TG Update
By Cynthia Mayberry, TG

Now that the fall semester is underway, we would like to update you on some of the services, solutions, and tools available from TG that can enhance your productivity. Please share some of these helpful resources with your colleagues and contact us if you need any assistance.

TG offers new service for ordering forms and publications online
Looking for a simple way to request industry forms or publications? Now, you can order all of your materials on TG Online by using the Online Ordering page. You can browse TG’s selection of forms and publications, review key features, and place your order for materials. Publications are organized by relevant topics, including:

• MPNs and Loan Forms
• Deferment Forms
• School and Lender Forms
• Awareness and Financial Aid
• Default Aversion
• Policy and Research

The Online Ordering page includes a description and photo of each product and the available quantities.
To order your publications, visit TG Online at www.tgslc.org and select [ For Schools | TG Publications | Online Forms/Publications Ordering ], or access the catalog directly at http://tgorder.tgslc.org/acb/stores/3/index.asp?SID=3&.

TG soon to announce date and location of 2005 TG Annual Conference
Conference planning is well underway, and the dates and location of the 2005 TG Annual Conference will be posted on TG Online at www.tgslc.org as soon as it becomes available. Check TG’s Web site often for the up-to-date details. To review a calendar of all TG and industry events, visit www.tgslc.org and select [ About TG | Events Calendar ].

TG hires new Business Integration Consultant
Carly Turner has joined our Business Integration Team and will serve as a business integration consultant for school and lender partners across the state. Carly has more than seven years of experience working in school financial aid offices, most recently at the University of North Texas. She will provide schools and lenders with onsite support of TG’s solutions and tools, customer training, and technical support.

Carly holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Texas.

Carly can be reached at (800) 252-9743, ext. 4863, or by e-mail at carly.turner@tgslc.org.

Update on TG’s Sunset Review
The Sunset Advisory Commission’s review of TG is nearing an end. The staff assigned to review TG is in the final stages of drafting its report on its findings and recommendations, which then will be considered by the full 12-member commission.

Prior to submitting its final report to the commission, the staff provided TG with a draft report for TG's review and comment. The commission will then post the report on its Web site for review and comment by the general public. The commission will hold a public hearing in November where the staff will formally present its final report on TG, along with TG's response to the report and testimony from the public. The commission then will formally adopt the report with any changes the commission chooses to add.

At the very least, the report will recommend that TG continue to fulfill its mission for another 12 years. The commission then will draft the proper legislation, including any further findings and recommendations, and submit it to the 79th Texas Legislature, which will convene in January 2005.

To find the results of TG’s Sunset Review, visit TG Online at www.tgslc.org, and select [ For Schools | Sunset Review ]. You can also find out more by contacting your school or lender consultant.

New Solution Will Offer Online Awards Notification for Students
TG has named its online financial awards packaging system TG Awards By Web™. Based on technology developed by Overture Technologies, Inc., the product will allow schools to notify students electronically as soon as their financial aid package is ready. Students can then go online to view the amounts of scholarships, grants, work study, and loan for which they are eligible, accept or decline them, or make any necessary reductions to loan amounts.
Pilot school participants have thus far been very pleased with the product. The University of Houston-Victoria launched TG Awards By Web on May 27, 2004. Texas Tech University is in the testing phase of this pilot project and plans to go live in October.

TG plans to include three to five additional schools in this pilot project, which is scheduled to be completed on December 31, 2004. Our goal is to have TG Awards By Web ready for customers in time to take advantage of the next major financial aid packaging cycle in February 2005.

From all of us at TG, we wish you the best of luck for a successful semester. If you require our assistance, please contact us.

Cynthia Mayberry is TG’s assistant manager for customer services. You can reach Cynthia at (800) 252-9743, ext. 4683, or by e-mail at cynthia.mayberry@tgslc.org. Additional information about TG can be found online at www.tgslc.org.