A very clear message about the "Lavish" FSA Conference

The Department of Education opened the registration for the free FSA Conference and the hotel room block yesterday that will take place the first week of December in Las Vegas, NV.

It is not the only thing the FSA updated on the website. Below is the changes in the website today. Cross outs are words that were deleted and yellow highlights are the additions.

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Note the addition of "is not for government employees but it is training provided...by the government", "by law, schools are accountable", and "is an investment in protecting the taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse".

Strong and direct language. It might have been in reaction to the articles a few weeks ago about "Education Dept. plans lavish Las Vegas conference as students lose services" and Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn calling the decision inappropriate.

WCET Submitted Testimony to Department of Education →

If you have not already had a chance read Russell Poulin’s submitted testimony for WCET to the Department of Education for Negotiated Rule Making, it gives a good overview of the conversation points (as well as WICHE’s stance) at the Department of Education Hearing back on May 30th at UCSF.

You can also see my mediocre iPhone photography of him delivering testimony.

First Generation Student Blog Article: Student Loans →

I had the honor of writing an article for the First Generation Student blog. The article was a guide to student loans for first-generation college students.

Hope it helps students navigate the complex world of student loans. Feel free to share.

Why here and now? FAFSA 2014-15

The Department of Education annouced this past Tuesday that starting with the 2014-15 FAFSA, it will become more inclusive of families where both parents live in the same household, including gay parents.

This sounds wonderful and even while the Department of Education is playing the dance of DOMA, it has left me with more questions about intention, purpose, and timing.

@Daniel_Luzer at the Washington Monthly struct my thinking:

But well, progressive token gestures are easier than substantive policy fixes.

via @jstnchsbrwn

Headed to College Board Western Regional Forum

I am headed out tomorrow to San Diego for the College Board Western Regional Forum. I will be presenting a session Friday afternoon on how the institutional financial aid process impacts student enrollment. The session is built on my doctoral dissertation work in the area of community colleges in California and expanded to apply to four-year public and private institutions as well. The session should be very interactive and I am looking forward to presenting.

If you will be in San Diego for the Forum and want to meet up, feel free to drop my a line on Twitter @scottcline or email.