TG Update
Submitted by Cynthia Mayberry, Manager, Texas Region

Spring has arrived in Texas, and with it comes the busy season for the financial aid office—awarding, packaging, and a heavy peak processing period. To help your office work smoothly through this hectic time, we would like to update you on some of TG’s events and available services. Please share this information with your colleagues and contact us if you need any assistance.

First Financial Aid Leadership Symposium a success
TG's first ever Financial Aid Leadership Symposium was a hit with a cohort of 16 participating in the week-long training event held February 6-10 at TG's campus in Round Rock, Texas. The Symposium was designed to contribute to the career growth and leadership excellence of financial aid professionals. Participants attended a variety of training sessions and roundtable discussions focusing on team building, customer service, performance coaching, vision, and synergy, along with further instruction on leadership, management, and office operations.

To learn more about this exciting new training opportunity, read the article in Shoptalk Online at www.tgslc.org/shoptalk/2006/st343/st34303.cfm#leaders.

Register for the 2006 TG Conference
Relax, retool, and recharge with three days of industry and professional development training at the premier financial aid conference of the year, the 2006 TG Conference.

Caring for Our Generation and the Next will be held April 18-20, 2005 at the Hilton Austin. The TG team is busy with preparations to make this the best, most informative TG conference yet.

To learn more and to register, visit TG Online at www.tgslc.org. Questions? Contact Sheila Casey at (800) 252-9743, ext. 4576, or e-mail sheila.casey@tgslc.org.

Announcing new Texas Application for State Financial Aid
On behalf of the H.B. 1403 Consortium, TG is pleased to announce a newly created financial aid application, the 2006-2007 Texas Application for State Financial Aid, now available to all financial aid offices in Texas. This application is designed to assist financial aid administrators in processing aid for students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, but who qualify for in-state residency and thus qualify for state aid under House Bill 1403.

During the past year, a consortium of Texas financial aid professionals, educators, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board came together to address issues facing financial aid administrators and qualifying 1403 students applying for financial aid. Currently, each institution in the state of Texas uses its own process to award financial aid for qualifying 1403 students.

Comments received from students indicated that the process could be confusing and intimidating for themselves and their families. Furthermore, financial aid administrators were uncertain as to how to perform a needs analysis for these students.

The new application will address many of the challenges confronting these students and financial aid offices. The use of the application is voluntary. Students and administrators can download the application at www.collegefortexans.com.

In collaboration with the HB 1403 Consortium, TG will be conducting training sessions about the new application in the coming months. To ask questions about the application, please contact Maria Luna-Torres at (800) 252-9743, ext. 4632, or via email at maria.luna-torres@tgslc.org.