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ISAC Update
January 25, 2017
www.isac.org
Agenda
ISAC Update
Federal Update
Open Forum
Questions, comments, observations, etc.
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State of the State
New members of the General Assembly were sworn in on January 11th, and they are now in the 100th General Assembly
Legislators returned to Springfield on January 24
For the current status and full text of bills, visit the General Assembly web site at www.ilga.gov
Governor Rauner presented his State of the State address at noon today
Visit the Governor’s Office web page or the Governor’s Facebook page for more information
www.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/default.aspx
www.facebook.com/GovRauner
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2016-17
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Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) Funding
MAP and ISAC’s other gift assistance programs are not yet funded for state Fiscal Year (FY17), which began on July 1, 2016
ISAC announced estimated MAP awards for the 2016-17 school year, however, the state cannot pay schools for MAP without a final appropriation
See isac.org for more information, including a FAQ for students and parents
Students, During College section
www.isac.org/students/during-college/budget-faqs.html
Newsroom section
ISAC in the News -- www.isac.org/newsroom/isac-in-the-news/
Media Kit -- www.isac.org/newsroom/media-kit/
FAA Message Board
www.isac.org/faas/
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2016-17 Monetary Award Program (MAP)
Suspense dates:
March 10, 2016 for all applicants who are not dislocated workers
MAP records in suspension status will be indicated by a MAP Susp Code of “S” for those whose initial FAFSA® was received by CPS on or after March 10, 2016
August 16, 2016 for independent student applicants who are dislocated workers
Two icons are available on the student list screens to assist users in
identifying DW students who are in Suspense
An enclosed yellow question mark -- -- indicates that a DW
student is in DW suspense, meaning that the student missed both the
regular suspense date and the DW suspense date
A regular question mark -- -- identifies a DW student that missed
the regular suspense date but not the DW suspense date
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2016-17 MAP Processing Update
First term payment requests were due to ISAC on or before December 16, 2016 to be considered timely
Initial claims received after December 16 will be considered late and will only be paid if funding is available after paying timely claims
ISAC has queued all first-term claims that were submitted through December 16 for processing and subsequent vouchering, and once a final FY17 MAP appropriation is known, those payment requests will be processed
Until further notice, no additional payment requests for first term -- initial claims or corrections to previously-submitted claims -- will be accepted
Second term payment requests are not being accepted at this time
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ISAC Teacher Programs
2016-17 SETTW Program
Awards are not subject to annual appropriations
Award notifications were sent to 250 eligible applicants on April 21, 2016
Letters were also sent to qualified applicants not selected
2016-17 MTI Scholarship Program
Initial certifications should be completed in My Zone to ensure that students will be included when/if awarding takes place
Schedule for awarding will be dependent upon the status of the state budget situation
2016-17 GAS Program
Once a final FY17 appropriation is received, ISAC will begin standard processing
Schools should continue to complete and submit initial certifications throughout the year
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ISAC Military Programs
2016-17 IVG Benefit request processing is done via My Zone or FTP
Fall term processing began September 16 and claims were due by Jan 15, 2017 Spring term processing began January 16 and claims are by May 25, 2017 Benefit request results are provided in My Zone
Even when/if there is no appropriation to reimburse schools, benefit requests must be submitted to track veterans’ usage of IVG benefits
2016-17 ING Grant Remaining application deadline dates:
March 1 for 2nd semester, 2nd and/or 3rd quarter & June 15 for summer term only
ING Grant processing is done in GAP Access Data is added whenever there is a new or updated eligible record for the school Spring term benefits used data is due to ISAC on or before April 1, 2017 Even when/if there is no appropriation to reimburse schools, benefit requests
must be submitted to track usage of ING Grant benefits
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In the In-Dist Amt Req data field, schools should
enter the amount of tuition and
mandatory fees being covered by IVG after Post-
9/11 GI Bill benefits have
been applied by the school.
A drop down list includes percentage values, ranging from 40% to 90% • Schools should select the Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility level confirmed by the VA • For ISAC purposes, the percentage is only used for the proration calculation to
determine the number of IVG eligibility units being used • It is not used to adjust the award amount
2016-17 Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers
Remaining application deadline dates March 1 for spring-term and summer-term consideration,
June 15 for summer-term consideration only
Announcements of eligibility are being made to students as applications are received and processed
Certification of Enrollment for Payment Rosters will not be generated and colleges will not certify eligibility or request payment until a final decision is made on the FY2017 state budget
For P/F/C Grant recipients who are also eligible for assistance under the MAP Grant, the P/F/C Grant must be factored into the financial aid package prior to receiving a MAP award The student may, however, receive a MAP award to finance tuition and
mandatory fee expenses not paid by the P/F/C Grant program
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Enhancements to FTP Process
As part of ISAC’s continuing effort to protect its data, we are implementing an enhanced method of securing data exchanged via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) processing
The change involves strengthening user ID and password security for users of ISAC’s secure FTP website: transfer.isac.org
Each individual needing access to ISAC’s secure FTP site will need to have a valid GAP Access user ID and password
Once this has been fullly implemented, only users with valid GAP Access user IDs and passwords will be able to access the site
School Services is currently in the process of contacting each FTP school to establish the necessary credentials
Once credentials have been established for all FTP schools and testing has been completed, schools will be notified
During the transition period, both current and newly established credentials will be accepted
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Reporting of MAP Advising Data
Numerical data from last year’s reporting is available at isac.org
Narrative data will be available soon
Will begin this year’s data collection in early February
Will be done in GAP Access
An e-message will be sent to schools when the system is ready for reporting to begin
Will only need to update existing information
Will also be able to provide new information if applicable
Even if no changes/updates are needed, will still need to go through a submission and confirmation process to meet the reporting requirement
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College Illinois! ®
The 2016-17 enrollment period for the College Illinois!® Prepaid Tuition Program will remain open through May 31, 2017
Enrollment will be open through August 31, 2017 for children born on or between September 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017
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Illinois State Scholars
A listing of all 2017-18 State Scholars is available at isac.org
In the Featured area of our home page
Displayed alphabetically by high school, within each school's county
Congratulatory letters have been sent directly to State Scholars, and Certificates of Achievement have been mailed to high schools
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2017-18
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Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18)
Governor’s FY18 budget address is scheduled for February 15
For General Assembly schedules/information:
www.ilga.gov/
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2017-18 MAP
MAP Start-Up On August 14, 2016, ISAC Commissioners approved the 2017-18 (FY2018)
MAP start-up formula
Reduces all awards by 5 percent for a $4,720 effective maximum MAP award
Notification to Applicants Colleges are required to announce MAP awards to eligible students enrolled at
their institutions.
Refer to the MAP Award Announcements page for details regarding college requirements, as well as samples of the required award letter language and ISAC-generated notifications
Based on feedback received from the financial aid community, the required award letter language reflects some new changes, including how MAP recipients can check the status of their MAP Paid Credit Hours via the ISAC Student Portal
Suspension of 2017-18 MAP Award Announcements ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2017-18 MAP grants for all
students whose initial FAFSA® was received by CPS on or after December 22, 2016
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2017-18 Reminders
2017-18 ISAC Applications Available
Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW)
Priority application consideration date is March 1, 2017
Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program
Priority application consideration date for the 2017-18 MTI Scholarship Program is March 1, 2017
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ISAC Training & Information
Financial Aid 101 Workshops
March 9 at ISAC Springfield Office
March 14 at Elmhurst College
Financial Aid 201 Workshops
March 10 at ISAC Springfield Office
March 15 at Elmhurst College
Monthly Webinars (last Wednesday of the month)
February 22, 2 p.m.
ISAC Update and an Overview of ISAC’s Military Programs
March 29, 2 p.m.
ISAC Update and an Overview of ISAC’s Teacher Programs
Questions may be directed to: [email protected]
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ISAC Contact Information
Student and Parent Services
Phone: 800-899-4722
E-mail: [email protected]
School Services
Phone: 866-247-2172
E-mail: [email protected]
Kim Eck, Training Services
Phone: 217-785-7139
E-mail: [email protected]
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Lynn Mahaffie and Jeff Baker |November 28, 2016
U.S. Department of Education
2016 FSA Training Conference for Financial Aid Professionals
Federal Update
SESSION GS1
OPE Overview
Borrower Defense
Pell Eligibility Reinstatement
Teacher Preparation
State Authorization
Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE)
Strengthening Accreditation
Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
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FSA Overview
Default Rates
Early FAFSA/Prior- Prior
Pell Grant Payment Schedules
Perkins Loan Program
Cash Management
Reporting
Protecting Information
Gainful Employment
Other 28
Questions?
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Prior-Prior and Early FAFSA
Verification Use of DRT Will Reduce Selection for
Verification
Documentation of income/taxes from 2016-2017 can be used for 2017-2018
Eliminated Tracking Group V6 (Low Income)
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Prior-Prior and Early FAFSA
Conflicting Information Occurrences reduced if DRT used for both
2016-2017 and 2017-2018
FOTW warnings if 2017-2018 reporting income/taxes not equal to 2016-2017 reported amounts
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Prior-Prior and Early FAFSA
Conflicting Information – CPS Will:
Perform an automatic review to determine if there might be conflicting information between the two FAFSAs
Flag for institutional resolution only those 2017-2018 ISIRs where the potential conflict, once resolved, would have a significant impact on the student’s 2017-2018 EFC
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2017-2018 Pell Grant Program
Maximum Award - $5,920
Increase from 2016-2017 - $105
Minimum Award - $595
Maximum eligible EFC – 5328
Payment Schedules – See DCL GEN-16-19
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Carney McCullough and Jeff Baker
U.S. Department of Education
November 29, 2016
2016 FSA Training Conference for Financial Aid Professionals
Verification and 2017-2018 Conflicting
Information, Identification, and Resolution
Session GS2
2017-2018 Verification
No new items
Removed Other Untaxed Income and Benefits
Removed SNAP
Removed Child Support Paid
Verification Tracking Groups
Eliminated Household Resources Verification
Tracking Group (V6)
Verification Tracking Groups V2, V3, and V6 are
reserved
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2017-2018 Verification
Must obtain new documentation each
award year for—
Number of household members
Number in college
Identity/Statement of Educational
Purpose
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2017-2018 Verification
Acceptable Documentation
Confirmation of Nonfiling
Nontax filers
Tax filers who received an extension but still
have not filed their return
Use IRS Form 4506-T and check box 7
Dated on or after October 1, 2016
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2017-2018 Verification
Acceptable Documentation
High School Completion Status
Former member of the military unable to
obtain documentation
May accept as alternative
documentation a DD Form 214
DD Form 214 must indicate that the
individual is a high school graduate or
equivalent
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IRS Get Transcript Online
Relaunched on June 7, 2016
New enhanced authentication process requires the user to
“register” with the IRS before submitting a request to receive
transcript online
To use Get Transcript Online tool, must have—
A valid email address
A text-enabled mobile phone
Specific financial account numbers such as credit card,
mortgage account, or auto loan account
A tax filer who is not able to successfully register will still be able
to submit an online or phone request for a tax return transcript to
be sent by mail
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Conflicting Information Issue
2016-2017 and 2017-2018 FAFSAs use the same
2015 income and tax information
Possibility of conflicting information between the two
FAFSAs
The regulations at 34 CFR 668.16(f) require resolution
of any possible conflicting information
Student aid must be provided based on correct
information
See DCL GEN-16-14 published August 3, 2016
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Use of IRS DRT for Both Years
Students and parents use the IRS DRT for both 2016-
2017 FAFSA and 2017-2018 FAFSA
2016-2017 – If not used when FAFSA initially
submitted, use the IRS DRT with the FOTW
corrections process to update (or confirm)
2017-2018 – Most can use the IRS DRT at time of
initial completion of the FAFSA
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Pre FOTW Submission Warnings
Real-time warnings displayed if one or more
of the income or tax amounts being input into
a 2017-2018 FAFSA differs from the
amount(s) that was reported on the 2016-
2017 FAFSA
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Pre FOTW Submission Warnings
No warnings if the 2016-2017 FAFSA
transaction was based on –
Estimated income/taxes
If there has been a change in the student’s
dependency status between the two years
If there has been a change in either the student’s
or parents’ marital status between the two years
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ED Identification
CPS will compare the last 2016-2017 ISIR
transaction with the 2017-2018 ISIR to –
Determine if there is income/tax conflicting
information between the two FAFSAs, and,
If any identified conflicting information would,
once resolved, produce a significant change in
the student’s expected family contribution (EFC)
CPS will flag the 2017-2018 ISIR to require
institutional resolution - Comment Code 399
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ED Identification
CPS review will not be performed if—
Student is not expected to be Pell Grant eligible
based on the 2017-2018 FAFSA
There was a change in the student’s dependency
status
There was a change in the student’s or parents’
marital status
Professional judgment was performed in either
year
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ED Identification
If there is the possibility of a significant change in a
student’s EFC, the 2017-2018 ISIR will have a ‘C’
code and Comment Code 399, informing the
institution that it must resolve the possible conflicting
information
If Comment Code 399 is not included on the 2017-
2018 ISIR, no further action by the institution is
required
Institutions must comply with the requirements for
the resolution of other conflicting information
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Additional Guidance
Electronic Announcements (EAs)
October 13, 2016 - CPS Reprocessing to Update
Records Incorrectly Assigned SAR Comment Code 399
October 21, 2016 – Various Issues
Graduate Students
Professional Judgment
November 18, 2016 - Institutional System Delay in
Resolving Conflicting Information Comment Code
399
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Additional Guidance
Questions & Answers on IFAP
Q&A12: If the student is no longer enrolled and is not expected to re-enroll for 2016–2017 or enroll for 2017–2018, the institution is not required to resolve the possible conflicting information. [September 6, 2016]
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Additional Guidance
Questions & Answers on IFAP
Q&A14: Even if the ISIR was not selected for verification, institutions must resolve the possible conflicting information if the student’s 2017–2018 ISIR included Comment Code 399. [September 6, 2016]
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Additional Guidance
Questions & Answers on IFAP
Q&A17: The required comparison must be between the 2017–2018 ISIR with Comment Code 399 and the 2016–2017 ISIR that was, or will be, used as the basis for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. [September 6, 2016]
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Lisa DiCarlo and Misty Parkinson | Nov-Dec. 2016
U.S. Department of Education
2016 FSA Training Conference for Financial Aid Professionals
FAFSA®, Central Processing System,
and FSA ID Updates
Session GS3
2017-2018 SCAPS GUIDE
Review the 2017-2018 Summary of Changes to the Application Processing System (SCAPS) Guide for more information about changes to the FAFSA, CPS, and FAA Access to CPS Online:
http://ifap.ed.gov/ifap/byAwardYear.jsp?type=sumchngsappsys&awardyear=2017-2018
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FAFSA DEMO SITE
For an up-close look at the 2017-2018 FAFSA visit:
http://fafsademo.test.ed.gov/
Username: eddemo
Password: fafsatest
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PLANNED APPLICATION
CHANGES FOR 2018-2019
FIELDS CHANGED AFTER USING THE IRS DRT
Issue: When applicants or parents use the IRS DRT to transfer tax return information into the FAFSA, and then change any of the transferred data, the IRS Request Flag value changes from “02” to “03” (if the data is changed on the same transaction) or “04” (if the data is changed on a subsequent transaction). The FAA has no way of knowing, based on the ISIR data, which field(s) changed.
Potential Resolution: New fields on the ISIR notify colleges which values were changed after tax return information was transferred into the FAFSA.
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AMENDED RETURN FILERS & THE IRS DRT
Issue: Applicants and parents who self-report (often incorrectly) that they amended their tax return cannot use the IRS DRT to transfer tax return information into the FAFSA.
Potential Resolution: Applicants and parents are no longer asked on the FAFSA if they amended their tax return. If an applicant or parent uses the IRS DRT and the IRS has an amended tax return on file, the IRS sends a notification that there’s an amended return on file. This notification is shared with colleges via the ISIR.
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NON-FILERS & THE IRS DRT
Issue:
Applicants and parents who indicate they “will not
file” a tax return, and are selected for verification,
must obtain proof of non-filing from the IRS (effective
2017-2018).
Potential Resolution:
Applicants and parents who indicate they “will not
file” a tax return are given the option to link to the
IRS for confirmation. IRS confirmation of non-filing is
shared with colleges via the ISIR.
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PARENT MARITAL STATUS
Issue:
Parents have difficulty answering the parent marital
status question correctly.
Potential Resolution:
Modify FAFSA question 59 to remove the reference to
“legal” parents and instead add “legal” to the only
response to which it applies (unmarried and both parents
living together).
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HOMELESS YOUTH
Issue:
Applicants aged 22 or 23 who indicate on the FAFSA that they
are homeless must rely on the FAA to set a Homeless Youth
Override flag in order for the applicant to complete the FAFSA
as an independent student.
Potential Resolution:
Logic for FAFSA questions 56, 57, and 58 is modified so
these questions display to all applicants who indicate they are
homeless, allowing applicants aged 22 or 23 to indicate they
received a homeless determination from one of the three
entities listed.
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OTHER PLANNED CHANGES
Mobile responsive FAFSA
Integration of the College Scorecard into FAFSA
on the Web
List of colleges sent to state grant agencies in
school code order
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PLANNED UPDATES FOR
FSA ID
FSA ID UPDATE
40 million users and counting
Want to make creating an FSA ID in 2017
easier than ever
Changes based on your feedback
• Adding SMS / Text for Password and Username
retrieval
• Simplifying Account Management and Creating
an Account
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SMS/TEXT FOR FORGOT USERNAME AND PASSWORD
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• Significant Date is now optional
• Text boxes on different lines and outlined in black
• Removed 13 and older question
• Removed PIN linking
• Re-organized Account Management page
• Revised instructions
• New Video and Additional FAQs
SIMPLIFIED ACCOUNT CREATION AND MANAGEMENT
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fsaconferences.ed.gov/
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Other Suggested Sessions
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Other Suggested Sessions
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OTHER FEDERAL NEWS
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Change to GI Bill, Veterans Education Benefits
A law passed by Congress and signed by the president in December included several minor changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other veterans' education programs.
Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 requires:
Educational institutions to submit an annual report on the academic progress of students attending under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a non-government entity to conduct a survey of individuals who are using or have used VA educational benefits
VA to disapprove courses in which covered individuals are charged more than the in-state tuition rate
For a summary of the bill, visit the National Association of College and Business Officers’ (NACUBO) website:
www.nacubo.org/Documents/BusinessPolicyAreas/HR6416SectionbySectionSummary.pdf
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Fact Sheet Guide for Servicemembers
Servicemembers and veterans have special protections, like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act interest rate reduction, that could help to save money on repaying their student loans.
The Consumer Financial Protection Burea (CFPB) recently released a guide to help military borrowers understand their range of options and how to apply
It can be accessed at:
www.consumerfinance.gov/ files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/201604_cfpb_servicemember-
student-loan-guide.pdf
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Open Forum
Comments/feedback from anyone who attended the FSA Conference …
Issues/topics that you think should be addressed at the ILASFAA Conference …
Other thoughts/comments …
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Questions/Comments?
Thank you for participating today!
