[Oasfaa] Fwd: Communique' to Congress

[Andrew Hammontree]

>>> On 4/3/2009 at 6:33 PM, in message
<20090403233309.59378BE0200 at umavas2.olemiss.edu>, Dewey Knight
<rdknight at olemiss.edu> wrote:
Dear School Financial Aid Leaders,

I am writing to you to make you aware of a grass-roots initiative that
has developed from conversations held over the last 3-4 weeks between
some 50 or so of your colleagues who are financial aid professionals at
schools across the nation.  These conversations have been held via
conference calls and 
e-mail exchanges.  Our agenda is strictly limited to insuring that the
best interests of the students and families are served.

In the wake of President Obama’s announcement in his FY 2010 Budget
Blueprint of his intention to eliminate the FFELP by July, 2010, and
introduction of legislation to this end in the form of the Budget
Resolution Act, much discussion has occurred among school
administrators, lenders, guarantors, servicers, and other interested
parties.  There have been several related initiatives and proposals
generated by various stakeholders, NASFAA, CBA, and other organizations.
 
 
In light of all the rhetoric, I was approached by several colleagues
representing universities and colleges that participate in both the
direct lending and FFEL programs to facilitate a conversation among
recognized school financial aid leaders with respect to the continuation
of both the Direct Loan program and the FFELP so that schools and their
students will have the ability to choose their lender partners and
providers.  The conversations have been stimulating and informative to
all who have participated.  A consensus has emerged from these exchanges
based on themes of  the need for quality (A to Z with customer service
as essential), stability and predictability of the loan programs, choice
for borrowers, competition among lenders, innovation and new
efficiencies, and accountability and cost effectiveness.

Our group (so known as the Friday the Thirteenth Group because our
first conference call was held on March 13, 2009) has developed a
communique' that will be forwarded to all members of Congress.  We are
inviting all college and university faculty, staff, and students to
consider endorsing this position by signing the communique' which is
available on-line at http://test.financialaid.umd.edu/letter.cfm.

Please forward this to all of your school colleagues in your state and
region for their consideration and participation if they are so
inclined.  We are asking that only college and university faculty,
staff, and students sign and, if desired, add their own personal
comments.  We feel our voice will be most effective as one exclusively
from the school financial aid community with no affiliation with
lenders, guarantors, and other lending interests.  Time is of the
essence so we ask you to distribute this e-mail as soon as possible.

Thank you for all you do for students and their families.  This issue
is so critical to their future and deserves careful, deliberate, and
through consideration by Congress.

Sincerely,

Dewey


R. Dewey Knight, Associate Director
Office of Financial Aid
The University of Mississippi
257 Martindale Student Services Center
P. O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677
Voice:  662-915-1166
FAX:    662-915-1164
rdknight at olemiss.edu 


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