HBCU Transformation Project

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), and the Partnership for Education Advancement announced the launch of the HBCU Transformation Project. The project’s goal is to support HBCUs by focusing on each institution’s greatest needs and highest priorities. Blue Meridian Partners committed $60,000,000 to the project. The inaugural cohort of 20 institutions includes: Alabama State University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Dillard University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Huston-Tillotson University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, South Carolina State University, Spelman College, Talladega College, Tuskegee University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Wiley College, and Winston-Salem State University.

President Biden Unveils His Budget Proposal

President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget includes increased funding and infrastructure investment for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions. It also increases the maximum Pell Grant by $2,175. It includes funds to provide childcare help for student parents and offers federal student aid eligibility to DACA recipients (Dreamers). Additional fact sheets and supplemental materials were published on the White House web site. The American Council on Education published a guide to understanding the appropriation process.

College Pioneers Funding Model

Hope College, a four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Reformed Church of America, announced it is exploring the viability of a new tuition-free model called Hope Forward. Participating students do not pay tuition. Instead, they agree to donate to the college every year after they graduate. Twenty-two students are participating in the pilot. They pay only room and board. Donations are used to pay tuition and fees. President Matthew A. Scogin calls it a pay-it-forward model and says the college will expand the program, adding more students each year.

States Oppose Title IX Changes

In a letter to Catherine Lhamon, Assistant Secretary of the  Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, Attorneys General of fourteen states expressed alarm over the department’s plans to update Title IX regulations. Last year the department announced that it would consider sexual orientation and gender identity to be protected under Title IX regulations. Earlier this year, the department announced it had drafted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the issue. Attorneys General criticized this initiative. They warned that doing so exceeds the department’s authority because it runs counter to the intention Congress had at the time. They said that when the statute was drafted the term sex referred to objective biological realities not gender identities.  Recently, a transgender swimmer won the gold in the NCAA championship in the 500-yard freestyle. The swimmer had competed previously on the men’s swim team but had never won an event. NCAA policy requires a transgender female to undergo a year of testosterone suppression treatment before competing  as a woman in women’s sports. Their testosterone levels are tested at the beginning of their sport’s season.

Public Institutions in Texas Must Revise Tuition Rates

U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan ruled the University of North Texas can no longer charge out-of-state residents higher tuition, a common practice. The Texas Public Policy Foundation acting on behalf of the Young Conservatives of Texas Foundation, challenged the university’s tuition policy. The foundation alleged the university violated federal law by charging out-of-state-residents higher tuition than resident undocumented migrants. The university’s tuition policy is permitted under Texas law. The Texas Dream Act permits institutions to charge undocumented resident migrants in-state rates. It was the first such law to be passed in the US. Judge Jordan found that this was at odds with the federal law. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, prohibits states from offering any education benefit to undocumented migrants based on residency unless they offer that benefit to US citizens regardless of residency. Critics say there is no conflict and the university has appealed. The injunction is specific to the University of North Texas. However, public institutions in Texas and across the country have similar policies and could face a similar challenge.

Texas HBCU Conference

HBCUs in Texas were invited to Huston-Tillotson University to participate in the inaugural Texas HBCU Conference. The focus was on community-centered public policy. In addition to Huston-Tillotson University, Texas is home to Jarvis Christian College, Paul Quinn College, Prairie View A&M University, St. Philip’s College, Southwestern Christian College, and Texas College. Speakers included Robert F. Smith, David Henderson, and Jasmine Crockett. Participants discussed strategies to increase investments in HBCUs

HBCU Accountability and Outcomes: What Matters

Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, president of Benedict College, Dr. Charlie Nelms, former chancellor of North Carolina Central University, and Dr. Alvin Schexnider, former chancellor of Winston-Salem State University joined Diverse Issues in Higher Education moderator, Dr. Jamal Watson on Diverse Talk Live. The topic of the day was HBCU Accountability and Outcomes. The panel discussed strategic planning, finances, accountability, and student success. They agreed that each HBCU must excel at telling its unique story.  A replay of the event is available on YouTube. 

Mask Mandates

U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle struck down the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) travel mask mandate. The judge ruled that the mandate exceeded the limits of the CDC’s statutory authority. The CDC and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have suspended enforcement of the mask requirement on public transportation. While the CDC continues to recommend masking, it had partially rolled back the requirement in February. The agency has asked the Department of Justice to appeal the district court’s ruling.  

Half the country is experiencing a rise in coronavirus cases dominated by new subvariants. Infection rates at some colleges and universities are inching back up. While, the CDC has not updated its guidance for higher education, several institutions have reinstated mask mandates on their own.  Howard University even moved some of its courses online and is recommending social gathering be held outdoors. Administrators at other institutions are requiring masks and scaling down indoor events.

    ↑ Top

Hampton University Board of Trustees named US Army retired Lt. General Darrell K. Williams as president. Williams is a Hampton alumnus who has decades of experience in leading military and commercial enterprises. A three-star general, he will succeed higher education icon, Dr. William Harvey, who is retiring  after 44 years of service.

West Virginia State University Board of Governors named Ericke S. Cage, J.D., LL.M, president of the university. He had been serving as the interim president since September 2021. Prior to that he had served at West Virginia State as the vice president and chief of staff and as chief operating officer. 

Talladega College named Dr. Gregory Vincent president. He takes the reins from Dr. Lisa Long. Dr. Long has been serving as acting president since the retirement of Dr. Billy C. Hawkins. Dr. Vincent comes to Talladega from the University of Kentucky where he heads the Education and Civil Rights Initiative and serves as a professor of educational policy and law.

Prairie View A&M University President Dr. Ruth Simmons announced her intentions to step down. However, she will continue to serve as president during the presidential search. Dr. Simmons has led the university since 2017. She plans to  stay on at the university as a professor.  

Howard University Board of Trustees reported that Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick will retire by June 2024. Dr. Frederick has been a member of the Howard community for several decades. He attended classes as a student, taught classes as a faculty member, and for nine years served as president. He has committed to staying on to facilitate the onboarding of his successor. 

President Biden announced appointments to the Board of Advisors on HBCUs. The new board members are: Makola M. Abdullah, Javaune Adams-Gaston, Paige Blake, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Willie A. Deese, Patrick Cokley, Monica Goldson, Brett J. Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Beverly W. Hogan, Lisa P. Jackson, Shevrin D. Jones, Walter M. Kimbrough, William F. L. Moses, Christopher E. Paul, Quinton T. Ross Jr., Ruth J. Simmons, and Janeen Uzzell. Tony Allen was appointed chair and Glenda Glover was named vice chair previously.  

The United Negro College Fund named six new members to its board of directors. Gerald Johnson, executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability for General Motors, Vladimir Jean-Fritzner Galiothe, managing director of equity solutions trading for Citigroup,  Rhonda Morris, chief human resources officer for Chevron, Tara Parker, global talent and diversity manager for ExxonMobil, Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air, and Safroadu Yeboah-Amankwah, senior vice president and chief strategy officer for Intel Corp.  

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshears signed Senate Bill 265 which granted him emergency authority to replace eight members of the Kentucky State University Board of Regents. Governor Beshears appointed: Charles Moyer, Tammi Dukes, Ernie Fletcher, Edward Hatchett, Michael Adams, Jr., Gerald Patton, Jason Moseley, and Robert Ramsey. Patton is the only member of the eight who was already serving at the time the emergency was declared. Mosely, Patton, Dukes, and Adams are Kentucky State University alumni. Fletcher is a former governor of Kentucky. The new board is said to have the skills needed to ensure the university’s fiscal success.

Virginia Union University Board of Trustees extended the contract for Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, who has served as president since 2017. The extension is for five years. The board cited increases in enrollment, fundraising, and research as key factors in their decision.

Virginia Union University named Dr. Mignon Jacobs Vice President of academic affairs and provost. Since she joined the university, Dr. Jacobs has served as associate provost and as professor of Old Testament at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore named Dr. Rondall E. Allen provost and vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Allen is currently serving as the interim Vice President for strategic initiatives. He previously served as dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. Before coming to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr. Allen served in administrative roles at South University School of Pharmacy and at Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy. 

Alabama A&M University named Dr. Charles W. Richardson, Jr., dean of the College of Business and Public Affairs. Dr. Richardson is a researcher and has served as a faculty member and an administrator at several HBCUs, including Clark Atlanta, Claflin, and Alcorn State Universities. 

Stillman College School of Education named Dr. Sharon Porterfield dean of the college. She will be tasked with developing strategies to increase the number of certified teachers the college graduates in an effort to address a national shortage of K-12 teachers. 

Fayetteville State University named  US Army retired Brigadier General Arnold N. Gordon-Bray director of the Center for Defense and Homeland Security and senior advisor of military affairs. The university has a history of serving the military-connected community. General Gordon-Bray will serve as a liaison between the Department of Defense and the university. He will also lead efforts to grow military-connected enrollment and spearhead business initiatives.

Miles College named alumnus James Aaron L. Pierre, Jr., as director of alumni affairs.  Pierre is the founder and CEO of Elite Legends Enterprises. He comes to Miles College from Enterprise Rent-A-Car where he served in leadership capacity.

Jackson State University named former NBA champion Mo Williams as head basketball coach. Williams comes to Jackson State from Alabama State University where he served as head coach. He is a Jackson City native and will replace Wayne Brent who is retiring after leading the men’s team for 9 seasons. 

Texas Southern announced that Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, the university’s third-winningest head coach ever, has retired. Coach Cooper-Dyke led the woman’s basketball team to its first SWAC Regular Season Championship.  She is both in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. In an interview, Coach Cooper-Dyke said she would like to be an assistant coach with the NBA.

    ↑ Top

A New Kind of Three-Year Bachelor Degree is gaining acceptance. It is a standalone program that is not attached to an advanced degree. The goal is to reduce the amount of time it takes to earn a bachelor’s.  Spearheading this initiative is the College in 3 project.  Several of the institutions participating in that project are at the testing stage and will offer the degrees in select majors. Public institutions in Ohio, including  HBCU Central State, are among those on the forefront of this initiative. New institutions, like NewU, do not have to piviot. The three-year degree is their default. NewU will admit its first cohort this fall. 

Two HBCU colleges are becoming universities. Vorhees College completed its transition during its 125th anniversary celebration. Jarvis Christian College will transition on May 6, 2022. Jarvis Christian College  added a masters degree in business administration program and a masters of science in criminal justice program. 

Stillman College and the University of Alabama celebrated the 50^th anniversary of their enrollment agreement by signing a new agreement. The memorandum of understanding creates a pathway from Stillman’s undergraduate programs to the University of Alabama’s graduate programs. Under the agreement, eligible Stillman seniors can take graduate level courses at the university. Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, they will be accepted into University of Alabama’s graduate school. 

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will offer non-thesis master degree programs beginning in the fall 2022 semester. The programs are being offered in the School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences. The non-thesis structure allows students to focus on practice, application, and training rather than research.

Skilled-Trades Grads Are In Demand. Many four-year programs have not yet recovered from the pandemic. However, enrollment in two-year skilled-trades programs rose during the emergency. Enrollment in agricultural sciences, for example, increased 41% in 2021. Most of those enrolled are employed in the field and are seeking to advance their careers. Enrollment is up in construction and HVAC programs as well. This comes at a time when the number of four-year institutions offering associate degree programs is on the rise.

Woman’s Sports Are Expanding at HBCUs.  Morgan State University announced it will offer women’s acrobatics and tumbling in 2023. The sport has met the NVAA participation requirement. It and is expected to qualify for NCAA championship status soon. Earlier this year, Fisk University announced it will launch an intercollegiate women's artistic gymnastics team this fall. Saint Augustine’s University’s women’s rowing team is the first at an HBCU. Recently approved and registered, it will begin competing soon.

Tennessee State University is broadening its international reach. This fall the university will welcome students from Trinidad & Tobago, the Bahamas, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.  Students from the Caribbean were underrepresented on campus. The university is also considering requests for access to the STEM program it offers in Liberia and South Africa at schools and colleges run by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia have asked to join the program. 

Texas Southern University has two new partners, Southwest Airlines and the Houston Texans. Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, president of the university signed an agreement with Lee Kinnebrew, vice president of flight operations at Southwest. The university is the first HBCU to  participate in Southwest’s First Officer recruitment program. Texas Southern University is also partnering with the Houston Texans. Under a two-year agreement, the Texans will support the universities football program, award scholarships to female student-athletes, and provide professional development opportunities, and internships.

Howard University is relaunching its chapter of the National Writing Project which has been on hiatus for five years. The project’s mission is to assist instructors who teach writing in all disciplines and at all levels. The DC Area chapter headquartered at Howard, will focus on meeting the needs of local K-12 schools. Dr. Altheria Caldera will serve as director.

Jackson State University and Tougaloo College hosted a Beacon Project conference. FBI leaders and executives from twenty-five HBCUs met with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI established the Beacon Project in June 2021. The goal of the project is to establish a good relationship with HBCUs, to diversify the bureau, and to improve relations with the black community. You can watch video of the conference on YouTube. 

An Online Learning Hub for HBCUs will bring together students, faculty, and staff from institutions around the nation. Students will be able to take credit bearing courses offered in synchronous and asynchronous learning environments. The initiative is pioneered by UNCF and Deloitte Digital, a technology consulting firm. It is scheduled to launch next year with an inaugural cohort of nine private HBCUs.  

HBCU 20x20 has made an agreement with IPG Mediabrands to establish a pipeline between the company and HBCUs. The company will leverage HBCU 20x20’s relationships with career-development programs at HBCUs as part of its effort to recruit black talent.

    ↑ Top

Jackson State College of Business alumnus Joe N. Tatum donated $50,000 to his alma mater to fund student support initiatives. Mr. Tatum is an accountant and a practicing attorney. 

Clark Atlanta University received an $11,000,000 grant from EON Reality. The grant will be used to establish the Knowledge Metaverse at Clark Atlanta where faculty and students can benefit from courses enriched by augmented and virtual reality. 

Simmons College of Kentucky received a $10,000,000 donation from the Brown-Forman Foundation. The funds will be used to support the college’s academic initiatives.

The UNCF and Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the launch of a $10,000,000 initiative to increase the number of charter schools in the black community. They will work with the schools of education at HBCUs to create, staff, and support the schools. Data show high quality charter schools offer better outcomes for black students. 

Delaware State University announced Dr. Jianli Sun received a $400,839 grant from the National Institute of Health. He is the director of the Cell Electrophysiology Core Facility in the university’s Delaware Institute for Science and Technology. The grant will support Dr. Sun’s work on spinal muscular atrophy.  

The National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA)  received a $670,000 from the Deloitte Foundation to develop a bridge program that will help aspiring accountants transfer from community colleges to HBCUs.  

Virginia Union University received $1,000,000 from the Bank of America to support its Workforce Development and Financial Markets Program. The program will provide financial literacy tools to students and to the surrounding community. 

Cheyney University received a $100,000 donation from the Waters Corporation. The funds will be used for conducting advanced experiments in chromatography. The Waters Corporation, which specializes in analytical measurement technology, will also award two scholarships to Cheyney students. 

Prairie View A&M University received a $600,000 donation from the Mellon Foundation to launch an African American Studies bachelor degree program in the fall.  The program builds on work accomplished with previous grants from the foundation. 

A Delegation from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity visited Coahoma Community College to make a donation and discus ways the organization could support the institution and the community.  

The UNCF received a $100,000 donation from longtime supporter, CBS Sports. The funds provide scholarships for eligible HBCU students. The award was made during the inaugural HBCU All-Star game in New Orleans.

    ↑ Top

Dr. Jacqueline Hill, chair of Bowie State University’s nursing program, has been named to The Daily Record’s 2022 listing of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. 

Shermanetta Carter, CFO at Morris Brown College has been named a finalist  in the Community Champion category of Atlanta’s CFO of the Year Awards.

Bowie State University History and Government Department chair, Dr. Karen Cook-Bell’s book, Running from Bondage: Enslaved Women and Their Remarkable fight for Freedom in Revolutionary America, is receiving high praise. The book was a finalist for the African American Intellectual History Society’s 2022 Pauli Murray Book Prize. 

Fayetteville State University renamed its College of Health, Science and Technology  the Clarence E. Lloyd Jr., M.D. College of Health, Science and Technology. Dr. Lloyd is a alumnus of the institution and continues to demonstrate his support with generous donations. 

The Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility at Southern Methodist University will award the 2022 J. Erik Johnson Ethics Award to Paul Quinn College President Dr. Michael Sorrell.  

Dr. Preselfannie McDaniels, dean of graduate studies at Jackson State University has been elected chair of the Mississippi Humanities Council’s board. Dr. Ebony Lumumba, who chairs the Jackson State University department of English, Foreign Languages, and Speech Communication, was also elected to the council’s board. She will serve as secretary. 

Dr. Karsonya Whitehead, professor at Morgan State University, was awarded the 2021 Vernon Jarret Medal for Journalistic Excellence. 

St. Philip’s College’s Health Information Technology Program was celebrated as one of the top registered health information technical degree programs in the country. 

The Austin Chamber of Commerce honored Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette with the 2021 Austinite of the Year award at its annual Cheers to the Year celebration. Dr. Burnette has served as president of Huston-Tillotson University since 2015. She was also honored by Divinc with the 2022 Champions of Change Award Legacy Award. The award will bear her name in the future. Dr. Burnette is retiring this year. 

Saint Augustine’s University hosted the SAU Short Track MTB/CX Invitational. It was the first USA-Sanctioned cycling race to be held at an HBCU. Saint Augustine’s launch the first collegiate cycling team at an HBCU in 2020.

Claflin University was one of the recipients of the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement awards. The award is bestowed by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). It recognizes leadership and commitment to improvement. 

The Wiley College A CAPPELLA Choir held its first spring concert in four years. The choir shared the stage with special guests including David Sea of the Temptations, Mr. Lennie Williams, and renowned opera soprano Ms. Brenda Wimberly.  

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff recognized interim coordinator for the 1890 Scholarship Program, Dr. Tomekia White. She won praise for her work supporting the Small Farms projects and the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences’ projects. She also plays a critical role in supporting students with scholarships and internships.  

Student Loan Pause Extended

The department  announced the expiration date for the pause in federal student loan repayment, interest, and collections has been pushed forward to August 21, 2022. It had been set to expire on May 1, 2022. 

Income-Driven Repayment Updated

Federal Student Aid announced  changes to the student loan programs. It will apply all past payments toward loan debt forgiveness for borrowers in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLFP) and in income-driven repayment plans (IDR).  It will root out forbearance steering, a practice loan servicers use to deter borrowers from opting for IDR plans. The department said it expects these one-time waivers and adjustments erase the student loan debt for thousands of borrowers.   

HEERF Extension

The Department of Education announced an automatic extension of the performance period through June 30, 2023, for all open grants issued under the Higher Education emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) with a balance greater than $1,000. 

Voter Access Resources

Federal Student Aid posted a reminder and resource list to help institutions fulfill the requirement to make a good faith effort to distribute voter registration materials to students.  

Federal Pell Grant Payment and Disbursement Schedules

For 2022-2033 have been revised due to the increase in the maximum Pell Grant award. For more information on the operational implementation of the revision see this electronic announcement from Federal Student Aid. 

Campus Based Programs

Federal Student Aid posted information on the final funding for the Campus-Based Programs. Funding is based upon applicable law, the Congressional appropriation, and the institution’s request. Note that an institution will not receive a 2022-2023 final funding authorization amount for a Campus-Based program that exceeds its request for that program on the FISAP. 

Comments Requested

The Department of Education is seeking comments on updates to the application to participate in federal student aid programs.

New School Guide and FSA Assessments

Federal Student Aid posted the 2022 Federal Student Aid New School Guide, which provides an introduction to the federal student aid programs. They also posted the FSA Assessments which explains how an institution should administer the federal student aid programs.   

2021–22 Verification Status Code Reporting Reminders

Institutions are required to report a verification status code for every student selected for verification by the Central Processing System (CPS). Blank is not an acceptable verification status code, except in the case where the student is no longer enrolled. 

Institutions that have one or more 2021–22 student records still reported with a verification status code of W, should update those records. Federal Student Aid will consider those accounts (with verification code W) as over awards. They will be reduced to a zero dollar amount.  

If an institution needs more time to complete verification for a individual student who is still within the allowable timeframe for submitting verification documentation/completing the verification process according to the deadlines specified in the 2021–2022 Award Year Deadline Dates, the school may resubmit a disbursement record with a value greater than zero ($0.00) until Sept. 27, 2022. After Sept. 27, 2022, the COD System will no longer accept “W” as a valid verification status code for 2021–22 Pell Grant awards.

If the student that is selected for verification is exempt under allowable exclusions, a status of S should be reported. See Chapter 4 of the Application and Verification Guide. 

If verification was not completed and the student is not exempt from verification, the Pell Grant must be adjusted to a zero dollar amount.

Ensure that a verification status code of “S” is not used for students who were not selected for verification by the CPS but who the institution has chosen to verify.

The verification status for a student who was reported as W but is no longer enrolled, should be changed to blank (nil=True).

Additional information on verification reporting can be found here.

Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Update

Federal Student Aid made changes to the COD system that will affect processing of Federal Pell Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) awards. 

Unclaimed Credit Balances 

Institutions must have a process in place that ensures that unclaimed funds do not escheat to a state or revert to the school or any other third party when it is unable to deliver them to a student. If the institution is unable to deliver the funds to the student by the applicable deadlines, the funds must be returned to the Department. The assignment of the Coronavirus Indicator may prevent modification of the disbursement amount. In such cases a downward adjustment to the student's COD records is not required. The institution is required to return the funds using the G5 Miscellaneous Refund process. Follow the steps under Unclaimed Credit Balances Resulting from Disbursements with the Coronavirus Indicator in this electronic announcement.

Coronavirus Indicator 

The deadline for adding the coronavirus indicator for disbursements of Title IV funds for the 2020–21 award year is Sept. 30, 2022. Coronavirus Indicator will be accepted when the payment period start date is a date inclusive of or between Jan. 1, 2018 and July 1, 2022. Set the Coronavirus Indicator only after confirming that no further changes to a disbursement will be necessary. No changes may be made to a disbursement after the Coronavirus Indicator is selected.

Perkins Loans 

Institutions must purchase or assign Perkins Loans that have been in default for more than two years by June 30, 2022—unless there is documented evidence that the borrower is making payments. Any defaulted Perkins Loan that has been placed with a private collection agency, must be returned to the institution so that the institution can assign it to the Department, as is required. Institutions are advised to maintain records of their collection efforts. An updated guide for Federal Perkins Loan Assignment and Liquidation is available here. Note that the federal government has paused student loan collection on all federally held loans. This does not apply to loans not held by the federal government. Institutions are free to suspend student loan collection on loans that they hold.

Audit Deadline Extension

The Office of Management and Budget has directed all federal agencies to allow recipients and sub-recipients that have fiscal year-ends through June 30, 2021, and have not yet filed their single audits, to delay completion and submission for up to six months beyond the normal due date. Although they do not have to seek approval for this extension, recipients and sub-recipients should document the reason for delayed filing. They could also still qualify as a low-risk auditee.

INTEREST RATE NOTICES
FFEL Variable Interest Rates

• Direct Loan Fixed Interest Rates

• Direct Loan Variable Interest Rates

• HEAL Program Interest Rates

Libor Fix

Congress included a Libor fix in the recently passed omnibus bill. The rule automatically switches contracts to a new benchmark rate to prevent disagreement on a new reference rate once Libor expires. 

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)

Compensation that student athletes receive for NIL may impact their student financial aid. Federal Student Aid published guidance for financial aid administrators making awards to student athletes who have received compensation under NIL contracts.

Affirmative Action Compliance

The Department of Labor issued an update to the audit and enforcement rules of Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The update deals mostly with requests for documents and reduced notification time before a scheduled audit. 

Appendices, Errata and Updates

Federal Student Aid published an update to the Application and Verification Guide are available.  

 ↑ Top

Event:  Digital Universities Week
Date:  May 9-12, 2022
Location:  Cambridge, MA
Information:Registration

Event:  Higher Education Leadership
Date:  June 2-3, 2022
Location:  San Francisco, CA
Information:Registration

Event:International Conference on Higher Education Administration and Leadership
Date:June 7-8, 2022
Location:San Francisco, CA
Information:Registration

Event:African American Board Leadership Institute Board Talks
Date:On Demand
Location:Recorded
Information:Details

Event:Campus Technology Threat Landscape 2022
Date/Location:On Demand
Date/Location:Recorded
Information:Details

    ↑ Top