Attending the 2025 NASFAA Leadership Conference felt like stepping into a whirlwind of financial aid challenges, policy shifts, and pressing workforce concerns. This year’s discussions painted a complex picture of the financial aid landscape—one filled with uncertainty, under-resourcing, and constant change. But amid all the challenges, there was also a...
The U.S. Department of Education has updated the Return to Title IV (R2T4) regulations (34 CFR 668.22), effective July 1, 2026, with an option for early implementation starting February 3, 2025 on certain regulations. These changes aim to provide more flexibility for institutions while maintaining compliance with federal guidelines. Let’s break...
In two separate Electronic Announcements, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) detailed significant changes in the Federal Student Aid identity verification process. These changes affect how schools handle verification for those students who are already selected, or who should be selected, for V4 or V5 verification. While temporary, they will...
One of the final pieces of the FAFSA Simplification Act has arrived, and with it, changes to Pell Grant processes beginning in the 2024/25 academic year. As the new award year unfolds, it’s crucial that your financial aid office is prepared to implement new compliance processes and updated calculations. McClintock’s...
Navigating the financial aid process can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to decoding the myriad of ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record) Comment Codes that accompany the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These codes, which are essential for processing financial aid, often contain critical information that requires further...
In the realm of financial aid, change is a constant. The 2024/25 ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record) has brought about a notable adjustment — the removal of the housing question, specifically concerning living arrangements. This alteration, stemming from the FAFSA Simplification Act, prompts educational institutions to reconsider their approaches to...
In October 2023, the Department announced an amendment to § 668.23(a) to require that audit reports are timely submitted, by the earlier of 30 days after the completion of the report or six months after the end of the institution’s fiscal year. Furthermore, when the regulations go into effect on July...
While exhibiting at NASFAA’s 2024 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, Parker Charlton, FAAC® and I had the opportunity to attend sessions featuring both the Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, and a panel of Department of Education (ED) officials. They acknowledged the challenges posed by the 2024-2025 FAFSA and subsequent...