist In Direct Loan Processing—June 24 at 3 p.m.

Webinar and Online Training
Register for these upcoming training opportunities today.

What's New for Direct Loans Webinar—June 22 at 11 a.m.
The Direct Loan Module of EDExpress Online Training for 2010–2011: This Web-based, self-paced training covers Direct Loan processing and also provides an overview of EDExpress and information about what is new to the software for 2010–2011.