Introduction
This volume of the Federal Student Aid Handbook comprises topics pertaining to colleges’ general obligations in administering the Title IV student aid programs: institutional and program eligibility, administrative requirements, audits, record keeping, program reviews, and providing information to the public are all explained.
Throughout the Handbook we use “college,” “school,” and “institution” interchangeably unless some more specific use is given. Similarly, “student,” “applicant,” and “aid recipient” are synonyms. “Parents” in this volume refers to the parents of dependent students, and “you” refers to the primary audience of the Handbook: financial aid administrators at colleges. “We” indicates the United States Department of Education (Department, ED), and “HEA” refers to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. “Title IV” refers to the student financial aid programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA.
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This introduction only summarizes the changes and clarifications presented in more detail in the chapters. For more complete guidance, refer to the text in the chapters cited and the pertinent regulations and statutes.
Noteworthy Changes
The Department conducted a technical update of this volume including verification and correction of hyperlinks, references, the addition of information specific to incentive compensation and online program managers, and updates to changes in ownership.