| DCLPublicationDate: 7/1/98 DCLID: GEN-98-15 AwardYear: 1998-1999 Summary: This letter announces three U.S. Department of Education Electronic Access Conferences (EAC) entitled "Connect for Success" to be held in Kansas City, MO November 17-19; Washington, D.C. December 1-3; and San Diego, CA December 15-17. Action Letter #8 July 1998 GEN-98-15 SUMMARY: This letter announces three U.S. Department of Education Electronic Access Conferences (EAC) entitled "Connect for Success" to be held in Kansas City, MO November 17-19; Washington, D.C. December 1-3; and San Diego, CA December 15-17. Dear Colleague: The U.S. Department of Education (ED) cordially invites you to attend one of our Electronic Access Conferences (EAC) entitled "Connect For Success." Three conferences will be held this fall, one each in Kansas City, MO; Washington, D.C.; and San Diego, CA. These conferences will offer participants an opportunity to learn more about and provide comments on the Departments electronic Title IV application systems. More than 40 concurrent sessions will be offered throughout the conference. Special tracks will be offered for beginners, advanced users, and on technical topics. The agenda will be identical for all conferences. Some of the major presentations and discussion topics will include: * IFAP (Information for Financial Aid Professionals) Web Site * Direct Loan Servicing & LOC Updates * SSCR Update * Delivery System Update * Updates to EDExpress Modules * SSCR 32 bit software * Policy Issues & Changes including Reauthorization * Tracking Data Through the Title IV Systems * 32 bit EDconnect software * Pell Payment (RFMS) Changes * Getting Money Through GAPS * Electronic Recertification * Advanced NSLDS Topics The first day of the conference will begin at 8:30 am with a general session that includes remarks by Department of Education staff. The conference will end at 4:30 pm on the third day. The registration desk will be open from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm the day prior to the conference and from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on the first day of the conference. With input from the financial aid community, ED has developed an informative, comprehensive, and useful conference program. We are offering three full days of interest sessions that cover a variety of important topics, including information about EDs electronic products and services. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this training opportunity by attending the entire three days of the conference. Travel Information Discounted travel to the conference sites has been arranged with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Each person will receive a 5% discount off any published fare or a 10% discount off any regular coach fare. To take advantage of these discounts, you must call or have your travel agent call either the American Airlines Meeting Services Desk or Delta Meeting Network Reservations at the numbers listed below. Please provide the applicable meeting number: American Airlines: 1-800-433-1790 (Meeting Services Desk) AN Number: Kansas City, MO AN Number 48N8UI Washington, DC/San Diego, CA AN Number 14D8UG Delta Air Lines: 1-800-241-6760 (Meeting Network Reservations) All Sites Reference: ID Number 115614A Amtrak To book space on Amtrak call 1-800-872-7245 or contact your local travel agent. Make sure you refer to the fares order number listed below when making your booking. This offer is not valid on Auto Train, Club or Custom Class service. Fare is valid on Metroliner Service during off-peak weekday travel and all departures on weekends. Please refer to one of the following fares order numbers when booking your reservation: Kansas City, MO X-88F-925 Washington, D.C. X-89F-925 San Diego, CA X-90F-925 Hotel Information A block of rooms is reserved at special workshop rates for participants. Please contact the hotel directly and request to reserve a room under the EAC/Department of Education room block. To secure a room at the special rate, make your reservations by October 21 for Kansas City, November 7 for Washington, DC and November 24 for San Diego. Kansas City, MO - November 17-19, 1998 The Westin Crown Center ($122.19 single/$133.40 double inclusive of tax) One Pershing Road Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 474-4400 or toll free (800) 228-3000 Washington, DC - December 1-3, 1998 Marriott Wardman Park ($125.80 single or double inclusive of tax) [Formerly the Sheraton Washington Hotel] 2660 Woodley Road at Connecticut Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20008 (202) 328-2900 or toll free (800) 228-9290 San Diego, CA - December 15-17, 1998 Hotel Del Coronado ($135.00 single/$178.20 double inclusive of tax) 1500 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 02118 (619) 522-8000 or toll free (800) 468-3533 You can register for a conference from the Electronic Access Conference (EAC) web site or by completing the enclosed registration form. There are no registration fees for these workshops. All registrations should be submitted by October 1, 1998. We encourage your immediate response, as attendance is limited for each conference. The EAC Registration web site is available at (http://edeworkshop.walcoff.com) for registration and access to current conference information. The web site will be updated regularly to include the latest agenda and session listings. If you register from the EAC web site, within 3 business days you can visit the site to confirm your registration. You can also perform a search to look up other conference registrants. If you register by faxing the enclosed registration form, you will receive written confirmation of your registration within 5 business days. Confirmation will be sent to the name and address provided on the registration form. Please join us for one of these exciting and informative conferences. Sincerely, Diane E. Rogers Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Student Financial Assistance Programs Enclosures: 1998 Electronic Access Conference Registration Form Travel Information Hotel Information Attachment A Attachment B Attachment C |