TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    Courses

    NASFAA’s Off the Cuff Podcast

    Hosted by NASFAA staff, this weekly podcast offers an unscripted view of hot financial aid and higher education-related topics. Justin Draeger and co-hosts will discuss what’s happening inside the beltway to give you an insider’s perspective.

    Advertise
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify
    Latest Episodes:
    OTC Inside The Beltway: 2024-25 and 2025-26 FAFSA Updates and the 2024 Election Oct 31, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Beth, Jill, Rachel, and Nalia discuss FAFSA updates and how the 2024 election may shape financial aid policy for the next administration. Jill kicks things off by debriefing listeners on several fixes the Department of Education (ED) has made to issues in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 FAFSA cycles. Then, Nalia and Rachel lead a discussion on what a Harris or Trump presidency could mean for financial aid policy. The team also briefly discusses how NASFAA develops its advocacy positions as a nonpartisan organization and how NASFAA advocates on the Hill. The team ends the episode discussing what we’re keeping an eye out for in the upcoming 119th Congress.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Updates on 2024-25 Paper FAFSA Processing, Conflicting Information, and Known Issues Oct 24, 2024

    This week on "Off the Cuff," David and Hugh discuss multiple updates with the 2024-25 FAFSA, starting off with the latest processing timelines for the 2024-25 paper FAFSA. David then debriefs listeners on how to handle conflicting information related to Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs). The team also talks about resources from the Department of Education (ED) listing known issues with the 2024-25 FAFSA. David ends the episode by reminding listeners that the new deadline for gainful employment and financial value transparency reporting is January 15, 2025.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Jay Treaty Updates and Resources for Institutions Impacted by Natural Disasters Oct 17, 2024

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Sarah and Hugh discuss 2024-25 changes in documentation requirements related to Jay Treaty students and dig into the background of this guidance within the FSA Handbook. From there, Sarah debriefs listeners on several resources both NASFAA and the Department of Education (ED) have for institutions that were impacted by recent natural disasters. Sarah then explains some timely electronic announcements and Dear Colleague Letters that can help students and schools affected by these recent disasters.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: Beta Testing Begins for the 2025-26 FAFSA Oct 03, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Beth and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss new updates with the FAFSA and the appropriations process. Karen begins by debriefing listeners on the latest news surrounding the 2025-26 FAFSA, which began its beta testing this week. She also provides listeners with an update on the reprocessing of 2024-25 Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and the availability of the correction functionality for 2024-25 paper FAFSAs. From there, Jon catches listeners up on the enactment of a short-term spending resolution which now funds the government through mid-December. Beth concludes the episode by giving some updates on the College Cost Transparency Initiative, which recently celebrated its one year anniversary.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: What Makes Professional Judgement So Special? Sep 26, 2024

    This week on “Off the Cuff,” Hugh, David, and Sarah discuss all things concerning professional judgment (PJ). David provides some key background information on PJ, including details on terminology and policy considerations for institutions. Sarah then catches listeners up on what is new for PJ in 2024-25, along with updates made due to FAFSA changes. The team then goes through different scenarios and whether or not they involve the use of professional judgment.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Where Things Stand with SAVE and IDR Sep 19, 2024

    This week on “Off the Cuff,” Hugh and Jill discuss the latest news surrounding the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, and income-driven repayment (IDR) plans in general. Jill kicks things off with a background discussion on how the SAVE plan came to be through the negotiated rulemaking process and then catches listeners up on the legal challenges that have threatened the program. The conversation then highlights how financial aid administrators can help borrowers navigate through the current repayment landscape and discusses some NASFAA resources that listeners should be on the lookout for.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: A FAFSA Roadmap and Reporting Deadlines Sep 12, 2024

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Beth, Karen, Jill, and Hugh are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss the latest news surrounding the 2025-26 FAFSA and the department’s planned “beta” period for the form. The team then discusses the department’s upcoming institutional reporting deadline for gainful employment (GE) and financial value transparency (FVT) regulations and highlights a recent bipartisan Senate letter calling for a delay. The group then wraps things up with a discussion about ongoing spending negotiations and what listeners can expect from Congress during the presidential election season.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing on Batch Corrections  Aug 01, 2024

    This week on a special edition of “Off the Cuff,” Allie, Beth, and Karen, are joined by 2024-25 NASFAA National Chair Kristi Jovell of Middlebury College and National Chair-Elect Heidi Carl of Purdue University to break down the latest development from the Department of Education (ED) concerning batch corrections and the 2024-25 FAFSA. The team dives into the implications for schools and students, how ED could provide relief to financial aid professionals, and continuing advocacy efforts around gainful employment and financial value transparency reporting requirements.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: The Latest on GE & FVT Regulations, SCOTUS' Regulatory Shakeup, and FAFSA Timelines Jul 18, 2024

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Karen, Jill, and Hugh discuss the latest news surrounding Gainful Employment (GE) and Financial Value Transparency (FVT) regulations, as well as NASFAA's advocacy campaign to request that Congress take action to require the Department of Education (ED) to delay upcoming institutional reporting requirements. The team then debriefs the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the "Chevron deference" and how it could impact higher education policy. From there, Karen and Jill update listeners on the latest news with the FAFSA – including when batch corrections will be available and new guidance from ED. The team also discusses new legislation in Congress – the FAFSA Deadline Act – and updates with the appropriations process.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: Justin Signs Off Jun 13, 2024

    This week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, and Allie are joined by former OTC podcast hosts, Stephen Payne, executive director of external relations at Muhlenberg College, and Megan Coval, interim president of Butler County Community College. Karen kicks off the episode by debriefing listeners on several NASFAA letters. The first letter was sent to the Department of Education (ED) on the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle, and a second letter was sent to Congressional leaders requesting their assistance in securing a delay until July 2025 of the GE/FVT institutional reporting requirements (5:27-14:02). After the policy team update, the whole group reminisces on the early days of the podcast and share special memories as Justin departs from his role next week.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Preparing for New Regulations Effective on July 1, 2024 Jun 06, 2024

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Hugh, Jill, and David discuss several regulatory changes that become effective on July 1, 2024. Jill begins by giving a deep dive on some of the confusing elements of transcript withholding and details the Department of Education's (ED) regulatory approach to the issue. David then provides a brief overview of additional regulations that will also be going into effect on July 1. These more wide-reaching regulations include administrative capability, institutional eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, gainful employment, and more.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: 300 Episodes Later May 30, 2024

    This week, on the 300th episode of “Off the Cuff,” Justin, Karen, and Allie discuss the most up-to-date FAFSA news, and preview the unique sessions being offered at the NASFAA National and Virtual Conferences. Karen kicks things off with an update on the Department of Education’s (ED) FAFSA reprocessing work and outlines additional guidance that should be available in the days and weeks ahead. Justin then recaps a recent community letter that a number of higher education groups sent to Congress urging for policies that will strengthen the FAFSA process moving forward. Allie wraps things up with a preview of NASFAA’s conferences and covers a few sessions she is most looking forward to.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: The Good, the Bad, and the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure of School Corrections May 16, 2024

    This week on “Off The Cuff,” Allie, Jill, and David talk about the latest news on school corrections and dive into a discussion on crossover periods. Jill kicks things off by recapping the most recent electronic announcement from the Department of Education concerning the timelines for school ISIR corrections and processing for paper FAFSA submissions. David then goes over some rules for crossover payment periods and highlights how FAFSA simplification has impacted the process.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Cardona Faces More FAFSA Questions on the Hill May 09, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, and Rachel are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to recap a lengthy House hearing where Education Secretary Miguel Cardona sparred with Republicans over the department’s budget request and the secretary’s record. The team then recapped some exchanges centered on the 2024-25 FASFA and highlighted noteworthy student aid policies that came up during the hearing, which lasted over four hours. The conversation then turned to more updates on the ongoing FAFSA rollout and electronic announcements that could be delivered in the coming days.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing the Temporary FAFSA Filing Fix for Mixed-Status Families and Cardona's Senate Hearing May 02, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Jill and Rachel to discuss this week's announcement from the Department of Education (ED) of a temporary FAFSA filing fix for applicants and contributors without a Social Security number. From there, Rachel debriefs listeners on Education Secretary Miguel Cardona's testimony at a Senate appropriation subcommittee hearing this week. The group also discusses last week's announcement that FSA Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray is stepping down from his position this summer.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: New Changes at NASFAA Apr 25, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by NASFAA Executive Vice President Beth Maglione and Director of Research Charlotte Etier to discuss Justin's announcement this week that he plans to step down from his role as NASFAA’s president and CEO in June. From there, Karen debriefs listeners on more FAFSA updates, including where we stand with institutional corrections. Plus, Charlotte shares the results of NASFAA's latest poll on when institutions plan to send financial aid offers to students and what their disbursement timing may be.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: More FAFSA Updates and Biden's Proposed Student Debt Relief Plan Apr 18, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss the latest FAFSA updates of the past week, including news on the Department of Education's reprocessing of affected Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs). From there, Karen walks through the results of this week's NASFAA poll which asked members about their institutions' plans to send financial aid offers to students. Plus, Jon debriefs listeners of the Biden administration's proposed rules on student debt relief, and where the congressional appropriations process stands.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: NASFAA Testifies on 2024-25 FAFSA Rollout Apr 11, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, Rachel, and Tim discuss Justin's testimony this week before the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on the Department of Education's (ED) rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. Karen also debriefs listeners on the latest NASFAA poll asking members about which first-year undergraduate student populations, if any, they plan to send aid offers to by May 1. From there, the team discusses the latest FAFSA updates from ED on the status of reprocessing ISIRs, student corrections, and new guidance from the department. Finally, Rachel informs listeners on the latest news on the Biden administration's student debt relief plan.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: Unpacking the FAFSA Tax Data Issues Apr 04, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, and Tim discuss this week's news that the Department of Education (ED) identified three issues concerning tax data reported on FAFSA applicant records. The team dives into the details of those identified issues, and what the department is doing next — including the latest update to reprocess all affected records. Tim also provides context on how financial aid professionals are currently feeling amid these challenges.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: A Big Year for Delays Mar 28, 2024

    This week on “Off the Cuff,” Allie, Karen, and Rachel discuss the latest adjustments to the rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA, including a miscalculation in the SAI formula. The team covers a number of other possible FAFSA issues and outlines what updates they would like to see from the Department of Education (ED) as the rollout begins to ramp up. Rachel then provides an update on the federal budget cycle, where Congress recently completed its work for the fiscal year 2024, and now turns to the president’s budget request containing newly proposed funding levels for ED for fiscal year 2025.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Storm Clouds on the FAFSA Summit as ISIR Rollout Begins Mar 14, 2024

    This week on “Off the Cuff” Justin, Karen, Allie, and Tim are back with the latest news on the 2024-25 FAFSA with recent updates from the Department of Education (ED) about the delivery of Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs). The team dives into recent electronic announcements detailing updates, fixes, and troubleshooting issues impacting users without Social Security numbers, rejected ISIRs, and ongoing issues with EDconnect software. The discussion then turns to recent national reporting that provides more context into the ongoing struggles of the 2024-25 FAFSA launch.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: Keeping Track of ED’s Updated FAFSA Timeline Mar 07, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by NASFAA Community Manager Tim Maggio to discuss the latest news surrounding the 2024-25 FAFSA, with a focus on the Department of Education’s (ED) planned rollout of Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs). The team walks through each of the steps ED detailed in its recent electronic announcement and provides insight into the key timeline and benchmarks that the department is promising to meet in the coming weeks. Tim then shares some comments from members and the growing concerns that financial aid professionals have expressed over the 2024-25 FAFSA.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: Making Sense of The SAI Formula Update and Latest Federal Budget Negotiations Feb 29, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Allie and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss an update to the Student Aid Index (SAI) formula from the Department of Education (ED), which allows the Student’s Contribution from Income (SCI) to have a negative calculated value with no floor. However, the team also discusses how a continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House would rescind that update. The team also walks through the latest updates around the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act and the release of 100 system-generated test Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs).

    OTC From the Field: Let's Dig Through Some FAFSA Data Feb 22, 2024

    This week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Bill DeBaun, the National College Attainment Network's senior director of data and strategic initiatives, to discuss the 2024-25 FAFSA rollout. Bill debriefs listeners on trends found in NCAN's FAFSA Tracker, which tracks completion rates for the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle. Justin and Karen also discuss other news from the week, including the additional release of eight test Institutional Student Information Record (ISIRs) and new guidance from the Department of Education (ED) on how to submit the 2024-25 FAFSA if a contributor doesn't have a Social Security number. The team also talks through this week’s announcement that ED began the 60-day comment period for Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency reporting requirements.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: Debriefing the NASFAA Leadership Conference and ED's FAFSA College Support Strategy Feb 15, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Hugh to recap NASFAA's 2024 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, and discuss the Department of Education's (ED) new "FAFSA College Support Strategy." Justin debriefs listeners on the new initiative, explains what NASFAA's partnership entails and how it will aim to help severely under-resourced institutions get ready to receive, and review, Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) in March. Additionally, the team discusses the latest news around the 2024-25 FAFSA rollout, including ED's commitment to release test versions of ISIRs by February 16, and this week's announcement that ED will significantly reduce verification requirements.

    OTC Inside The Beltway: Working Through the ISIR Delivery Delay Feb 01, 2024

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss this week’s news that institutions and states will begin receiving Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) in the "first half of March." The team breaks down the announcement from the Department of Education, answers frequently asked questions, and shares NASFAA's efforts to advocate for financial aid offices. Additionally, the team debriefs two recent pieces of legislation, Rep. Virginia Foxx’s College Cost Reduction Act and Rep. Bobby Scott’s Roadmap to College Student Success.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Making Sense of the 2024-25 FAFSA Timeline Jan 25, 2024

    This week in a special episode of “Off the Cuff,” the fun with FAFSA never stops! Justin, Karen, and Allie dive into the latest news surrounding the 2024-25 FAFSA timeline that is leading many higher education advocates and students to grow increasingly concerned about the impending time crunch for the annual aid cycle. The team digs into the Department of Education’s (ED) announcement that it will update the tables used to protect a portion of a family’s income and assets from being considered in the Student Aid Index (SAI) by inflation-adjusted amounts and how the department’s mistake will impact the timing of financial aid offers. The team also covers some reaction to the FAFSA rollout in the media and on Capitol Hill.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Are We Still Having Fun With FAFSA? Jan 18, 2024

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David recap the latest negotiated rulemaking session that focused on a number of issues, including cash management, distance education, R2T4, and more. Plus, the team dives into reported issues stemming from the FAFSA soft launch, some fixes that have been made available to students and families, and where financial aid professionals can keep tabs on issue alerts and progress.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Tackling the 2024-25 FAFSA Soft Launch Jan 04, 2024

    This week on “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Karen and NASFAA's Tim Maggio to discuss the biggest financial aid news so far in 2024 — the soft launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA. Justin and Karen discuss the current state of the launch, issues and outages that have impacted the form’s availability, and what updates they are looking for from the Department of Education in the weeks ahead. Tim then highlights some chatter from the financial aid community, as well as some social media posts that have highlighted applicant experiences with the rollout and the form itself. The team then dives into some known issues that ED has flagged and the department’s communications campaign.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Debt Relief Neg Reg Updates and Unpacking FAFSA Family Size Dec 14, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss updates with the negotiated rulemaking process for student debt relief and unpack a new FAFSA term – family size. Jill kicks off the podcast by debriefing listeners on the latest negotiated rulemaking session on student debt relief, including which provisions the committee reached consensus on and where they disagreed. David then goes into the intricacies of family size, including answering different "what about" questions from NASFAA members. This is the last "Off The Cuff" episode for 2023 and NASFAA wishes everyone a happy 2024!

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Recapping Those Warm and Fuzzy Feelings from the FSA Training Conference Dec 05, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by Karen and NASFAA’s Sarah Austin to recap Federal Student Aid’s (FSA) 2023 virtual training conference. The team discusses a number of sessions held throughout the four-day event and highlights their biggest takeaways from the conference, including updates on FAFSA simplification, the FAFSA partner portal, new data-sharing guidance, FSA enforcement, topics and conversations brought up in the NASFAA Slack community, and more.

    OTC From the Field:Breaking Down Student Loan Programs With Dr. Tisa Silver Canady Nov 30, 2023

    This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Dr. Tisa Silver Canady, the founder and executive director of the Maryland Center for Collegiate Financial Wellness, to discuss student loan repayment, including some significant changes in the system that occurred in the past three years during the pause on federally-held student loans, and where things stand as repayment resumes. Justin and Tisa break down what repayment options are available to borrowers, discuss the importance of using return on investment as a metric for assessing postsecondary options, and help make sense of confusing messaging over the Biden administration’s attempts to carry out a student debt cancellation program.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: ED Details FAFSA Release Date and ISIR Delay, While Appropriators Avert a Government Shutdown - For Now Nov 16, 2023

    This week on “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Karen and Rachel to dig into the Department of Education’s (ED) latest announcement concerning the rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. The team discussed ED’s pledge to release the FAFSA by December 31 and highlighted how the delayed delivery of Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) could impact schools. Justin and Karen then discuss what this compressed timeline could mean for financial aid professionals and detail the ways in which NASFAA is urging the department to support financial aid offices and stakeholders. Rachel then highlights the latest developments on federal spending negotiations and how the process could unfold in 2024.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Updates on Student Debt Relief Neg Reg and the FAFSA 24-25 Contributor Nov 09, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss updates with the negotiated rulemaking process for student debt relief and new changes with FAFSA simplification and the contributor process. Jill first debriefs listeners on last week’s negotiated rulemaking session on student loan debt relief and the Department of Education's proposed regulatory text. David then explains how a student can invite a contributor to complete the FAFSA and other intricacies with the contributor process in completing the 2024-25 FAFSA.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Working Through Those FAFSA Fears Nov 02, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss the latest fears from the financial aid community surrounding outstanding questions on the rollout of FAFSA simplification. The team digs into those concerns, offers suggestions on contingency planning, and stresses for aid offices to remain flexible as the department approaches its December rollout. The team then dives into the latest congressional news and updates listeners on the annual appropriations process, previews next week’s negotiated rulemaking session and highlights some reporting on a bumpy transition to student loan repayment.

    OTC From the Field: Unpacking Third Way's Economic Mobility Index and Graduate Student Debt Oct 26, 2023

    This week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Chazz Robinson, education policy advisor at Third Way, to discuss his work on Third Way's 2023 Economic Mobility Index (EMI). Chazz explains the methodology for the index, and how some institutions were given high EMI scores. Additionally, Chazz and Justin discuss issues about graduate student debt, and what policy discussions lawmakers are having on the issue. Maria then brings us the news of the week, including new final regulations from the Department of Education, and NASFAA's Professional Judgment survey.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Debriefing Student Debt Relief Neg Reg and Parent of Record for 2024-25 FAFSA Oct 19, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss the first committee session of the Department of Education's (ED) negotiated rulemaking process for student debt relief and the nuances of the "parent of record" term on the 2024-25 FAFSA. Allie and Jill kick things off by running through where things stand in the negotiated rulemaking process, and what topics and solutions negotiators discussed during the two-day session. David then walks the group through different examples of who the parent of record would be on the 2024-25 FAFSA.

    OTC From the Field: The College Cost Transparency Initiative Oct 12, 2023

    This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education (ACE), to discuss the College Cost Transparency Initiative (CCT) — a coalition of hundreds of institutions aimed at improving transparency of student financial aid offers. Justin and Ted dive into the formation of the CCT task force last year, how higher education advocacy groups and institutions have engaged in the process, the rollout of the initiative’s principles and standards, and future plans for promoting transparency in student financial aid offers. Justin and Ted then go on to discuss what makes them most optimistic about the state of higher education as well as their concerns — and the general landscape of the federal student aid system.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing Negotiated Rulemaking, New Gainful Employment Regulations, and Influx of Borrower Defense Claims Oct 05, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss how Congress avoided a government shutdown and what that means for federal funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid. The team then discusses the upcoming negotiated rulemaking sessions for student debt relief, including the issue paper the Department of Education (ED) released before the October session, and ED's new gainful employment regulations. Justin and Karen also address concerns aid offices have about an influx of borrower defense to repayment claims.

    OTC From the Field: Concerningly High Turnover Rates for Financial Aid Employees Sep 28, 2023

    This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Andy Brantley, president and CEO at College & University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), to discuss findings from the latest iteration of their higher education employee retention survey. The results of the survey found concerning trends related to the financial aid profession’s retention rates, where a majority of financial aid professionals say they’re at least somewhat likely to look for other employment within a year. Justin and Andy go on to discuss factors underlying the retention crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significant challenges the higher education sector is faced with, and dive into the staying power of remote and hybrid working environments.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: All Things Repayment and the Not So Very Normal FAFSA Year Sep 21, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss the latest details on the return to student loan repayment and highlight the nuances of a new FAFSA simplification term: “contributors.” Allie and Jill kick things off by running through where things stand with the return to student loan repayment, the on-ramp to repayment, servicer wait times, and the administration’s new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan. David then helps listeners make sense of a new FAFSA term — “contributor” — which refers to anyone who is asked to provide information on an applicant’s FAFSA. David goes on to offer a number of scenarios in which an individual may or may not be considered as a part of that definition.

    OTC From the Field: All Things SAVE With Under Secretary James Kvaal Sep 12, 2023

    This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal to discuss the administration's Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan that the administration has been heavily promoting as student loan repayments resume. The conversation dives into the benefits of the plan, the enrollment process, the timeline associated with its implementation, an overview of ED’s student loan portfolio, and more. Justin and Under Secretary Kvaal also go on to discuss some of the administration’s upcoming priorities for higher education, new regulations, the federal budget, and much more.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: ‘Not the Rosiest Way to Start September’ - Big Questions on Federal Budget Negotiations Sep 08, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to dig into the latest state of play surrounding the federal budgeting process. The team highlights how Congress’ end of September deadline could impact a host of priorities for the Department of Education (ED), including its FAFSA simplification rollout, negotiated rulemaking, and general operations. The group also highlights ED’s new repayment plan and discusses some summer news coverage concerning perceptions of investments, and risks associated with higher education.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: The SCOTUS Recap Jul 13, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin and Rachel are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to recap the most recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that struck down race-conscious admissions policies and the Biden administration's student loan debt cancellation program. The group dives into what impact these decisions will have on college campuses and also provides details as to how schools can make sense of both decisions. The team then highlights what comes next for the on-ramp to student loan repayment and interest accrual, which will begin this September. Rachel and Justin also update listeners on NASFAA’s 2023 National Conference as well as some timely information from this week’s virtual conference.

    OTC From the Field: NASFAA Conference Preview Jun 15, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Dana Kelly, NASFAA's vice president of professional development and institutional compliance, and Kristi Jovell, director of student financial services operations and communications at Middlebury College and NASFAA's 2023 National Conference Program Task Force chair. The group discusses what attendees can expect of the 2023 National Conference in San Diego this month, including what sessions they’re looking forward to and what attendees can do for fun in San Diego. Follow along with the conversation from the National Conference online using #NASFAA2023. Can’t make it to San Diego this year? You can still register for the NASFAA Virtual Conference, which takes place July 10-14.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Deep Dive on Proposed GE Regs and Removal of Housing Question on FAFSA Jun 08, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David cover the latest developments concerning the Department of Education’s roll-out of its proposed gainful employment regulations and financial value transparency framework, as well as the removal of the housing status question from the 2024-25 FAFSA. Jill dives into how new GE metrics could impact a variety of schools, as well as what comes next for the negotiated rulemaking process. David shares the impact of the removal of the housing question from the 2024-25 FAFSA and how schools can work through the packaging process. Hugh then catches listeners up on some higher education news coming from the White House, including a debt ceiling resolution and the latest on student loan cancellation.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Wrapping Up the Debt Ceiling and the Latest on Student Loan Debt Cancellation Jun 01, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Rachel joins Justin and Karen to discuss some breaking news on the Hill concerning the debt ceiling and congressional efforts to overturn President Joe Biden’s student loan debt cancellation plan. The team starts out with a discussion on the Senate passing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) seeking to rescind Biden’s debt cancellation plan and the fallout from the bipartisan vote. Rachel then provides an update on the debt ceiling deal, and how the measure is expected to impact federal funding for the upcoming fiscal years. The team then digs into some updates concerning SNAP eligibility.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Federal Work-Study and Murky COVID Flexibility May 18, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss recent developments related to the Federal Work-Study program and how financial aid professionals can navigate the wind-down of COVID flexibilities. Jill details a recent information collection request from the Department of Education and concerns related to the extent of the collection. David then highlights the murkiness of the end dates of the public health emergency and the general COVID-19 national emergency and in what ways those can impact schools. Hugh then catches listeners up on some news of the week, which included ED’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for an overhaul of gainful employment as well as Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s remarks on the Hill this week concerning the department’s budget and oversight requests from Congress.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: The Debt Ceiling May 11, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss the implications of the ongoing negotiations surrounding the debt ceiling and how federal higher education programs could be impacted. The conversation dives into congressional negotiations and how the issue differs from the annual budgeting process. The group then turns to the student loan servicing landscape, the latest on the return to repayment timeline, and a discussion on NASFAA’s latest task force providing schools with a toolkit to prepare. Hugh catches members up on some recent news concerning House Republicans’ efforts to rescind the administration’s debt cancellation program and ED updates on PSLF applications.

    OTC From the Field: Examining the Paying for College Transparency Initiative May 04, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Policy Analyst Megan Walter and Scott Cline, senior vice president of enrollment management and auxiliary services at California College of the Arts. The group discusses the mission and goals of the cand its efforts to improve college financial aid offers. Megan then shares initial responses to the initiative’s drafted principles and standards, glossary, and aid offer examples. NASFAA members can submit their own comments to these documents by June 1, 2023.

    OTC From the Field: A Conversation on Higher Education Policymaking With Rep. Bobby Scott Apr 27, 2023

    This week on a special episode of “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a discussion on the latest issues impacting the higher education policymaking landscape. The discussion dives into the Pell Grant program and the prospect of short-term Pell, Scott’s bill aiming to address the student loan system, the rollout of FAFSA simplification, and much more. Justin also spoke with Scott about his educational background, his time on the education committee as previous chair and current ranking member, as well as his legislative outlook for this session.

    OTC Voices From the Aid Office: Samantha Hicks Apr 20, 2023

    This week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Samantha Hicks, assistant vice president of financial aid and scholarships at Coastal Carolina University. Sam speaks with Justin about her experience of growing up in poverty and navigating higher education. During the conversation Sam also touched on her career in financial aid, which began back when she was a student worker at Coastal Carolina University. This is our third episode in the Voices series where we'd like to talk to our members about issues that touch on all facets of our lived experiences and highlight equity in financial aid, impacts of staffing shortages, personal experiences with financial aid as a student, and more. Interested in joining us on a future episode? Be sure to fill out our interest form located in the resources section.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Working Through the FAFSA Roadmap and the White House Budget Request Mar 30, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss the road map for the Department of Education’s 2024-25 FAFSA release, and President Joe Biden’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2024-25 and what it means for higher education funding. Jon dives into the main takeaways from the budget proposal, and how the process could unfold in a divided government. Karen then catches listeners up on all things FAFSA simplification, touching on the release of the draft FAFSA, future training, the department’s communication plan, and more. Hugh then updates listeners on some legislative and congressional activity concerning the student loan portfolio.

    OTC Voices From the Aid Office: Alex DeLonis Mar 23, 2023

    This week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Alex DeLonis, the director of financial aid at Wabash College. Alex speaks with Justin about his experience as a first-generation college student and the issues he dealt with growing up in poverty. Alex then discusses how he began his career in financial aid at Harper College through the Federal Work-Study program to now being a director of financial aid. This is our second episode in the Voices series where we’d like to talk to our members about issues that touch on all facets of our lived experiences and highlight equity in financial aid, impacts of staffing shortages, personal experiences with financial aid as a student, and more. Interested in joining us on a future episode? Be sure to fill out our interest form located in the resources section.

    OTC From the Field: Making Sense of Accountability Metrics in Higher Ed Mar 16, 2023

    This week on a special episode of “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Michael Itzkowitz, the former director of the College Scorecard under the Obama administration, in a wide-ranging discussion focused on data and accountability metrics in higher education. Michael, the founder and president of the Higher Education Advisory Group and a non-resident senior fellow at Public Agenda, goes on to share his insights on varying metrics and outcome data, as well as his thoughts on short-term Pell Grants. Hugh catches listeners up on some new institutional oversight from Federal Student Aid and developments concerning the 2024-25 FAFSA.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: FAFSA Simplification Surveys and Making Sense of Payment Periods Mar 09, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss highlights from NASFAA’s FAFSA Simplification Implementation Working Group and cover some important details concerning late disbursements and retroactive payments. Jill dives into a pair of recent NASFAA surveys that capture financial aid offices’ preparedness for the impending rollout of FAFSA simplification changes, and also highlights a recent poll digging into the implications of a FAFSA housing question that will no longer be asked in 2024-25. David then follows up with discussion on late disbursements, and how they can impact institutions and student eligibility. Hugh catches members up on some initial topline numbers from President Joe Biden’s budget request and updates listeners on a new lawsuit challenging the administration’s freeze on federal student loan repayment and interest accrual.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Biden's Student Debt Relief Program Faces SCOTUS Mar 02, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to recap and debrief how President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation program fared in oral arguments heard by the United States Supreme Court. The group then discusses the Department of Education’s (ED) updated guidance on third-party servicers and the removal of the question on the 2024-25 FAFSA that asks students whether they will live on campus or with parents. Maria then updates listeners on the latest news, including updates to the Sweet v. Cardona settlement, a new report from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on student loan debt relief, and a new lawsuit against ED’s borrower defense rules.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Examining New Guidance From ED on Third Party Servicers Feb 23, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David discuss updated guidance from the Department of Education (ED) about third party servicers. Jill dives into the guidance, including what concerns institutions should have and what it means to be classified as a third party servicer. She also debriefs the listening sessions ED plans to hold in March on incentive compensation. Additionally, David discusses issues that arise when a student is enrolled in multiple programs at the same institution. Maria then shares some recent higher education news, including a new report of institutional endowments and upcoming protests as the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments of President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief program next Tuesday.

    OTC From the Field: A Conversation on Higher Ed Policymaking With Rep. Virginia Foxx Feb 16, 2023

    This week on a special episode of “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a conversation that focuses on the policymaking landscape for higher education. The discussion dives into a number of topics including short-term Pell Grant legislation, implementation of FAFSA simplification, oversight on the administration’s higher education policies, and the committee’s higher education agenda for the upcoming session. Justin also spoke with Dr. Foxx about her personal background and experience in higher education and learned more about her daily life as a member of Congress.

    OTC Voices From the Aid Office: NASFAA National Chair Brad Barnett Feb 09, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA’s 2022-23 National Chair Brad Barnett, FAAC®, associate vice president for access and enrollment management/director of financial aid and scholarships at James Madison University, to kick off our new Voices From the Aid Office series. The discussion focuses on Brad’s professional and personal background and provides a glimpse into the ways in which his experiences have shaped his commitment to helping students pursue their postsecondary goals. In upcoming episodes, we’d like to talk to our members about issues that touch on all facets of our lived experiences and highlight equity in financial aid, impacts of staffing shortages, personal experiences with financial aid as a student, and more. Interested in joining us on a future episode? Be sure to fill out our interest form located in the resources section.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: What the End of the COVID-19 National Emergency Means For Financial Aid Feb 02, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss new data from the Department of Education on how Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants helped students and what President Joe Biden’s decision to end the COVID-19 national emergency means for financial aid. The team also discusses new data from the White House about Biden’s student loan cancellation program, and the Office of Federal Student Aid’s annual performance review. Maria then updates listeners on the latest news, including the announcement that Biden will release his budget proposal for the coming fiscal year on March 9.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Hey ChatGPT, Can You Draft This Week’s Podcast Title? Jan 19, 2023

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David put the latest artificial intelligence (AI) software to the test and cover the nuance of “unusual circumstances” for FAFSA simplification. Jill kicked things off with a recap of how ChatGPT, a chatbot that can be used for natural dialogue processing, fared in answering a number of financial aid-related questions. David covers the difference between special and unusual circumstances and how it relates to FAFSA simplification. Hugh then caught members up on some of the latest news surrounding student loan debt cancellation, the implementation of a new enrollment management system at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and some legislative action on Capitol Hill.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Higher Ed Policymaking Meets Divided Government Jan 12, 2023

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's incoming senior vice president of government relations, to discuss the new Congress’ higher education agenda along with the Department of Education’s regulatory roadmap for 2023. The team kicks things off with a recap of the fiscal year 2023 omnibus, which brought a $500 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award, before moving on to the fallout and implications that the House’s historic speaker election will have on higher education policy and the latest announcements concerning the department’s income-driven repayment (IDR) regulations and additional accountability initiatives.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: The National Emergency's Impact on Financial Aid and Upcoming Changes to Professional Judgment Dec 14, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David discuss how rescinding the national emergency could impact financial aid and how the rollout of FAFSA Simplification will bring about changes to professional judgment. Jill dives into how House Republicans will bring a vote to the floor, once they assume the majority in January, that would rescind the president’s national emergency declaration. David covers updates to professional judgment, which adds criteria around special circumstances and unusual circumstances. Maria then shares some recent higher education news, including updates to the ongoing legal challenges to President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief plan and who could chair the House Education and Labor committee.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing GAO’s Report on Financial Aid Offers Dec 08, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on financial aid offers. The report found that many institutions are not providing students clear and standard information in their financial aid offers, often not including or understating the net price, which could confuse students and their families. The discussion then turned to President Joe Biden’s extension of the pause on student loan repayment and interest accrual and year-end spending.

    OTC From the Field: One Step Closer to the Metaverse? Let’s Talk About the FSA Virtual Conference Dec 01, 2022

    This week on a special edition of “Off the Cuff” Justin is joined by Karen, Jackie Cottom, NASFAA’s instructional content specialist, and Tony Erwin, FAAC®, Blue Icon’s principal consultant, to break down their impressions of Federal Student Aid’s (FSA) annual training conference. The team highlighted their main takeaways from a number of sessions and impressions of updated guidance coming out of the department on a host of regulatory issues. Plus, the team dives into some outstanding questions for FSA concerning FAFSA simplification implementation and also highlights their general experience with the virtual conference platform. Have a question or general comment about the conference? Be sure to submit them through our feedback form below.

    OTC From the Field: Making Sense of the Midterm Elections and What Comes Next for Higher Ed Nov 17, 2022

    This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Lanae Erickson, senior vice president for social policy & politics at Third Way, to sort through the impact that last week’s midterm elections will have on higher education policy for the 118th Congress. Justin and Lanae cover the latest news on leadership dynamics in both chambers and the varying policy debates that will likely take center stage in a divided government, and discuss how the higher education system can best deliver strong outcomes for students. Lanae also provides listeners with the results of polling on public perception of both political parties and discusses how the student loan portfolio could be complicated by the legal challenges to Biden’s debt cancellation plan.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: A Blizzard of New Regulations, FAFSA Simplification Guidance, and a Quick Debrief on Midterm Elections Nov 09, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David discuss the latest news coming out of the Department of Education (ED) with updates on how the department will implement provisions from the FAFSA Simplification Act for the 2023-24 award year and a flurry of final rules that were recently released. Jill dives into how those final rules – borrower defense to repayment, interest capitalization, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), total and permanent disability discharge, closed school discharge, and false certification – differ from the proposed rules issued in July. David covers updates to the FAFSA simplification rollout and details how financial aid offices will be impacted by changes to cost of attendance, professional judgment, provisional independent student status, and Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) restoration on their campuses. Hugh then shares some recent higher education news, including updates on the most recent results of the midterm elections and where things stand on President Joe Biden’s student loan debt cancellation plan.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Updates to Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Oct 27, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss the temporary block on President Joe Biden’s plans for student loan cancellation and what we expect to happen next. The discussion then turned to changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and the midterm elections. Maria then updates listeners on the latest news, including new data from the College Board about college pricing and student aid, and other legal updates to Biden’s student debt relief plans.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: FAFSA Simplification and Debt Cancellation — ED’s Dueling Priorities Oct 20, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David discuss the rollout of FAFSA simplification provisions and the basics surrounding the administration’s debt cancellation application. Jill details the Department of Education’s (ED) planned delays, as well as an updated timeline for the FAFSA simplification process as outlined in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, and David runs through a number of questions his team has been seeing since President Joe Biden formally launched the form that borrowers can use to apply for student loan cancellation. Hugh then shares some recent news of FAFSA data and what the Today’s News team will be looking out for as the administration begins to process debt cancellation applications.

    OTC From the Field: Examining and Addressing Needed Reforms to the Student Loan System Oct 13, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, Megan, and Rachel discuss student loan debt reform recommendations NASFAA made with support from a grant provided by Arnold Ventures. The conversation touches on three main areas, which include how to improve student loan servicing practices, rethinking the terms and conditions of student loan repayment, and reforming student loan default. Maria then updates listeners on the latest news, including a preview of President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief application and a new Federal Register notice detailing the Biden administration’s authority to carry out the debt relief.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Legal Challenges Look to Create Roadblocks for Debt Cancellation Oct 06, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss the Department of Education’s planned rollout of student loan debt cancellation, lawsuits looking to halt the action, and what we expect to happen next. The discussion then turned to what implications the upcoming midterm elections could have on higher education. Hugh then updates listeners on the latest news, including a potential state tax on student loan cancellation and the newly released cohort default rate for fiscal year 2019.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Congress Tackle Student Loan Reform and Updates to Operation Fresh Start Sep 22, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss some congressional activity on student loan reform and field questions surrounding Operation ‘Fresh Start’ as well as some frameworks that financial aid officers can follow. Hugh then shares recent news from the White House and ED related to the Biden administration’s debt cancellation plan, and provides additional details on how student loan reform legislation could be impacted by the upcoming midterm elections.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: What to Know About Operation ‘Fresh Start’ Aug 26, 2022

    This week on a special episode of “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Karen and Megan to discuss the Biden administration’s “Fresh Start” initiative that aims to provide a pathway for delinquent and defaulted borrowers to reenter repayment in good standing. The team digs into specific questions they’ve posed to the Department of Education concerning the program’s implementation and provides updates highlighting where things stand today and what details are expected to be clarified in the weeks and months ahead.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Sorting Through Biden’s Decision on Student Loan Debt Cancellation Aug 25, 2022

    This week on a special episode of “Off the Cuff,” Justin is joined by Karen, Rachel, Megan, and Hugh to work through President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is canceling $10,000 in student loan debt for millions of borrowers and extending the pause on payments and interest accrual for federally-held student loans until Dec. 31, 2022. The team goes through the mechanics of the executive action, lays out some public opinion polls, sorts through the initial reactions, and asks a number of implementation questions that are beginning to surface. The team also provides listeners with a number of resources, and details what they will be looking for in terms of pending guidance from the administration.

    OTC From the Field: Retaining Talent in Your Financial Aid Office Aug 11, 2022

    This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Andy Brantley, president and CEO at CUPA-HR, and Anthony Jones, executive director of scholarships and financial aid at the University of Utah, to discuss employee retention within the higher education sector, with a focus on financial aid offices. The group dives into some recent survey data, position classification systems, and also walks through one office’s experience going through the reclassification process. Andy and Anthony also share their expertise with listeners on how to approach annual budgets and office operations.

    OTC Ask Regs Experts: FAFSA Updates and Pell Recalculation Dates Jul 21, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Senior Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to discuss regulatory updates from the Department of Education (ED) that directly impact the Pell Grant program and FAFSA guidance. Jill walks members through the latest news concerning updates coming to the FAFSA, impacts of early implementation provisions, as well as what’s coming down the road for the 2024-25 award year. David then provides details on the terminology behind the “Pell Recalculation Date,” and highlights some confusion members have had on the topic. Hugh then shares some recent news from the NASFAA 2022 Virtual Conference and new data indicating that FAFSA completions are on the rise.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: NASFAA 2022 Debrief, Congress’ Summer Agenda, Regulatory Updates from ED and SCOTUS Jul 07, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss some key takeaways from the NASFAA 2022 National Conference. The team shares their highlights from their time in Austin and discusses their takeaways from NASFAA’s first in-person national conference since 2019. Jon then provides an update on Congress’ summer agenda with details on the annual appropriations process and how higher education programs are faring in congressional negotiations. Karen then dives into some updates from the Department of Education (ED) concerning the negotiated rulemaking process and some developments related to borrower defense. The team then covers how recent Supreme Court actions could reshape the White House’s regulatory authority. Plus, Hugh shares some news coverage from our national conference.

    OTC From the Field: A Conversation With Under Secretary James Kvaal Jun 30, 2022

    This week in a special edition of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal to discuss the administration's higher education priorities. Kvaal spoke during NASFAA’s 2022 national conference in Austin and provided financial aid administrators with key insight into ED’s approach to addressing a host of challenges imposed by the pandemic. During the conversation, Kvaal answered questions from NASFAA members related to student loan forgiveness and repayment, forthcoming regulations, institutional quality and gainful employment, college affordability, and more.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Updates on Targeted Loan Cancellation, Promotion of the PSLF Waiver, and NASFAA Preps National Conference Questions for ED Jun 02, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss the latest news from the Department of Education (ED) concerning borrower defense claims against Corinthian Colleges, Inc. The team discusses the Biden administration’s efforts to implement targeted loan cancellation and whether the discussion over the potential for broad scale cancellation has overshadowed ED’s recent actions to provide relief to defrauded borrowers. Jon then updates listeners on ED’s promotion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and whether enough outreach is being conducted to make borrowers aware of the available limited waiver. The team rounds things out with some questions they would consider asking Under Secretary James Kvaal, who later this month will be at the NASFAA national conference in Austin. Hugh then catches listeners up with a brief news recap concerning ED’s updated roadmap for the next generation of federal student loan servicing and details a letter penned by a dozen House Republicans looking for the Department of Justice to intervene in ED’s ongoing negotiated rulemaking process.

    OTC Ask Regs Experts: Making Sense of the Latest Verification Waivers and Potential Administrative Hurdles to Loan Cancellation May 19, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Allie fills in for Justin and is joined by NASFAA Senior Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to discuss the latest news out of the Department of Education (ED) concerning verification waivers. David has the latest information members should be aware of and how ED’s temporary changes will impact financial aid offices, plus some “verification 101” tips for schools looking to stay in compliance. Jill then runs listeners through the ever-expanding web of decision-making the Biden administration is working through when it comes to potential student loan cancellation and some of the policy implications that will significantly impact how the relief could be administered. Hugh then joins in to update listeners on NASFAA’s comprehensive white paper examining the shortcomings of the student loan system.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: A Conversation on Student Debt Cancellation May 05, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss the latest news surrounding the potential for broader student loan debt relief that the White House is actively examining, and the wide-ranging implications executive action could have on higher education financing. Karen also reminds listeners about an important May 6 deadline for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and provides some helpful guidance on the process. Hugh rounds things out by providing a recap of some of the week’s higher education news, with some concerning numbers on FAFSA renewals and a new report detailing how policymakers can go about promoting more equitable degree completions.

    OTC From the Field: A System on Auto-Pilot? One Expert’s Perspective on the Need for Student Loan Repayment and Accountability Reform Apr 28, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Kevin Carey, vice president for education policy and knowledge management at New America where he also directs the education policy program, for a wide-ranging conversation covering structural reforms needed for higher education, and how policy choices can improve institutional accountability for student outcomes. Justin and Kevin specifically cover hazards surrounding student loan debt and repayment programs, the evolution of those programs, how college accountability has been shaped through regulation, and more. Hugh then breaks down the latest higher education news, covering the Department of Education’s updates on the Second Chance Pell Program, Democrats seeking insight on the department's plans for its “fresh start” initiative, and the latest coverage on congressional appropriators questioning the White House’s budget request for higher education programs.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Transcript Withholding and Answering Questions About Summer Aid Apr 21, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Senior Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to discuss new guidelines for institutions regarding transcript withholding along with the latest federal and state level developments concerning the practice. David then dives into answering questions on crossover payment periods, specifically how it impacts the summer term. Owen then gives a rundown of the latest news, highlighted by the Department of Education’s announcement that changes to income-driven repayment (IDR) would make more borrowers eligible for forgiveness, plus a new study showing millions of borrowers at risk of default when the pause on student loan payments comes to an end.

    OTC From the Field: An Aid Director’s Experience With Data Sharing Apr 15, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by longtime financial aid professional Mary Sommers, director of financial aid at the University of Nebraska, Kearney, to walk through her experience sharing student data and to discuss how schools should be thinking about these requests. Mary and Justin dive deep into the potential pitfalls regarding student privacy as it comes to data sharing. Owen then breaks down the latest higher education news, headlined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) latest comments on student loan forgiveness and a recent announcement from the Department of Education that it would be reviewing and improving its verification model.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Another Student Loan Payment Pause Extension and What to Make of Biden’s Budget Proposal Apr 07, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Allie fills in for Justin and is joined by Karen, Owen, and Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss the news of the Biden administration once again extending the pause on federally-held student loan payments and interest accrual, this time extending the relief through August 31. The group also breaks down what the “fresh start” will mean for borrowers who entered the payment pause with loans in default. Jon and Karen then dive into President Joe Biden’s recently released budget proposal and what it includes for higher education, highlighted by a plan to double the maximum Pell Grant award by 2029.

    OTC From the Field With Dr. Ellie Bruecker: Should States Require FAFSA for High School Graduation? Mar 24, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Dr. Ellie Bruecker, a senior research associate at the Seldin /Haring-Smith Foundation, to dive deep into the growing trend of states requiring FAFSA completion for high school graduation and what it means for postsecondary enrollment. Bruecker shares insights from data collected during her dissertation on the topic and touches on the costs and benefits of the policy, as well as how higher education enrollment trends can be impacted by student access to information surrounding the costs of a given program. Justin then brings in Hugh to recap some of the latest news concerning the negotiated rulemaking committee, and a new policy out of ED that aims to keep corporate owners of private colleges on the hook for paying student loan discharges following school closures.

    OTC Ask Regs Experts: Spring Updates on HEERF Reporting and Clock Hour Programs Mar 17, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Senior Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to discuss some significant updates to HEERF reporting, with the Department of Education recently making changes to the Quarterly Budget and Expenditures Report, as well as changes to the clock hour-to-credit hour conversion formula related to distance learning final rules. Justin then brings in Hugh to recap some of the latest news concerning the ongoing negotiated rulemaking committee, enactment of the fiscal year 2022 spending bill, and coverage of the student loan moratorium.

    OTC From the Field: A Student Loan Servicing Deep Dive With SLSA Executive Director Scott Buchanan Mar 10, 2022

    This week on “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Scott Buchanan, Student Loan Servicing Alliance’s (SLSA) executive director, to discuss the somewhat contentious environment facing the student loan servicing industry as well as its role within the highly complicated world of higher education financing. The conversation is a deep dive about where student loan servicing stands today, how the Department of Education (ED) is handling the communication efforts surrounding the payment pause, what the eventual resumption of repayments looks like, critiques of the servicing industry, and much more. Hugh then provides a news recap including Congress’ work on a massive omnibus bill and its implications for higher education, how the administration is highlighting the one-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan, and hints that the administration might be considering another extension of the student loan moratorium.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: State of the Union: Does Biden’s Higher Ed Agenda Have a Path Forward? Mar 03, 2022

    This week on “Off the Cuff,” Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to recap President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and discuss the speech’s implications for the administration's higher education agenda. The team then dives into additional administrative priorities, with Karen highlighting the impact of the White House’s extension of the national emergency declaration, as well as other pressing issues concerning the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and the practice of transcript withholding. Hugh then provides a recap of some higher education news, including a recent hearing hosted by a House Education and Labor subcommittee, an update from FSA on the processing time of payment counts for PSLF borrowers, as well as a recent settlement Navient made with a group of state attorneys general.

    OTC From the Field: NASFAA Members Share Career Advice Feb 24, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," NASFAA’s Managing Editor and founding podcast member Allie Arcese fills in for Justin as she and Staff Reporter Owen Daugherty discuss the best career advice they’ve received before hearing from members about what advice they’ve carried with them and what they would tell someone just getting their start in financial aid. Owen then catches listeners up with the latest higher education news from the White House and the Office of Federal Student Aid. If you didn’t get the chance to share some advice with us, it’s not too late! Send your thoughts and advice — we'd love to hear what you think.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Gainful Employment Back in the Spotlight and Disbursing Title IV Aid for Completed Payment Period Feb 17, 2022

    This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Senior Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to break down the latest on gainful employment as the Department of Education’s (ED) negotiated rulemaking committee once again tackles the topic. David and Justin then discuss disbursing Title IV aid for a completed payment period and what aid offices need to know to avoid any pitfalls. Justin also brings in Owen for a quick recap of NASFAA’s Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, along with news out of ED of more targeted student loan debt relief for borrower defense claims.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Congress’ Packed Agenda and What It Means for Higher Ed Feb 03, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to go over all that’s on Congress’ agenda as it returns from winter break, headlined by a Supreme Court vacancy and tensions abroad. The full legislative docket likely means the Build Back Better legislation will be pushed to the backburner, and the group discusses what impact that could have on higher education programs. Justin and Jon also talk about how a potential new rule from the Department of Labor could impact financial aid administrators. Karen then touches on two new pieces of legislation that deal with student loans and the federal Pell Grant and the path forward for those bills before Owen gives an update on a new report looking into the Department of Education’s (ED) plan to restart student loan payments and ED’s higher education priorities for the year ahead.

    OTC From the Field: A Conversation With Economist Dr. Sandy Baum Jan 27, 2022

    This week on “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Dr. Sandy Baum, a nonresident senior fellow for the Center on Education Data and Policy at the Urban Institute, as they discuss higher education priorities and how in a world of limited resources the federal government can best allocate and target spending. The conversation touches on free community college, debt forgiveness, doubling the Pell Grant, and dives into which of these investments could have the biggest impact on students. Justin and Sandy also cover topical higher education news like recent issues surrounding institutional accountability, student loan repayment plans, and more. Hugh then provides an update on some of the biggest financial aid news on the student loan portfolio, remarks from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and highlights profiles of our latest Diversity Leadership Program class.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: HEERF Updates and Institutional Preparations for the 2022-23 Award Year Jan 20, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Senior Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman, who give listeners an update on a number of regulatory issues. Jill and David provide insight on some questions from NASFAA members concerning the HEERF annual reporting form, regulatory assistance issues concerning institutions packaging students for 2022-23 award year, setting costs of attendance, and preparations for tuition and assistance for the upcoming academic year. Hugh then provides a quick recap on some of the biggest higher education news of the week, with highlights from the Department of Education’s ongoing negotiated rulemaking sessions, updates on issues concerning the student loan portfolio, higher education enrollment trends, and more.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Political Predictions for Higher Ed in 2022 Jan 13, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to dive into their predictions concerning higher education’s political landscape for 2022. The group covers Build Back Better’s pathway, congressional dynamics on spending bills, the pandemic’s continued impact on higher education, the potential wind-down of the federal student loan moratorium, and more. Hugh also provides an update on congressional Republicans’ efforts to question the Department of Education on its usage of temporary waivers for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, a recap of NASFAA’s article detailing financial aid staffing shortages, as well as a quick resource update on next week’s negotiated rulemaking session.

    OTC From the Field: A Conversation With Brent Tener, NASFAA’s National Chair Jan 06, 2022

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA’s 2021-22 National Chair Brent Tener and Beth Maglione, NASFAA’s executive vice president. The three dive into conversation surrounding professional experience, NASFAA’s operations, and experiences working with a variety of higher education institutions. The discussion also centers on the most current higher education news, student aid operations, a number of federal policies impacting financial aid, and how the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic are shaping the sector. Hugh also provides a recap of the latest higher education news this week with some handy resources for subscribers to catch up on some of the biggest news stories from 2021.

    OTC From the Field: Developing Your Career in the Financial Aid Profession Dec 16, 2021

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA’s Vice President of Professional Development & Institutional Compliance Dana Kelly and Shannon Crossland, executive director of student financial aid & scholarships at Texas Tech University. The group discusses Shannon’s career path in financial aid and how administrators can develop and advance in the profession. Shannon shares insight into what skills are valuable as a financial aid director and Dana details the various NASFAA offerings to help administrators develop and grow in the field. Owen wraps up the podcast with a news rundown covering Congress’ end of year activity and a brief recap from the recently completed negotiated rulemaking committee on student loans and affordability.

    OTC AskRegs Experts: Latest on Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement, Regulatory Takeaways from FSA Conference Dec 10, 2021

    This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to give listeners an update on the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (ASLA) and regulatory takeaways from the annual Federal Student Aid Training Conference. David and Justin discuss the Top Audit and Program Review Findings session from the conference, with Return of Title IV Funds topping the list. Owen then gives a quick update on the state of government funding through the new year, as well as what a new negotiating rulemaking committee will discuss when they gather in January.

    OTC Inside the Beltway: Final Reconciliation Push, and a Packed FSA Conference Dec 02, 2021

    On this episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to help break down the latest on the end-of-year activity on Capitol Hill. The group also discusses a recent hearing with Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal where lawmakers were briefed on how the COVID-19 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund allocations are being spent. Plus, the group recaps the highlights from a busy week at the annual Federal Student Aid Training Conference.

      Related Podcasts

      Philosophy for Beginners

      1

      Philosophy for Beginners Courses
      The Radiology Review Podcast

      2

      The Radiology Review Podcast Courses
      Hillsdale Dialogues

      3

      Hillsdale Dialogues Courses
      The Build Math Minds Podcast

      4

      The Build Math Minds Podcast Courses
      Lyndeurozone Euro Simplified

      5

      Lyndeurozone Euro Simplified Courses
      dotEDU

      6

      dotEDU Courses
      footer-logo

      Contact Us

      Toll Free: 844-670-7747

      Links

      • Home
      • Top Charts
      • Networks
      • Apps
      • Independents Podcasts
      • Podcast Advertising
      • Podcast News
      • Contact Us
      • About Us
      • Analytics & Insights

      Stay Connected

        Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights