Loan Notes

This publication keeps you aware of Agency announcements, industry trends, or changes to policies and procedures in the financial aid industry. We send this free of charge to our partners in the higher education and financial aid communities.

June/July 2008 - Volume 13, No. 4 (181 KB PDF)

  • PHEAA Advantage
  • H.R. 5715 ECASLA
  • Aggregate Loan Limit Increase for Health Profession Programs
  • Preferred Lender Lists
  • Transfer Students and Clock Hour Programs
  • 2008-09 Federal Student Aid Handbook - Vol. 1
  • ALEC Update
  • 2008-09 Loan Processing Information
  • Special Allowance Rates for Quarter Ending March 31, 2008

May 2008 - Volume 13, No. 3 (169 KB PDF)

  • The Extension and Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
  • Notice of Negotiated Rulemaking
  • 2008-09 Application and Verification Guide Available
  • Charging Fees and Estimated Financial Assistance
  • Web Refunds Tool
  • Lender of Last Resort
  • DCL FP-08-02
  • FFELP Final Rules Training Audiocast Available
  • Stafford MPN Expiration Extended
  • Conditional Disability Discharge Q & A
  • Special Allowance Billing and Not-For-Profit Status
  • Change of Address for Lender and Servicer Compliance Audits

March/April 2008 - Volume 13, No. 2 (539 KB PDF)

  • Final Rules Published, Part II
  • Total and Permanent Disability Discharge
  • Not-For-Profit Holder Status for Special Allowance Billing
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford and PLUS Loans
  • AES Update Q & A (65 KB PDF)

January/February 2008 - Volume 13, No. 1 (210 KB PDF)

  • Final Rules Published
  • Update to Federal Student Aid Handbook
  • Extension of Waivers and Modifications of the HEROES Act
  • DCL GEN-07-08

December 2007 - Volume 12, No. 8 (178 KB PDF)

  • College Cost Reduction and Access Act
  • Releasing Student Information
  • Photocopy of Death Certificate Acceptable
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford AND PLUS Loans for Quarter Ending September 30, 2007
  • Post-Claim Sampling

October/November - Volume 12, No. 7 (198 KB PDF)

  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Published
  • "What's Next in Student Loans?"
  • Updated Economic Hardship Deferment Request Form Available
  • AES Fall Training Workshop Registration

August/September - Volume 12, No. 6 (150 KB PDF)

  • AES Investigative Services Section
  • 2007 Fall Training Workshops
  • 2007-2008 Federal Student Aid Handbook, Volumes 1, 4, and 5

July 2007 - Volume 12, No. 5 (170 KB PDF)

  • 2007 Fall Training Workshops
  • "What's Next" Webcast Now Available Online
  • Military Deferment Form Is Available
  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Published
  • 2007 Common Manual Available
  • Revised Indemnification Agreements
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford and PLUS Loans for Quarter Ending June 30, 2007

June 2007 - Volume 12, No. 4 (1.46 MB PDF)

  • Negotiated Rulemaking
  • Updated Guidance From Ed Regarding Consolidation Loan Issues
  • Correction: April/May Loan Notes Article
  • Claim Filing and Split Consolidation Loans
  • Changes to the Form for Requesting Reimbursement due to Partial Discharge of a Federal Consolidation Loan
  • The U.S. Department of Education Begins to Restore Access to NSLDS, with new Security Features
  • Interest Rates for 2007-2008

May 2007 - Volume 12, No. 3 (260 KB PDF)

  • 2007 PFAT Summer Institute Registration
  • A Borrower's Right to Choose FFELP Lender
  • Compliance Audits -CIRCULAR A-133 CLARIFICATION
  • 2007-2008 Federal Student Aid Handbook, Application and Verification Guide
  • Revised Stafford Loan Addendum and Plain Language Disclosures
  • Bankruptcy and Transfer of Claim Document
  • "Second Pass" for PLUS Loan Applicants
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford and PLUS loans for the quarter ending on March 31, 2007

February/March 2007 - Volume 12, No. 2 (257 KB PDF)

  • Loan Discharge for Survivors of Eligible Public Servants and Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001
  • Revised G-845 Form Available
  • Accreditation for Distance Learning Programs
  • Online Scams: Phishing and Pharming
  • Updated Teacher Loan Forgiveness Brochure Now Available
  • U.S. Department of Education Training
  • Consolidation Guidance from ED
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford and PLUS Loans for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2006

January 2007 - Volume 12, No. 1 (240 KB PDF)

  • Loan Limit Changes: Preparatory Grad/Professional Students and Teacher Certification Programs
  • Updated Information for Partial Disability Discharge: Joint Consolidations, PLUS Co-Borrowers, and Endorsers
  • Disbursement of FFELP Stafford Loan Funds to Students Attending Foreign Schools and Study Abroad Students
  • Update on Consolidation Issues

December 2006 - Volume 11, No. 11 (1.1 MB PDF)

  • Final Regulations Published
  • 2007-2008 Online Loan Wraps
  • New Online Loan Application Procedures for FFELP Loans
  • 2007-2008 School/Lender Paper Loan Wraps
  • NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Depends on Accuracy

October/November 2006 - Volume 11, No. 10 (305 KB PDF)

September 2006 - Volume 11, No. 9 (196 KB PDF)

  • Interim Final Regulations
  • Notice of Negotiated Rulemaking
  • Announcement of a Common Manual Policy Retraction
  • The Program Review Process
  • 2006 Common Manual.on its way!
  • 2006 AES Fall Workshops
August 2006 - Volume 11, No. 8 (235 KB PDF)
  • Interim Final Regulations
  • 2006 AES Fall Workshops
  • Real-Time Source Data and Student Eligibility
  • Changes to the 2006-2007 FSA Handbook
  • Approval of the Total and Permanent Disability Loan Discharge Application
  • Title IV Eligibility for Victims of Human Trafficking
  • Disbursement of FFELP Loan Proceeds to Student enrolled in Modules
July 2006 - Volume 11, No. 7 (289 KB PDF)
  • 2006 AES Fall Workshops
  • Perkins Loan Master Promissory Note
  • Schools and Lenders - Enhanced Customer Service
  • Single Holder Rule Repealed
  • PLUS/SLS Interest Rates 2006-2007
  • Dependent Student Eligibility for Additional Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
  • Special Allowance Changes for certain Federal Family Education Loan Program
  • (FFELP) PLUS Loans
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford and PLUS loans for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2006
  • Changes to Common Claim Initiative (CCI) Forms
June 2006 - Volume 11, No. 6 (204 KB PDF)
  • Interest Rates for 2006-2007
  • Options for Lenders to Determine Federal Consolidation Loan Interest Rates
  • 2006 Common Manual to Include HERA Updates
  • Guidance Regarding Participants Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
  • Approval of FFELP Stafford and PLUS MPNs
  • American Education Services Joins TERP
  • Approval of FFELP Deferment Forms
  • List of Ability to Benefit Tests Updated
  • 2006-2007 Federal Student Aid Handbook
  • NSLDS Changes for Calculating New Stafford Loan Eligibility
  • Military Deferment Clarification
May 2006 - Volume 11, No. 5 (202 KB PDF)
  • Addenda and Revised Plain Language Disclosures for FFELP Loans/Awarding Federal PLUS Loans to Graduate and Professional Students
  • HERA Changes in Student Eligibility, Return of Title IV Funds, Need Analysis and Cost of Attendance
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford and PLUS Loans for the Quarter ending March 31, 2006
April 2006 - Volume 11, No. 4 (258 KB PDF)
  • AES to Pay Federal Default Fee
  • Additional Program Changes Resulting from the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005
  • Reporting Changes for Lenders Resulting from the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005
  • Meteor™ Access for Borrowers
  • Enforcement of the Single Holder Rule in FFELP Consolidations
March 2006 - Volume 11, No. 3 (238 KB PDF)
  • 2006 AES Business Officers' Workshops
  • ED Publishes DCL on Program Changes Resulting from the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
  • February 2006, Volume 11, No. 2
  • Deficit Reduction Act Signed Into Law
  • Extension of Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) Requirements
  • HEROES Provisions Extended
January 2006, Volume 11, No. 1 (246 KB PDF)
  • Higher Education Extension Signed by President
  • Responses to Recent Federal Student Aid Questions (DCL GEN-05-16)
  • The Ins and Outs of Stored Value Cards and Debit Cards
  • New Bankruptcy Law Affects All Student Loans
  • Extension of Forbearance for Borrowers Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
  • Extension of Current FFELP PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN)
  • New U.S. Department of Education Publications
  • Special Allowance Rates for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2005
December 2005, Volume 10, No. 11 (213 KB PDF)
  • Waiver of Title IV Grant Repayment for Students Affected by a Disaster
  • 2006-2007 School/Lender Produced Loan Wraps
  • Common Manual Training Brief - Restructure of Chapter 4
  • New Claim Form Required for Claims Filed on or after January 1, 2006
  • Clarification regarding the Disbursement or Delivery of Loan Funds after a Borrower's Death
  • Response to Recent Federal Student Aid Questions
November 2005, Volume 10, No. 10 (218 KB PDF)
  • HEROES Act Extended Through September 2007
  • Sample Default Prevention and Management Plan Available
  • Common Manual Training Brief - Find the Answer Fast Using the Integrated Common Manual
  • Update to Volume 3 of the 2005-2006 Federal Student Aid Handbook
  • Revised Loan Discharge and Loan Forgiveness Applications Available
  • AES Improves Security With Email Encryption
  • Updated Guidance on Late Disbursements
  • Expiration of Teacher Loan Forgiveness Provisions in Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act of 2004
October 2005, Volume 10, No. 9 (210 KB PDF)
  • Higher Education Extension Signed by President
  • Loan Guaranty Services - New Call Center Hours
  • Special Allowance Rates - Quarter Ending September 30, 2005
  • Loan Disbursement Procedures to Borrowers Attending Foreign Schools
  • Credit Balances Under a Dollar
  • OMB Expiration Date
  • Reserve Educational Assistance Program
  • Consolidation of FFELP and Non-FFELP Loans: Extension of Deadline
  • EducationPlanner.org Enhancements
September 2005, Volume 10, No. 8 (213 KB PDF)
  • General Guidance for Hurricane Katrina
  • Your Policy Questions
  • Change to Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
  • Major Changes to the 2005-06 FSA Handbook
  • Updates to Volume 6 of the 2005-2006 FASA Handbook
  • AES Fall Workshop Registration Reminder
August 2005, Volume 10, No. 7 (1.7 MB PDF)
  • Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
  • Claim Form Changes
  • Increased Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for Naturopathic Medicine Students
  • Updates to Volume 2 of the 2005-2006 FSA Handbook
  • Conditional Disability Discharge Tracking System (CDDTS) and Confirmation of Loan Status for Eligibility Reasons
July 2005, Volume 10, No. 6 (2.6 MB PDF)
  • 2005 AES Fall Workshops
  • Updates to Volume 4 of the 2005-2006 FSA Handbook
  • Constitution Day Designated September 17th
  • Special Allowance Rates for Stafford and PLUS Loans for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2005
  • Common Law Marriage
  • PLUS/SLS INTEREST RATES 2005-06
  • AES Loan Guaranty Services - Contact Information
June 2005, Volume 10, No. 5 (2.8 MB PDF)
  • New Variable Interest Rates for 2005-06
  • 2005 Common Manual Available
  • Changes to the 2005-2006 FSA Handbook
  • Stafford and PLUS MPN Inactivation when A Borrower Consolidates or Pays a Loan in Full
  • Award Year 2005-06 Deadline Dates for Federal Student Aid Programs
  • Notice - New Address
May 2005, Volume 10, No. 4 (2.6 MB PDF)
  • Lenders' Options for Determining Federal Consolidation Loan Interest Rates and Permitting Borrowers to Enter Repayment Early
  • Uncashed Refund Checks
  • Effect of Bankruptcy on Loan Disbursement
  • AES Program Review Process
  • Determining Loan Limit Amounts for Undergraduate Students with Graduate Loans
  • Determining Aggregate Components of FFELP Consolidation
  • DCL GEN 05-07 Released to Address Late Disbursements after 120 Days
April 2005, Volume 10, No. 3 (1.6 MB PDF)
  • YouCanDealWithIt.com - Website Redesign
  • New Online Entrance and Exit Counseling
  • Charging the Full Program Cost at the Beginning of the Enrollment Period
  • EducationPlanner.org Declared the Nation's Best
  • Avoiding Identity Theft Brochure
  • Ability-To-Benefit Tests
  • Adverse Action Notice - Regulation B Requirements
  • Special Allowance Rates
  • Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application and Brochure Available at AES website
February 2005, Volume 10, No. 2 (1.6 KB PDF)
  • Revised PageCenter Guides
  • Students Progressing at Individual Pace
  • Overview of Return of Title IV Funds Chat
  • Proportional Proration
  • Earliest Disbursement and Delivery Dates
  • Parent Borrower Eligibility
  • New Procedures for Schools to Request Permission to Make a Late Disbursement after 120 Days
January 2005, Volume 10, No. 1 (1.6 MB PDF)
  • Assisting Students in Completing the FAFSA
  • Enrollment Reporting
  • Training Brief Find the Answer Fast Using the Integrated Common Manual
  • Reentry within 180 Days: More Details
  • Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act of 2004
  • Title IV Eligibility for Teacher Certification Programs
  • Special Allowance Rates For The Quarter Ending December 31, 2004
December 2004, Volume 9, No. 9 (1.6 MB PDF)
  • Guaranty Fee to Remain at Zero
  • PLUS Credit Checks and the FACT Act
  • Stafford and PLUS MPN Inactivation - Borrower Consolidates or Loan is Paid In Full
  • IVR Enhancement - Speech Recognition
  • Determining Withdrawal Dates at Schools Required to take Attendance
  • Lender Produced Loan Wraps
  • January 2005 Sunday Processing
  • PLUS Loan Reminder Letter to be Offered Again for 2005-2006
  • Taxpayer - Teacher Protection Act of 2004 Becomes Law
  • Higher Education Extension Signed by President
October 2004, Volume 9, No. 8 (2.0 MB PDF)
  • Recent Hurricanes - Filing and Reporting Deadlines
  • Reminder: Order New PLUS MPN
  • Common Manual Training Brief - How to Draft a Policy Proposal
  • Minimum and Optimal PC Requirements: Final Notice
  • Common Manual Training Brief - Technical Edits
  • Effects of Bankruptcy on Disbursement
  • Special Allowance Rates
  • Return to Title IV Funds (R2T4) - AES Chat to Answer Questions Regarding R2T4
September 2004, Volume 9, No. 7 (1.2 MB PDF)
  • AES Fall Workshops
  • EducationPlanner Website
  • 2004 e-Collection CD Available
  • Consolidation of FFELP and non FFELP Loans
  • Common Manual Training Brief
  • 1098-E Reporting; Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
July 2004, Volume 9, No. 6 (2.0 MB PDF)
  • Stafford Loan Eligibility for Transfer Students
  • Mass Update Process
  • Special Allowance Rates
  • The Common Manual Governing Board Structure
  • Reentry Within 180 Days
  • Inclusion of Loan Period Dates on Loan Certification Requests
  • Bankruptcies Transfer to ECMC
  • Certifying Additional Loan Eligibility
  • Web Refund Process
  • PLUS/SLS Interest Rates 2004-05
June 2004, Volume 9, No. 5 (335 KB PDF)
  • New Variable Interest Rates for 2004-2005
  • NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Depends On Accuracy
  • Free e-Courier Software Available
  • Frequently Asked Policy Questions
  • New Version Of The Common Manual Soon Available
  • Instructions for Requesting a Late Disbursement After 120 Days
  • Ability-To-Benefit Tests
May 2004, Volume 9, No. 4 (330 KB PDF)
  • FERPA Final Rule
  • Definition Of A Parent
  • Common Manual Policy Committee Structure
  • General Guidance For Disasters (DCL Gen 04-04)
  • Consolidation of FFELP and Non-FFELP Loans
  • Online Request for Materials to Guide Planning for Higher Education
April 2004, Volume 9, No. 3 (158 KB PDF)
  • Mandatory Timely Completion of Loan Verification Certificates
  • Spanish Default Prevention Letters On PageCenter
  • Integrated Common Manual Search
  • Sources of Assistance for Schools
  • eAward Update
  • PLUS MPN Implementation
  • DCL Gen-04-03 Discusses Return of Title IV Aid Requirements
  • Special Allowance Rates
  • Bankruptcy Case Number Format & Document Filing
March 2004, Volume 9, No. 2 (340 KB PDF)
  • PLUS Loan Credit Checks
  • Guaranty Fee
  • NSLDS Extract Load Schedule
  • 2003 Child Care Provider Loan Forgiveness Application Available
  • Online Entrance and Exit Counseling
  • New Stafford and PLUS Loan Process
  • How an Idea Becomes a Common Manual Policy
  • New OneLINK Direct Queue List
  • Subscribing to the CM Public Listserv
February 2004, Volume 9, No. 1 (780 KB PDF)
  • Heroes Notice
  • Determining Grade Level for Student Who Returns
  • New User-Friendly System for Callers
  • PLUS Loan Certifications
  • How to Download the Integrated Common Manual
  • DOE Publishes Technical Corrections
  • Special Allowance Rates
December 2003, Volume 8, No. 9 (304 KB PDF)
  • Treatment of "Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed" in the Return of Title IV Funds Calculation
  • Account Numbers
  • Features of the Integrated Common Manual
  • Minimum PC Requirements: A Follow-Up
  • Approval of Federal Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note
  • AES/PHEAA Promotes Early Education Providers
  • FFELP Loans at Multiple Schools
  • EFT Authorizations for PLUS Loans
November 2003, Volume 8, No. 8 (600 KB PDF)
  • AES Introduces 3-Step Default Prevention Letters
  • Late Disbursements/Post-Withdrawal Disbursements
  • Guidance on NSLDS Calculation of Aggregate Loan Amounts
  • CD to Aid College Students in Financial Management
  • Exit Counseling Brochure Revised
  • Minimum PC Requirements for Financial Aid Offices
September 2003 , Volume 8, No. 7 (549 KB PDF)
  • Forgiveness of Student Loans for Military Personnel
  • Disbursement Cancellation for Reported Student Withdrawals
  • Common Manual Restructure
  • FERPA Proposed Rules
  • Supplemental Information Sheet for Federal Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note
  • Fall Loan Workshops Schedule
August 2003, Volume 8, No. 6 (439 KB PDF)
  • Partial Discharge of a Consolidation Loan
  • Military Mobilization Q and A
  • Fall Loan Workshops
  • PLUS/SLS Interest Rates 2003-04
  • Extra-late Delivery
  • Web Entrance/Exit Counseling
June 2003, Volume 8, No. 5 (730 KB PDF)
  • New Variable Interest Rates for 2003-2004
  • When Loan Periods Cross Award Years
  • Dependency Overrides
  • Statutory and Regulatory Provisions for Armed Forces Members
  • Profile of the Award Letter
  • 2003 Common Manual
  • Exceptions to the One Lender Rule
  • Reduction in Grade Level Loan Change Policy
  • PLUS MPN Update
  • Special Allowance Rates
April 2003, Volume 8, No. 4 (545 KB PDF)
  • PLUS MPN Questions and Answers
  • Relief for Military Mobilization Borrowers
  • New FTC Rules Safeguarding Customer Information
  • CM/EFC Process for Filing Bankruptcy Documents
  • Ordering Supplies of the PLUS MPN
March 2003, Volume 8, No. 3 (316 KB PDF) February 2003, Volume 8, No. 2 (368 KB PDF) January 2003, Volume 8, No. 1 (1.1 MB PDF)
  • PLUS Master Promissory Note
  • PLUS MPN Routing and Processing
  • PLUS MPN Processing Options: Serial Loan Requests
  • Comparison Table of Old and New Federal PLUS Loan Applications and Promissory Notes
November 2002, Volume 7, No. 4 (456 KB PDF)
  • Enhancements to MPN and PLUS Applications
  • Electronic Cohort Default Rate Notification (ECDR)
  • AES Enhance Services For Financial Aid Administrators
  • New E-Order Featured On Website's Streamlining Access
  • Online Claim Submission Process
August 2002, Volume 7, No. 3 (455 KB PDF)
  • New Loan Account Number Bolsters Borrowers' Privacy
  • Eligibility To Receive Future Loan After Total And Permanent Disability Discharge
  • New Special Allowance And Interest Benefits Billing Process
  • Revised Loan Discharge Applications Become Available
  • FFELP Deferment Applications Extended
June 2002, Volume 7, No. 2 (601 KB PDF)
  • New Variable Interest Rates for 2002-2003
  • Post 9/11 Forbearances For Military Service
  • National Default Prevention Day - August 1
  • Enhancement To OneLINK Loan Activity Menu
  • Expected Graduation Date And Exit Interview Letters
  • PLUS MPN Issue Resolved
April 2002, Volume 7, No 1. (396 KB PDF)
  • Integrated Common Manual Provides Updates Online
  • Consolidation Loan Underpayments
  • Change to Claim Return Procedure
  • Stafford Loan Reallocation Process Change
  • Interest Rate Fix Legislation Signed by President Bush