Report from the Vice President
Zita Barree

By the time you read this newsletter, the 2005 SASFAA New Aid Officer’s Workshop will be over – it is just two weeks away at this point in time. There will be a more detailed article in the fall SASFAA Newsletter with all the information on how the workshop went.

This year’s participants have been told to join us in Asheville, NC “as we find the brains to do more, the heart to search more and the courage to find more” – the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City of financial aid knowledge is a long one but we will get there!

As of June 6, there are 144 people registered for the workshop – registrations were initially capped at 135 but due to the huge demand this year, the size of the workshop was increased to 144. Some statistics on the participants:

Of the 144 registrants, 128 are from schools.

The instructors and staff of the workshop are listed below – they have worked very hard to put together a quality workshop!

Instructors

Returning

• Deborah Barbone, North Georgia College & State University, GA
• Brad Barnett, James Madison University, VA
• Nancy Melton, Alice Lloyd College, KY
• Sandy Neel, University of Tennessee - Martin
• Janette Overton, Johnson Bible College, TN
• Lynda Sayer, Furman University, SC
• Lisanne Masterson, Brevard College, NC

New

• Pat Arauz, University of Louisville, KY
• Bruce Crain, Mississippi State University, MS
• Leonard Gude, University of South Florida, FL
• Brent Tener, Vanderbilt University, TN
• Michelle Wright, University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC

Staff
Curriculum Coordinator:

• Deborah, “Tolly”, Tollefson, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, NC

Local Arrangements Coordinator:

• Beth Bartlett, University of North Carolina – Asheville, NC

Lender Assistants

• Jackie Bell, USA Funds Services, SC (new)
• Biz Daniel, National Education, VA (returning)
• Gary Mann, Suntrust/Nelnet, GA (returning)
• Todd Woodlee, Education Finance Partners, GA (new)

Lender Liaison Report
Jane McNaughton, Chair

Jane reported that the new interest rates for FFELP and Direct Loans, for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1998 and effective July 1, 2005, will be 4.70% for in-school, in grace and in deferment. The repayment and forbearance rate will be 5.30% and the PLUS rate will be 6.10%. Because of these higher rates, the loan community has seen a increase in the number of consolidation applications by students wishing to lock in the 2.875% fixed consolidation rate through June 30, 2005. The Department of Education is also allowing in-school consolidation of FFELP loans as outlined in Dear Colleague letter GEN-05-08. This guidance from the Department will allow students still attending school to lock in historically low interest rates on FFELP loans.

Site Selection Report
Ron Gambill

The final contract with the Hyatt Regency-Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia has been signed and it will be the site for the 2008 SASFAA Conference. Please mark your calendars for the following dates as a reminder of the future conferences.