Regulatory Flexibilities, Addressing the COVID-19 Challenge, and Legislative Updates at FSA Training Conference – NASFAA
During the second day of Federal Student Aid’s (FSA) annual training conference, Department of Education (ED) officials highlighted regulatory flexibilities in the wake of the coronavirus and efforts to incorporate feedback from stakeholders in the last year, and included a legislative update on congressional action that could impact financial aid professionals.
Diane Jones, principal deputy under secretary at ED, touted the department’s responsiveness to the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak back in March by administering a number of flexibilities to allow institutions of higher education to pivot to online learning.
“Without skipping a beat, all of you figured out how to continue serving your students in a way that protected them and your faculty and staff,” Jones said.
In addition to the transition to online learning, Jones said ED was responsive to the needs of student loan borrowers by using executive and agency action to implement a pause on payments and interest accrual on federally-held student loans — which is now extended through the end of the year — before implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
However, Jones did not provide an update on any potential for an additional extension through a continued executive order or action by ED.