This week on "Off The Cuff," Megan, Stephen, and Allie talk about the potential of an upcoming vote on the Senate floor on the Faster Access to Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Act, and discuss how members can reach out to their representatives in the House to push the bill forward there as well. Allie details a report released from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding banks charging students high fees for college-sponsored debit cards, and the team discusses the release of a new tool for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) applicants. The team also talks about the Department of Education’s (ED) plan to revisit cases of students’ TEACH Grants being converted into loans and its official announcement that it will delay the recall of Perkins Loans. Plus, the group continues the conversation on the use of smartphones in college and delves into comments from members. Barring any breaking news, this is the last episode of 2018—we wish you a happy holiday and be sure to check back in 2019!
This week on "Off The Cuff," the team talks about the late President George H.W. Bush and what legacy he left behind not just for higher education, but also for government leadership. You can skip to 14:40 to jump straight into higher education news. Stephen catches the group up on the latest with the fiscal year 2019 spending bill, while Megan shares more information about a FAFSA simplification bill that might see action in Congress soon. Allie outlines a new student borrower advocacy group formed by former officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and what that might mean for states looking to increase oversight of servicers. Plus, Justin asks the group to weigh in on a debate that took place this week: should a smartphone be considered a necessary piece of technology covered by financial aid?