We are encouraged that Congress and the Administration are finally addressing a problem that we feel has been vastly underestimated. As of today, we feel they are still quite a ways from a solution that works and we encourage you to contact your Congressional representatives and press them to be, in Secretary Spellings’ words, “double-dog sure” they have a solution that provides uninterrupted access to FFEL loans for your students. Our website has been updated with the most current information you can share with your staff and students.

Security upgrade

To better protect each borrower’s account information, T.H.E. upgraded online security. One new feature is a personalized image and phrase that tells users they are logging in to an authentic T.H.E. online account page. Another feature is a set of three security questions all users will be asked to select and answer. These answers will be used to ensure that accounts are kept secure and private so users feel safe with every transaction. As part of this implementation, all existing users will have to go through a one-time enrollment process to collect the new security information for all logins starting April 16, 2008.

Transitioning into repayment can be a challenging task for many students. Although graduates have a variety of repayment options available, we often hear that students don’t take advantage of options other than the standard repayment plan. Usually, it’s because they’re overwhelmed with the choices or simply don’t know their options.

Customer service is the foundation of a quality student loan program. But what do you look for in a lender’s customer service program? We put together a brief guide to help you ask the right questions about each potential lender’s customer service capabilities.

Earlier in the year, we introduced a new presentation, Student loan update: understand the details behind the headlines. Now, your students can see this material in an online tutorial on our website. The tutorial takes about 15 minutes and covers: