05-6712. Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance: Hearing

AGENCY:

Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.

ACTION:

Notice of upcoming hearing.

SUMMARY:

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming hearing of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability in orderto attend the hearing (i.e., interpreting services, assistive listening devices, and/or materials in alternative format) should notify the Advisory Committee no later than Wednesday, April 20, 2005 by contacting Ms. Hope Gray at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail]. We will attempt to meet requests after this date, but cannot guarantee availability of the requested accommodation. The hearing site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. This notice also describes the functions of the Advisory Committee. Notice of this hearing is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify the general public.

Date and Time:

Monday, April 25, 2005, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at approximately 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

The Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Springwood Room, Lower Lobby Level, Washington, DC 20001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Nicole A. Barry, Associate Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC 20202-7582 [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance is established under Section 491 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended by Public Law 100-50 (20 U.S.C. 1098). The Advisory Committee serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the Congress and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid policy. Since its inception, the congressional mandate requires the Advisory Committee to conduct objective, nonpartisan, and independent analyses on important aspects of the student of the student assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. In addition, Congress expanded the Advisory Committee's mission in the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 to include several important areas: access, Title IV modernization, distance education, and early information and needs assessment. Specifically, the Advisory Committee is to review, monitor and evaluate the Department of Education's progress in these areas and report recommended improvements to Congress and the Secretary.

The Advisory Committee has scheduled this hearing to address specific proposals related to financial aid simplification and to develop consensus on how best to simplify student aid during the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The proposed agenda includes expert testimony and discussions of the following issues: (a) Congressional goals and expectations for simplification during the current reauthorization of the Higher Education Act; (b) the higher education community's goals and priorities related to simplification; (c) focused discussions on implementation issues surrounding specific simplification proposals, including early financial aid information and simplification of financial aid forms and processes.

Space for the hearing is limited and you are encouraged to register early if you plan to attend the hearing. You may register by sending an email to the following address: [e-mail] or [e-mail]. Please include your name, title, affiliation, complete address (including internet and email, if available), and telephone and fax numbers. If you are unable to register electronically, you may fax your registration information to the Advisory Committee staff office at [phone]. You may also contact the Advisory Committee staff directly at [phone]. The registration deadline is Thursday, April 21, 2005.

Records are kept for Advisory Committee proceedings, and are available for inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Dated: March 31, 2005.

William J. Goggin,

Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.