CONFERENCE

Each conference day will begin with a General Session. The General Sessions include:

GENERAL SESSIONS

The Secretary's Commission and Summits: Vision of Federal Student Aid in the Future
This session will discuss the recommendations of the Secretary's Commission on the Future of Higher Education and data collected from both national and regional summits as it relates to the future of Federal student aid programs.

New Era of Accountability:  What Recent Statutory and Regulatory Requirements Mean for Each of You
At this session, a senior Department official will share what the recent regulatory and statutory changes will mean for campus aid officials and others in the financial aid community. The session will provide an overview of the Departments initiatives to increase accountability as well as Congressional action on the budget and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Federal Student Aid News You Can Use
This general session offers a high-level view of what's new at Federal Student Aid and the impact on you and your campus (or, students, schools, lenders and guarantors). Learn about upcoming changes, new products and services and other significant projects.

2008-2009 Application Processing Update
This session will provide a brief discussion of changes to the Application Processing System for 2007-2008 and an in-depth review of changes to the system for 2008-2009. The 2008-2009 updates will include (but not be limited to) changes to the FAFSA, FOTW, PIN, Student Aid Report and CPS edits.

Federal Update with Q&A
This session will include brief updates on issues not already covered in other sessions. Time is also scheduled for a "Question & Answer" period where a panel of key Department of Education staff will respond to questions and comments from the audience.

REGULAR SESSIONS

NSLDS Security and What's New
Provide Financial Aid Administrators updates on security functions and enhancements as well as general updates for the National Student Loan Data System. This session will cover such topics as what security means to the NSLDS data, changes to ensure the privacy of students, user requirements, access, new data being collected, new enrollment process, email notifications and more.

NSLDS Aggregate Calculations
For participants who want to better understand the NSLDS aggregate calculation. Session will walk through the steps involved in the calculation.

Integrated Partner Management
Provide Institutions with an overview of the upcoming Integrated Partner Management (IPM) System with what to expect and when, focusing on how IPM will help support and facilitate the schools with their Title IV compliance activities. The IPM solution will enhance customer activities through the consolidation of the legacy systems: Electronic Application (eAPP), eZ-Audit, Post Secondary Education Participant System (PEPS), and the Participation Management (PM) functionality of Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG).

Title IV Funding to Schools: From COD through GAPS
This session covers the process of managing Title IV funding at schools from point of COD submissions through GAPS. The session will also cover how schools get cash, timeframes from record submission to funding, as well as Phase I of the newly enhanced GAPS (G5) and its improved drawdown functionality.

Operational Update ACG and National SMART
ACG and National SMART Grant programs are two years old. This session will focus on funding, reporting, and transfer student eligibility. The emphasis will be on the COD system and updates to the 2007-2008 software as well as what's ahead for the 2008-2009 year.

School Compliance Update
Come hear the latest on the following compliance and eligibility topics including: changes in ownership, do's and dont's of borrower choice; what you need to know before establishing a new or moving an existing location; and how and when to report an additional program.

Top Ten Audit and Program Review Findings and How to Avoid Them
This session will provide information about the top 10 findings that are most frequently identified in audits and program reviews, and how to ensure that your institution avoids them.

Student Loans Going Forward
At this session, we will provide information on the final regulations that the Department will publish as they relate to the Federal student loans programs (FFEL and Direct), as well as information on recent regulatory and statutory changes to the Perkins Loan program, including the definition of reasonable collection costs, mandatory assignment of defaulted Perkins Loans and other changes. The session will also include a discussion of the loan-related cash management provisions that were modified in the General Provisions Final regulations. Lastly, the session will address recent legislative changes to the Federal student loan programs.

Lender-School Relationships
At this session, we will provide a comprehensive review of recent regulatory and statutory changes that impact a student's choice of lender, the use of preferred lender lists by institutions, and prohibited inducements. We will also discuss enforcement actitivies addressing non-compliance in these areas.

Requirements for Federal Grant Programs - Pell, ACG and National SMART
At this session, we will provide information on the regulatory and statutory framework for awarding ACG and National SMART Grants for the 2007-08 award year. We will also provide information on the regulatory and statutory framework for awarding Pell Grants as well ACG and National SMART Grants for the 2008-09 award year and beyond. In both instances, particular attention will be paid to recent statutory and regulatory changes as they relate to these programs including academic year definition, rigorous secondary school program of study, grade point average, previous enrollment in postsecondary education, and academic major.

Changes to General Provisions Rules
At this session, the changes made in the General Provisions rules will be discussed. These changes include the alignment of disbursements for all Title IV grant and loan programs, the recovery of unclaimed Title IV funds, electronic disbursements of Title IV funds, late, late disbursements, minor prior-year charges, excess cash, and return of Title IV funds.

Campus-Based Allocation Formula
At this session, we will explain the campus-based programs institutional allocation formula, and discuss potential legislative changes and describe upcoming FISAP form changes that would better target program funds to needy students.

FSA Assessments: An Opportunity to Improve Compliance
This session will focus on the FSA Assessments and how they can assist with financial aid operations, audits and program reviews.

Resolving Database Match Results (SAR-C Codes) and CPS Rejects
Learn how CPS generates processing results and the associated SAR-C codes as it relates to Database Matches, including Selective Service, Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs and Department of Homeland Security. In addition, we will discuss CPS edits that produce rejects and provide information about how you can assist your students to resolve these rejects and eliminate SAR-C codes. This will help you to determine when you can and cannot disburse.

EDExpress Update
EDExpress users will want to attend this session to learn about the 2007-2008 enhancements related to Grant processing, the percentage fee changes for Direct Loan processing, and the Grad PLUS MPN. In addition, we will introduce enhancements anticipated all the EDExpress Modules for 2008-2009.

Introducing the Student Loan Ombudsman Caucus: Facilitating Creative Solutions for Student Loan Problems and Issues
Learn how the new Student Loan Ombudsman Caucus leverages the Ombudsman network to: provide problem resolution training and mentoring; identify and report on trends to support positive change through student loan industry best practices and legislation; and serve as the voice for fair process throughout the student loan life cycle. Very importantly, learn how this network can assist you with hard-to-resolve student loan issues.

HBCU Open Forum
Federal Student Aid's Special Initiatives team invites you to this session to share your best practices with other like schools. In addition, participants will share mutual concerns. The team will listen to your concerns and work toward making your job easier. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide input into proposed training/technical assistance needs.

HSI Open Forum
Federal Student Aid's Special Initiatives team invites you to this session to share your best practices with other like schools. In addition, participants will share mutual concerns. The team will listen to your concerns and work toward making your job easier. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide input into proposed training/technical assistance needs.

Tribal College Open Forum
Federal Student Aid's Special Initiatives team invites you to this session to share your best practices with other like schools. In addition, participants will share mutual concerns. The team will listen to your concerns and work toward making your job easier. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide input into proposed training/technical assistance needs.

SAIG Mailbox Tools for Beginners: EDconnect \ TDCM (Hands On Session)
A hands-on session of the SAIG Mailbox Tools includes the EDconnect Windows software and the Transmission Delivery Community Manager (TDCM) Web tool. This session will be the new upgrade to EDconnect and provide hands-on training for beginner to intermediate users.

FAA Access to CPS Online for New Users (Hands On Session)
FAA Access to CPS Online is a web-based application that provides a collection of functions Financial Aid Administrators need to manage FAFSA and ISIR data on their campus. Using hands-on exercises, let our experts show you how to use FAA Access to CPS Online effectively on your campus.

A Hands-on Tour of R2T4 on the Web (Hands On Session)
After a student withdraws, how do you calculate the amount that the student keeps and the amounts you return to the student and the school for each program? Have you been using the calculation worksheets because you're unfamiliar with our automated software? Using real life examples, we'll show you how to set up a school calendar and charges, enter a student record, calculate the amounts to be returned, notify students, and track their progress

NSLDS for Beginners (Hands On Session)
Beginner class on using NSLDS. This Hands-On session will walk users through the NSLDS Financial Aid Professional's Web site (www.nsldsfap.ed.gov). Each function available on the NSLDSFAP site will be demonstrated; including aid, enrollment history and update, transfer student monitoring, organizational contact pages and reports. Users will be given time to practice new skills and ask questions to the NSLDS experts.

COD Web Hands On (Hands On Session)
Having trouble accessing COD reports or need assistance knowing which one will be the most help? Want to see for yourself how you can resolve those pesky COD reject edits? Bring your active COD UserID and Logon, some problematic data, and a desire to learn and we'll show you the tricks of the trade to help you progress from a casual user of the COD website to the office "Pro". Attendees will become familiar with all the tools you need to resolve processing issues, submit data on line, compare COD and Gaps data, access COD reports- all with an end goal to streamline and improve processing and reconciliation. You will be a COD processing "Ace" by the time you leave the room!

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