Hurricane Milton is threatening the State of Florida just two weeks after Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation. Florida’s five HBCUs are taking precautions. Bethune-Cookman University announced it will close Tuesday, October 8, 2024 until further notice. A return date will be announced once an after-storm assessment is made. Edward Waters University announced it will close October 8, 2024 through October 10, 2024. Florida A&M University announced its Jacksonville, Brooksville, Tampa, Orlando, and Miami-Davie satellite campuses would be closed and classes canceled until October 10. The main campus in  Tallahassee will remain open. Florida Memorial University announced it was suspending all courses including online courses through October 10.

 

With the exception of some institutions in North Carolina, nearly all colleges and universities in areas hammered by tropical Storm Helene have re-opened or plan to re-open next week. The storm razed towns, caused mudslides and flooding, and left over 215 people dead. A week later a million people or more still do not have power. Hundreds of people are missing and many more remain stranded in areas where roads and bridges are impassable. At one point mules were used to ferry supplies to the western region of North Carolina which was hit hard and unreachable by car. At least five bridges in Tennessee were completely destroyed making it difficult to get help to people in the eastern part of the state.  

  

HBCUs in the path of the storm canceled classes and closed their campuses in advance of the storm. Thankfully, most came through unscathed—though power outages and access to water remain challenges. Some HBCUs were able to help. The City of Augusta, Georgia used Paine College, for example, as a location where meals could be served to the community. North Carolina A&T State and Winston-Salem State Universities’ Emergency Management Directors journeyed southwest to the University of North Carolina Asheville to deliver water and other supplies. 

 

↑ Top

■ UNCF released its 2024 economic impact report, Transforming Futures: The Economic Engine of HBCUs. The study shows HBCUs are a major component of the US economy. It details how they contribute to job creation and economic mobility. It also provides a definitive answer to those who question the need for HBCUs in current times.

 

■ The American Institute for Boys and Men recently released HBCUs at a Crossroads: Addressing the Decline in Black Male Enrollment. Researchers attributed a decline in enrollment and retention of Black males to poor elementary and secondary  preparation, a shortage of Black male teachers, personal financial roadblocks, and insufficient academic support.

 

■ Some observers are attributing the uptick in enrollment at HBCUs to the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action. Enrollment continued to rise, despite the FAFSA delays. Alabama State University reported an increase of 12.5 percent. Benedict College reported an increase of 18.4 percent. Elizabeth City State University reported a 23 percent increase and Shaw University reported a 36 percent increase. 

 

■ Knoxville College Board of Trustees and accreditation team have submitted an application to the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). This is the third of eight steps the college has listed as necessary to secure accreditation with TRACS. The college is also going through a presidential search. President Adams announced he would step down at the end of September.

 

■ President Dr. Quinton Ross announced that the Alabama State University Board of Trustees has approved plans for the construction of two residential apartments. The project will provide approximately 552 additional units. The project will be managed by Mr. Donald Dotson, vice president of facilities management and operations. Experts say the freeze in higher education construction that occurred during the pandemic has begun to thaw.

 

■Layoffs and campus cuts have slowed but workforce challenges are expected to continue as institutions deal with budget and enrollment issues. Some institutions dealing with tighter budgets, falling. enrollment, and attacks on tenure, unionization, tuition, and free speech policies, have had layoffs or made unpopular cuts. Although strikes were averted, experts warn that if political attacks continue, it may become difficult to recruit faculty to work in states that are deemed hostile.

 

■The National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions released the 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education. The analysts found a large increase in the representation of non-faculty. They also found that community colleges have the highest percent of unionized faculty compared to public four-year and private non-profit institutions.

 

■The accounting profession has a talent shortage. Fewer students are choosing the accounting field of study and fewer graduates are going on to earn certification as a public accountant. This decline is happening at the same time practitioners are leaving the profession or retiring. Experts estimate nearly three-quarters of accountants are at or near the age of retirement. The situation has led professional gatekeepers to consider revamping the 150 hour rule. One of the proposed alternatives involves replacing the fifth year of study with a competency requirement. However, to enact that type of change, the Uniform Accountancy Act would have to be revised with all states onboard. The American Institute of CPAs and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy are seeking comments on the proposed changes. For their part, colleges are experimenting with different techniques trying to improve the academic experience for accounting students. A group has been formed to address the shortage of accountants from both directions.

 

■  Six academic publishers will have to defend against a class action antitrust lawsuit. Elsevier, John Wiley & Sons, Sage Publications, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, Wolters Kluwer, and the International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers are alleged to have agreed not to pay peer reviewers; to restrict authors’ ability to submit their work to multiple publishers simultaneously; and to prevent authors from sharing and discussing their work before it is appears in print. The lawsuit was initiated by Dr. Lucina Uddin, a professor at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

 

 

 

↑ Top

■ACE is building a transfer equivalency database that aims to facilitate information sharing and improve transparency and management. ACE will use a $500,000 grant from Walmart to complete the project which will include open-source components, privacy protections, and tools to help institutions manage the transfer opportunities they offer.

 

■An agreement in the House v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) class action lawsuit has been rejected by the court. Judge Claudia A. Wilken objected to the ban on third-party payments from boosters and donors. She instructed the parties to revise the proposed agreement or be prepared to go to trial. The NCAA settled the lawsuit for $2,800,000,000 in May.

 

■  Common Application released its report on first-year application trends. The data show applications submitted by underrepresented minority applicants increased by 11%, with the largest increases coming from American Indian or Alaska Native, Latinx, and African American applicants. Growth in the number of international applicants was double that of domestic applicants. Most of the international applicants were from Haiti, Ghana, and Mongolia.

 

■  A pair of recently released reports shine a light on the needs of student parents. The reports show that student parents perform better academically but are less likely to graduate than their non-parenting peers. Almost half work full-time jobs and nearly three-quarters identify as Black, Latinx, Pacific Islander or Native American. Their median age is 34 and they generally hail from areas where there are few postsecondary institutions. Researchers hope that by releasing Juggling Roles and Achieving Goals: The California Student Parents Almanac and Making the Invisible Visible: Taking Stock of How the California State University Collects and Uses Data About Parenting Students they can motivate presidents, chancellors, and provosts to research their institutions with a view toward investing in and improving the outcomes of student parents.

 

■ Higher education experts offered preparedness resources, administrators rewrote rulebooks, and beefed up security in an effort to preemptively rein in Pro-Palestine protests. In some instances, encampments have been banned outright. In others group sizes, tents, signs, and food, have been regulated. However, protests continued to occur in spite of the crackdowns. In one case, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction forcing a university to permit an interfaith vigil despite it’s security concerns

 

■  A coalition of faculty across several University of California campuses filed an unfair labor practice charge with the California Public Employment Relations Board. They claim to have suffered threats and harassment when they tried to protect student protestors. In another case, a tenured professor alleged she was fired because of her Pro-Palestine views. 

 

■ The University of Pennsylvania announced it will open an Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion to deal with Title VI complaints, antisemitism, islamophobia, and other forms of religious and ethnic intolerance. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities that receive federal financial funds. The Department is expected to issue regulations and compliance guidance for Title VI similar to what it offers for Title IX later this year.

 

■  A national survey of students shows students worry about being able to afford books and other course materials with a significant portion reporting they have taken fewer courses due to the costs of required course materials. At the same time, researchers looking at faculty found their awareness of open educational resources (OER) decreased 8% year over year. There also was a decline in the adoption of OER as required course materials. Some institutions have tried to tackle the problem by bundling the cost of books and supplies into tuition and fees, a practice known as inclusive access. However, this has come under fire for poor pricing and difficult opt-out options. The Department has moved to require prior authorization—essentially changing from an opt-out to an opt-in model. Critics say this will ultimately harm students and push prices back up.

 

■ The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2023 ruling against the Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library (NEL), a digital book lending program launched during the pandemic. The ruling may impact programs at institutions—particularly those that have partnerships with the Internet Archive.

 

 

↑ Top

■  The Department announced it is implementing the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act (JCLSA ) for FFEL loan holders and servicers in two phases. The first phase entails submitting a request and the second phase involves separation and re-consolidation as individual Direct Consolidation Loans. Phase one is underway and as of September 30, 2024, joint consolidation loan (JCL) borrowers may request a JCL separation by submitting an application to do so. Please note the application is only available in PDF format.

 

■  The American Council on Education (ACE) and other higher education associations submitted comments in response to the proposed rules governing distance education, return of Title IV funds, and Federal TRIO programs. The groups concerns included amendments to the definition of additional location; enrollment reporting for distance education; removal of the asynchronous option for distance education courses under the definition of a clock-hour; student attendance reporting for distance education courses; and the calculation of withdrawal date. The groups also requested that the Department allow a minimum of 60 days for comment on proposed regulations.

 

■  Education Secretary Dr. Miguel Cardona emailed a letter to presidents and chancellors at colleges and universities to apprise them of improvements to the FAFSA planned for the 2025-2026 award cycle.   

 

■  The Supreme Court of the United States denied a Justice Department request to vacate a nation-wide injunction that blocks the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The injunction was issued by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, which refused a request for clarification. The Department has placed borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan in an interest-free forbearance while the case works its way through the courts. 

 

■  Young America’s Foundation filed a lawsuit against the Department accusing it of race discrimination. At issue is the McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, one of several federally funded TRIO programs. Named after Dr. Ronald E. McNair, an astronaut who passed away in the Challenger explosion, the program provides grants to institutions to help prepare disadvantaged low-income and first-generation students excel in doctoral degree programs. The grants are typically used to provide tutoring, academic counseling, and financial aid counseling. Although the plaintiffs claim the award is racial biased, the cohort of McNair Scholars at many institutions is diverse. The lawsuit is just one of many filed since the SCOTUS struck down affirmative action. Students for Fair Admissions, the group that filed the lawsuit that resulted in the SCOTUS decision, has filed similar lawsuits against the Military Academy at West Point and the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and continues to threaten colleges and universities. Another group, the Equal  Protection Project, has nearly 50 active cases listed on its website. One of the latest was filed against the University of Arkansas for the BIPOC Mentor Circle Series it operates with Sam’s Club and Walmart. Yet another organization, Liberty Justice Center, threatened to sue Howard University College of Medicine if it failed to halt all policies and programs that include a racial component. Do No Harm, an organization that purports to save healthcare from anti-racism, filed a civil rights complaint against Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science alleging eligibility to enroll in one of its mentoring programs was restricted to Black men. The complaint was dropped when the language was revised to indicate the program was open to people from underserved groups. As these legal threats ramp up, some institutions have shutdown programs to avoid litigation. For example, when Duke University replaced its Reginaldo M. Howard Memorial Scholarship with a leadership program it cited the legal landscape. 

 

■ Over the past year an increasing number of states have passed legislation prohibiting public institutions from pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education’s DEI Legislation Tracker, 86 anti-DEI bills have been introduced in 28 states and 14 of those have become law. A bill passed by the House of Representatives aims to end DEI initiatives at public institutions in all fifty states. Proponents of the End Woke Higher Education Act claim it will promote free speech and end indoctrination. Critics say the bill is flawed and duplicative. They point out compliance will be costly and that penalties harm students by denying them access to federal aid. Notably, the bill: prohibits accreditors from enforcing DEI policies; establishes an annual policy disclosure requirement; regulates the recognition and funding of student organizations; and requires institutions to waive their sovereign immunity. The bill also puts restrictions on what policies an institution can enforce in regard to student protests. It represents a sharp increase in federal control over the internal affairs of colleges and universities. Some of the provisions are applicable to both public and private institutions. Violations would result in a suspension from participating in Title IV programs for a minimum of one year. However, it is doubtful the bill will become law. Although four Democrats voted for the bill in the House, it is unlikely to garner much support in the Senate and the Biden administration opposes it. See Higher ED Dive and Inside Higher ED for more information.

■  Recipients of National Science Foundation (NSF) funding are required to submit a Foreign Financial Disclosure Report (FFDR). The deadline for the initial report (covering July 1, 2023 through June 20, 2024) was July 31, 2024. However, the NSF extended the deadline for the first report to September 3 2024. Institutions can request an extension between September 4, 2024 and June 30, 2025 by using the “Request Extension” button on the Initial Report(s) page. The request will be automatically approved. NSF also provided a how-to guide and demonstration slides. Note that this reporting requirement is different from the Foreign Gift and Contract Report (Section 117) required by the Department.

 

■ Although some are exempt from the rule, many entities are required to report their beneficial ownership information to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The deadline for reporting depends upon when the entity was created or registered to do business. For entities created or registered before January 1, 2024, the deadline is January 1, 2025. Failure to comply can result in civil penalties of up to $591 per day. Willful violations can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and two year imprisonment. Available resources include a brochure, a FAQ, and a webinar recording. 

 

■  An appellate court affirmed Department of Labor’s (DOL) authority to use salary to determine overtime pay. The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals found the Fair Labor Standards Act does not prohibit using pay as a proxy for job duties. The DOL has used pay as a determinant for many years. This ruling may impact the outcome of other challenges to the latest overtime rule due to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Chevron deference. The rule went into effect on July 1, 2024—with the exception of state employees in Texas. While the other challenges wind their way through the courts, the US Congress is considering legislation that would restore the Chevron deference. The Stop Corporate Capture Act, was introduced in the US Senate by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and in the US House by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). It is unclear whether reinstating the Chevron deference would result in a more favorable compliance environment for higher education. Experts warn that stability and long-range planning difficult will be more difficult in the absence of the Chevron deference.

 

■  The Justice Department (DOJ) announced it has joined a whistleblower lawsuit and filed a complaint-in-intervention against Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Georgia Tech Research Corp. Whistleblowers revealed the institution had not complied with cybersecurity regulations and had submitted false cybersecurity assessments to the Department of Defense (DOD). DOJ is seeking relief under the False Claims Act. This is the first such complaint filed against a university.

 

■  The DOL published Compliance Assistance Release No. 2024-01, a cybersecurity guidance update. The information is applicable to all Employee Retirement Income Security Act plans. The update provides cybersecurity best practices for record keepers and plan fiduciaries; information for sponsors and fiduciaries about hiring service providers; and online security tips for plan participants and beneficiaries.

 

■  The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and eight other federal agencies published a notice of proposed joint rulemaking in keeping with the requirements of the Financial Data Transparency Act. The act requires the agencies to establish a single standard for structuring and transmitting data that is searchable and machine-readable. Due to the overlap between the Financial Data Transparency Act and the Grants Reporting Efficiency and Transparency Act, higher education grantees that are required to submit financial statement reports may be affected. It may also impact institutions that have public debt. A common criticism is that the government is not providing funding to help institutions make the transition. The SEC published a fact sheet, The National Association of College and University Business Officers highlighted some of its concerns as did the National Association of Bond Lawyers. The deadline for submitting comments is October 21, 2024.

 

■  National Labor Relations Board announced its general counsel has released a memo to clarify college and university disclosure and privacy obligations under the National Labor Relations Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The memo offers guidance on responding to requests for student-worker education records. A consent template was also provided.

 

■ Howard University and Adventist HealthCare named Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., president of Howard University Hospital. Dr. Mitchell is currently serving as chief medical officer for the Howard University Faculty Practice Plan. A tenured professor of pathology at Howard University College of Medicine, he takes the reins from Ms. Anita Jenkins, who is stepping down.

 

■ Langston University announced Mr. Sherman Lewis was elected chair of the Langston University Board of Trustees for Urban Campuses. Mr. Lewis is an alumnus and frequent donor who has been recognized for his dedication and service. 

 

■ Texas Southern University announced Governor Greg Abbot appointed Mr. Benjamin Kohlmann to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents. Mr. Kohlmann, a former navy pilot, is a venture capital partner and chief operating officer for Cubit Capital. His term expires in February 2027.

 

■ Maryland Governor Wes Moore appointed Ms. Xiomara V. Medina, M.Ed, to the Maryland Board of Education. Ms. Medina is the associate director for clinical training in the department of counseling and psychological studies at Bowie State University. She is pursuing a doctorate in counselor education and supervision there as well. 

 

■ Lane College named Dr. Louis L. Cook interim vice president of enrollment management and Dr. Ala’Torya V. Cranford interim vice president of student affairs and dean of students. Dr. Cranford, an administrator who hails from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, previously served as executive director of the Freshman Academy and Honors Program. Dr. Cook holds a doctorate in urban higher education and a doctorate in international education. He also has experience in compliance reporting, accreditation, and project management. 

 

■ University of the District of Columbia named Mr. Shawn Celio vice president of human resources and Mr. Stephan A, Byram vice president of information technology. Mr. Byram has served in a number of senior IT roles at institutions of higher education. Mr. Celio has experience in human resources administration and has served in both the higher education and corporate sectors. 

 

■ Shaw University announced the Reverend Sheritta Michelle Williams will serve as director of the Center for Racial & Social Justice. Reverend Williams, a Saint Augustine’s University alumna, has experience in higher education and has been active in research, mentorship, and missionary work. 

 

■ Lincoln University named Ms. Paula Clay director of career services. Ms. Clay previously served as director of the center for academic advising at Lincoln University, the director of outreach at the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, and as senior employment development specialist at the Missouri Department of Transportation. She has earned several awards for her work. 

 

■ Jarvis Christian University names Dr. Yolanda Jones interim assistant vice president for institutional research and effectiveness. Dr. Jones has over 25 years of experience in higher education. During her career she has served in several administrative positions including executive director for student success services, assistant vice president for enrollment management, and director of admissions. 

 

■ Kentucky State University named Dr. Rodney D. Chism, Sr., Director of the Kentucky State University Mighty Marching Thorobred Band. Dr. Chism is an accomplished professional musician, a bandmaster, music arranger, and instructor.

 

↑ Top

 

■ The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities awarded a five-year $20,900,000 grant to Morgan State University to continue and expand current research aimed at improving health outcomes and preventing chronic diseases that disproportionately impact diverse communities. 

 

■ The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $10,500,000 to HBCUs to support four Ideas Lab Projects designed to build research networks and address research capacity needs. Delaware State University will lead the Panoramic Institutional Assessments: A Playbook for Advancing Research Capacity project. Central State University will lead the Partnership for Advancing Research Capacity in Semiconductors at HBCU project. Miles College will lead the HBCU Ujima Collective: Building Research Capacity at HBCUs through a Grow Your Own Research Corps Model project. Virginia State University will lead the HBCU Research and Collaboration Exchange project. North Carolina Central University, Winston-Salem State University, Alabama A&M University, Fisk University, and University of the Virgin Islands will collaborate on these projects. 

 

■ Pepco and Delmarva Power have made a three-year $7,300,000 commitment to Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia to fund scholarships, research, faculty training, professional development, and certification programs. Pepco and Delmarva Power provide utilities to the Washington DC area.

 

■ The HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program awarded grants totaling $6,500,000 to four HBCUs to refurbish their football fields. The awardees were: Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Miles College, and Savannah State University. The program is an invitational grant funded by the Arthur M. Banks Family Foundation and supported by the NFL foundation. 

 

■ The NSF awarded $5,000,000 to a consortium of institutions to help them provide scholarships and mentors for STEM students from low-income communities. Tuskegee University will receive $2,170,000 of the award and serve as lead.

 

■ The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) awarded Winston-Salem State University and Tennessee State University $5,000,000 to establish Research Centers of Excellence. Winston-Salem University will establish a center to research housing and community development needs in under-resourced rural communities. Tennessee State University will establish a center to research displacement and relocation due to gentrification. 

 

↑ Top

 

 

■  Delaware State University announced it has launched its own private label clothing line and is the first HBCU to do so. The brand will include limited-edition merchandise and will be available online and through Everything Collegiate in Atlanta, Georgia. A percent of the sales will be used to provide scholarships.

 

■  Dr. Robert D. Bullard, founder of the Robert D. Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University and Bennett College President Suzanne Elise Walsh, JD, were named to the Leaders Circle of America Is All In. America Is All In is a coalition of leaders working to combat climate change and fulfill the articles of the Paris Agreement. Dr. Bullard was also featured on This American Land, a PBS show that aired a segment on environmental justice.

 

■  Dr. Andrea A. Hayes Dixon, dean of Howard University College of Medicine, has been appointed chair of the US Department of Health and Human Services Scientific Management Review Board. Since becoming the first African American woman to achieve board certification in pediatric surgery, Dr. Dixon has been lauded nationally and internationally for her pioneering work in treating pediatric cancer.

 

■  The National Association of College and University Business Officers named Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy board chair for the 2024-2025 academic year. Dr. Dubroy is currently serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Howard University. She has extensive administrative experience in higher education having served as a department chair and as a university president.

 

■  US Department of Energy’s Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA) named Xavier University of Louisiana one of 12 universities and three national laboratories that will collaborate on commercializing energy storage solutions. Dr. Lamartine Meda will serve as principal investigator. He is the endowed professor of chemistry and material science and director of the university’s materials and interfaces center for high energy storage and sensing.

 

■  The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Institute (NIBIB) bestowed the Rookie of the Year Award on Dr. Mohd Anwar, a professor in the department of computer science at North Carolina A&T University. Dr. Anwar is recognized for pioneering research utilizing AI to detect patterns and relationships in unstructured, raw, and noisy data. He will conclude his service as a NIBIB Data Scholar this fall.

 

■  The University of the District of Columbia announced it joined the HBCU Transformation Project—a collaboration between Thurgood Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund, the Partnership for Education Advancement, and Blue Meridian Partners. The initiative is dedicated to improving the capacity and sustainability of HBCUs.

 

■  RHD: Hidden Diagnosis, a documentary created by North Carolina Central University Professor Michael Pearce, was aired by PBS. The film is about the language recovery challenges faced by survivors of stroke who suffer right hemisphere brain damage, known as RHD. Professor Pearce filmed the documentary during the pandemic.

 

■  Forbes published its America’s Top Colleges list for 2024-2025. Six HBCUs: Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Florida A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Hampton University were on the list.

 

■  Maryland Public Television celebrated its fifth annual HBCU Week this month. The station aired programming featuring current and historical coverage of pioneers in the arts, business, sports, science, political and social spheres.

 

■  During its 20^th Annual Small Farm Expo, Tennessee State University celebrated the reopening of facilities that were destroyed by a tornado in 2020.  The Controlled Environment Agriculture Research and Education Greenhouse, the Agriculture Education Center, and the Pavilion are state-of-the-art facilities integral to the university’s agricultural research and community outreach 

 

↑ Top

 

■ The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant has accredited the Xavier-Ochsner physician assistant program at Xavier University of Louisiana. Students in the program will complete approximately 2,000 hours of clinical work at Ochsner facilities. 

 

■Alabama A&M University and Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a framework for the institutions to collaborate on research, education, and cultural exchange. Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly is a public institution located in Korhogo City in Côte d'Ivoire.

 

■North Carolina A&T State University announced it will launch two new graduate degree programs: a PhD in applied psychology and a M.S. in physician assistant studies. The programs are awaiting approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the university’s accreditor.

 

■Wor-Wic Community College renewed an agreement with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) that makes it easier for Wor-Wic graduates to continue their education at UMES. Under the agreement Wor-Wic graduates are eligible to receive up to $3,500 per year to cover their in-state tuition at UMES.

 

■Kentucky State University is collaborating with the Kentucky Department for Public Health in an effort to improve public health services throughout the state. The program will include mobile health units for rural communities, academic programs, student internships, tuition assistance, and professional development for public health workers.

 

■Winston-Salem State University and Wake forest University School of Law have entered into an agreement that creates a pathway for the Winston-Salem State graduates to be admitted into the law school’s full-time residential juris doctor program. Under the agreement, Wake Forest School of Law will admit up to two Winston-Salem State University graduates into the program during each admission cycle. The students will also receive a scholarship.

 

■This fall, Prairie View A&M University launched a student success program that designates a career coach, an academic adviser, and a financial coach for each undergraduate student. These advisers will be consistent within the student’s academic college and they will communicate and coordinate with each other as needed. The program is expected to improve retention and completion rates at the institution.

 

■Paul Quinn College and Crowley Independent School District (ISD) middle schools announced they will launch a Texas Innovation Partnership. State law in Texas permits ISDs to collaborate with institutions of higher education to create programs that help students achieve success in post-secondary endeavors.

 

■Kentucky State University President Dr. Koffi Akakpo and the Appalachian Renewal Projec CEO Mr. Clifford Smith signed a memorandum of understanding to. The entities will continue research collaborations and build an on-site lab where students can monitor agricultural approaches to mining restoration.

 

■Bluefield State University announced the return of its Mining Engineering Technology program. Paused nearly ten years ago, the program will fill a current need for trained engineers in the mining industry.

 

■Denmark Technical College and Voorhees University held the third annual Operation Olive Branch to celebrate the continuation of their relationship. The institutions share resources and collaborate on initiatives aimed at ensuring students have the best academic and personal experience.

 

 

↑ Top

Contact agencies or call 404-874-0555 to schedule a consultation with Strategic Financial Aid Management. 

■ FSA announced there is a problem that has caused 5,478 borrowers who are under the age of 24 but who are Independent for various reasons to be incorrectly identified as Dependent in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). his issue has led to inconsistencies in determining aggregate loan limit totals, as displayed on the NSLDS Professional Access website’s Financial Aid Dashboard, and has caused some 2023–24 ISIRs to be incorrectly flagged for exceeding aggregate loan limits. This caused inconsistencies in the aggregate loan limit totals displayed on the NSLDS Professional Access website’s Financial Aid Dashboard and has caused some 2023–24 ISIRs to be incorrectly flagged for exceeding aggregate loan limits. FSA is advising financial aid directors to use professional judgment to make adjustments on a case-by-case basis and with supporting documentation. The issue will be resolved by the end of October when NSLDS begins receiving 2024–25 demographic data (Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) processed results) from the FAFSA Processing System (FPS). 

 

■ FSA announced a new service release is available for EDExpress for Windows 2024-2025, Release 2.0. The update resolves issues in the Direct Loan and Pell Grant modules. It can be downloaded from the Software and Other Tools page on the FSA Knowledge Center website. Note that EDExpress for Windows 2024-2025, Release 2.0. must be installed before running this service release file. 

 

■  The FY2021 official cohort default rate notification packages have been distributed to eligible institutions enrolled in the Electronic Cohort Default Rate program (eCDR). The packages contain a cover letter and an extract-type loan record detail report. Institutions that are not enrolled in eCDR may download their cohort default rate and loan record detail reports from the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) website. The loan record detail report import tool makes it easier to load the data into Excel. The period for appealing the FY2021 official cohort default rate begins on October 4, 2024. Loan servicing appeals, uncorrected data adjustments, and new data adjustments must be made via the electronic cohort default rate appeals system. Economically disadvantaged appeals, participation rate index appeals, and erroneous data appeals must be emailed to FSA.Schools.Default.Management@ed.gov with a copy (Cc:) to mary.mcgeorge@ed.gov. The subject line of the email should be labeled: FY 2021 Official [Insert appeal type], OPEID. Note that paper submissions will not be accepted. Additional information is included in the announcement.

 

2024-2025 FAFSA 

 

■ FSA posted instructions for applicants who are unable to submit their application due to using a military address. They should resubmit without providing a military state—like Military-Americas, Military-Europe, or Military-Pacific—in the state field.

 

■ FSA posted a workaround for signatures removed from the form when it is saved by another contributor (such as a parent) who reviewed the form and saved without making changes. The applicant should re-sign the application whether or not they are making changes. 

 

■ FSA announced it has identified the following issues. One issue involves conflicting information that is created when Federal Tax Information (FTI) and Manual Input are present on the same Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). Once a permanent fix is implemented and records are reprocessed, schools will no longer need to request supporting tax documentation to manually correct the conflicting financial information. While institutions may opt to wait for the Department to complete the reprocessing of impacted records, institutions that choose to proceed with awarding and disbursing aid before impacted records are reprocessed are reminded that they must still resolve conflicting information on these records, following the guidance published in GEN-24-71, prior to disbursing aid during the interim period.

 

■ FSA identified an issue that occurs when assets for the student (or their contributors) are both collected by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and subsequently used in the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation even when they meet criteria under the law for an exemption from reporting assets. Please see Appendix E: Applicants or Contributors Required to Provide Assets of the 2024-25 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide for additional information about when assets are required to be used in the SAI calculation. As an interim solution, schools that have identified impacted records may set the professional judgment flag and correct the assets reported to “0.” Additional details of the issue have been added to the Technical Frequently Asked Questions and Known Issues document. Again, while institutions may opt to wait for the Department to reprocess impacted records, institutions that choose to proceed with awarding and disbursing aid before impacted records are reprocessed must use the subsequent reprocessed record if it results in greater eligibility for the student.

 

 

 

2025-2026 FAFSA

 

■ Federal Student Aid announced it published 2025-2026 award year verification information in the Federal Register. The announcement contained information about verification for individuals who are victims of IRS tax-related identity theft and students who are confined or incarcerated. It listed verification items for applicants selected by the Department, the acceptable documentation to satisfy those items, and suggested verification text. The information was also provided in PDF format.

 

■ FSA announced the availability of a 2025-26 ISIR test data file for use in optional system testing. Testing will help ensure processing systems are prepared for the ISIR data that will be produced by the FAFSA Processing System (FPS). The “2025–26 FPS Test ISIR Data File” is available as an attachment to the 2025–26 FAFSA Specifications Guide on the Knowledge Center website. Locate the file under “Attachments” for Volume 9 –Testing and Web Demo System.

 

Event:Higher Education Compliance Conference

Date:October 24, 2024

Location:Virtual

Information:Agenda

 

 

Event:TRACS Annual Conference

Date:October 23-25, 2024

Location:Dallas, TX

Information: Registration

 

 

Event:MSI Aspiring Leaders (Future Presidents) 

Date:Application Deadline October 31, 2024

Location:New Brunswick, Pennsylvania

Information:Application and Forum Details

 

Event:Virtual Federal Student Aid Training Conference

Date:December 3-6, 2024

Location:Virtual

Information:Registration

 

 

Event:2024 SACSCOC Annual Meeting

Date:December 7-10, 2024

Location:Austin, TX

Information:Registration

 

↑ Top