GSFC 411 e-newsletter [Feb. 2010]

GAcollege411 Turning Five
On February 14th, GAcollege411 will turn five years old. Started by the Georgia Student Finance Commission and its partners, www.GAcollege411.org was created with the goal of providing Georgians an official web source for all information regarding state scholarships and colleges in Georgia and educational services. Through the years, GAcollege411 has experienced solid growth and recognition among students, parents and school administrators.
GAcollege411 allows students to create personal accounts to keep a record of their high school grades, test scores, and activities; track their progress toward meeting specific college entrance requirements; apply to Georgia: national colleges and universities; submit financial aid applications online; prepare for and take sample tests such as the SAT and ACT; conduct career assessments; track their career and plan of study timelines; and research and apply for state and national scholarship and grant programs. Since June of 2009, cumulative personal accounts created by site users increased from 1,239,891 to over 1.5 million accounts.
"Passing the five year mark is an extremely proud moment," states Tim Connell, president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission. "Through the collaboration with our partners and the hard work of our talented employees, we have been able to offer new services strengthen, expand and establish the GAcollege411 brand within the secondary and higher education community."

FEBRUARY 2010 ARTICLES
GAcollege411 Turning Five
FAFSA Assistance Nights
Advanced Financial Aid Officers Academy Virtual Conference (AFAOA): February 10-11, 2010
Amended FY 2010 and FY 2011 Budget Recommendations
3,700 Schools in the United States and Around the World Now Use Mapping Your Future Online Student Loan Counseling
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update
Compliance Corner Archive
Board of Regents
Technical College System of Georgia
Mapping Your Future
Department of Education
Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

FAFSA Assistance Nights during Financial Aid Awareness Month
As thousands of students look ahead to enrolling in college this fall, the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) is reminding students to apply for financial aid in February, which is recognized as Financial Aid Awareness Month. Beginning February 16, 2010, GSFC will be providing additional informational workshops to students and their families on how to complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
"It's important to complete the FAFSA early to take advantage of all the financial aid opportunities available in Georgia," said Sarah Baumhoff, vice president of Client Services and Marketing at the Georgia Student Finance Commission. "The earlier families apply for financial aid, the sooner they will be notified how much their student may receive, which may be critical to deciding which college their student attends."
Completing the FAFSA is a requirement to be considered for all federal and some state financial aid, including scholarships and grants, for college. To be fully prepared to complete the FAFSA, families attending the workshops should bring the student's and parents' driver's license, social security card and completed 2009 income tax returns.
Click here for available dates and locations. For additional information about GSFC's FAFSA Assistance Night events, please contact the Client Services Department by calling, 1-800-505-GSFC, extension 9071.

FEBRUARY 2010 ARTICLES
GAcollege411 Turning Five
FAFSA Assistance Nights
Advanced Financial Aid Officers Academy Virtual Conference (AFAOA): February 10-11, 2010
Amended FY 2010 and FY 2011 Budget Recommendations
3,700 Schools in the United States and Around the World Now Use Mapping Your Future Online Student Loan Counseling
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update
Compliance Corner Archive
Board of Regents
Technical College System of Georgia
Mapping Your Future
Department of Education
Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

Advanced Financial Aid Officers Academy Virtual Conference: February 10-11, 2010
Register today for the Advanced Financial Aid Officers Academy (AFAOA) being offered February 10-11, 2010. The AFAOA Virtual Conference is a series of higher demand sessions designed for experienced Financial Aid Administrators and other campus-based professionals who want comprehensive information.
These sessions are also available "a la carte" for those who are only seeking training on some of the topics. However, credit for Academy completion requires registration and attendance at all the sessions.
Wednesday, February 10th Session l: State Aid Programs Update - (9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.) This webinar will cover legislative and regulatory changes for State Aid Programs including scholarships like the HERO, the Accel Program, and the HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs. Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/777795018
Session 2: ACG and SMART Grants - (11:00 a.m-12:30 p.m.) This session will explore the changes implemented through Ensuring Continued Assess to Student Loans Act 2008 (ECASLA), eligibility requirements for ACG and the National SMART Grant (including those for transfer students), and grade point averages. The session will also cover documenting and checking eligibility, and grade level progression. Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/523041498
Session 3: Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) - (1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.) This session will provide an overview of the provisions of the HEOA that reauthorizes the HEA of 1965 through a number of changes to programs under the HEA, and authorization of new programs. Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/929367978
Thursday, February 11th Session 4: The Financial Aid Application Process - (9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.) The session will look at the proposed changes to simplify the financial aid process, updates on the application processing system including 2009-2010 midyear enhancements and 2010-11 FAFSA enhancements. Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/904994626
Session 5: Managing Change - (11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) The delivery of student financial aid is the epitome of change. This session will identify the dynamics of change and the stages of transition. In addition, it will provide an understanding of the individual and organizational barriers to change and how the awareness of change can be predictable and manageable. Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/189897491
Session 6: Professional Judgment - (1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.) This webinar provides an introduction to and definition of "PJ," as well as explain the concept of PJ and list areas where the Department of Education (ED) gives guidance in making PJ decisions, and will conclude with case studies to clearly illustrate the guidelines. Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/675123923
Please note separate registration is required for each webinar. You will receive an email confirming your registration, with your personal link to the webinar. For additional questions concerning registration or about this Academy, please contact LearningResources@gsfc.org or Kathleen Caldwell at kathleenc@gsfc.org or by calling (770) 233-4809.

FEBRUARY 2010 ARTICLES
GAcollege411 Turning Five
FAFSA Assistance Nights
Advanced Financial Aid Officers Academy Virtual Conference (AFAOA): February 10-11, 2010
Amended FY 2010 and FY 2011 Budget Recommendations
3,700 Schools in the United States and Around the World Now Use Mapping Your Future Online Student Loan Counseling
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update
Compliance Corner Archive
Board of Regents
Technical College System of Georgia
Mapping Your Future
Department of Education
Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

Amended FY 2010 and FY 2011 Budget Recommendations
In January, Governor Sonny Perdue released his amended FY 2010 and FY 2011 budget recommendations that included some changes to scholarship, grant and loan programs administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Please refer to the following "Dear Colleague" letter for a detailed list of the programs that would be affected.
Although the Governor's recommendation may be revised by the Georgia General Assembly during budget deliberations, GSFC will be prepared to implement changes as soon as they become effective.

FEBRUARY 2010 ARTICLES
GAcollege411 Turning Five
FAFSA Assistance Nights
Advanced Financial Aid Officers Academy Virtual Conference (AFAOA): February 10-11, 2010
Amended FY 2010 and FY 2011 Budget Recommendations
3,700 Schools in the United States and Around the World Now Use Mapping Your Future Online Student Loan Counseling
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update
Compliance Corner Archive
Board of Regents
Technical College System of Georgia
Mapping Your Future
Department of Education
Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

3,700 schools in the United States and around the world now use Mapping Your Future's Online Student Loan Counseling
An increasing number of schools depend on Mapping Your Future to educate their students about the rights and responsibilities as borrowers. The 3,700th school, Saint Paul's School Of Nursing located in Staten Island, N.Y., recently set up an account to use Mapping Your Future's Online Student Loan Counseling.
"Mapping Your Future's counseling serves as an important default prevention tool for schools and helps students and families better manage their federal student loans," said Cathy Mueller, executive director of Mapping Your Future. "More than 12.4 million counseling sessions have been completed since 1997, and we expect this number will continue to grow as more schools rely on Mapping Your Future to help them and their students meet federal student loan counseling requirements."
The interactive nature of Online Student Loan Counseling ensures students fully participate in learning about student loan management. Mapping Your Future's Stafford and Grad PLUS entrance and exit counseling sessions meet requirements under both the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Online Student Loan Counseling does not limit student choice of lenders and/or guarantors.
Online Student Loan Counseling is a free service for schools and borrowers, thanks to the sponsorship of the nation's guaranty agencies and support of other organizations in the Federal Family Education Loan Program.
Mapping Your Future released Online Student Loan Counseling in 1997 and today offers 18 different counseling sessions:

Stafford entrance counseling (English and Spanish) Stafford exit counseling (English and Spanish) Perkins entrance counseling Perkins exit counseling Stafford and Perkins combined entrance counseling Stafford and Perkins combined exit counseling Nursing entrance counseling Nursing exit counseling

Health Profession entrance counseling Health Profession exit counseling Grad PLUS entrance counseling Grad PLUS exit counseling Stafford and Grad PLUS entrance counseling Stafford and Grad PLUS exit counseling TEACH Grant exit counseling Financial literacy counseling

Visit the financial aid professional's page at http://mappingyourfuture.org/FAP/ for more information or to sign up to participate.
For more information about Online Student Loan Counseling, contact Beth Ziehmer at feedback@mappingyourfuture.org or (573) 796-3730.
Based in Round Rock, Texas, Mapping Your Future is a neutral public-service organization of the financial aid industry - bringing together the expertise of the industry to provide services online. Since 1996, Mapping Your Future has received a number of awards, including recognition for its excellence in content and innovation in technology services. Mapping Your Future provides step-bystep instructions on career, college planning, and financial aid. In addition, the site offers Online Student Loan Counseling, financial literacy information and tools, and online customer service for schools and their students.

FEBRUARY 2010 ARTICLES
GAcollege411 Turning Five
FAFSA Assistance Nights
Advanced Financial Aid Officers Academy Virtual Conference (AFAOA): February 10-11, 2010
Amended FY 2010 and FY 2011 Budget Recommendations
3,700 Schools in the United States and Around the World Now Use Mapping Your Future Online Student Loan Counseling
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update
Compliance Corner Archive
Board of Regents
Technical College System of Georgia
Mapping Your Future
Department of Education
Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org