HERA - Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005

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:: Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) ::

The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA), Title VIII of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), was signed by President Bush on Feb. 8, 2006.

HERA addresses correspondence courses, ACG and SMART Grant programs, loan limits, PLUS loans for graduate and professional students, PLUS loan interest rate, excess interest, special allowance PLUS loans, new military deferment, study abroad and foreign school disbursement, repayment plans, origination fees, cross-program consolidation, spousal consolidation loans; in-school consolidation, low-cohort school disbursement rules, school as lender, false certification, teacher loan forgiveness, tax exempt funds special allowance, reduction of insurance, federal default fee, exempt claims, exceptional performer insurance, default claims reinsurance, escrow agent, forbearance, VFA, Rehabilitation Default Reduction Program, account maintenance fee, academic year definition, student eligibility-fraud, student eligibility-drug related offenses, verification of IRS data, institutional refunds, leave of absence, college access initiative and wage garnishment.

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Federal Documents

This list includes bill and law texts, Congressional reports, Dear Colleague Letters and the Federal Register, all of which can be found on https://fsapartners.ed.gov/home/ (formerly IFAP).

Public Law 109-171/S. 1932 Bill Text
Federal Register notices
- Nov. 1, 2006, Final Regulations
- Aug. 9, 2006, Interim Final Regulations
Electronic Announcements
- June 20, 2008 – National SMART Grant Pell Grant warning message
- June 13, 2008 – ACG and SMART grant maximum award amounts for the 2008/2009 award year
- Sept. 12, 2007 – E-mail address change for HERA questions
- Aug. 18, 2006 – Notice of Negotiated Rulemaking
- June 30, 2006 – Final 2006/07 drug worksheets
- June 30, 2006 – HERA operational implementation guidance: return to Title IV funds worksheets
- June 26, 2006 – FFELP and William D. Ford Consolidation Loans
- June 23, 2006 – HERA operational implementation guidance: direct PLUS Loan for graduate and professional students
Technical Updates and Newsletters
- NSLDS Lender Manifest Program File Specifications
- NSLDS Newsletter #13 – June 2006
- GA-2007-01 Technical Update – Phase II HERA Updates
- GA-2006-02 Reference Materials– HERA and various topics
Dear Colleague Letters
- GEN-08-09 – List of eligible majors for the 2008/2009 award year SMART Grant Program
- GEN-08-04/FP-08-04 – Announces aggregate loan limit increase for certain graduate and professional students in approved health profession programs
- GEN-07-03/FP-07-07 – Consolidation loan issues update
- FP-07-02 – Revised promissory note addendum and plain language disclosure for FFELP Stafford loans
- FP-07-01 – FFELP loans eligible for 9.5 percent minimum special allowance rate
- GEN-06-21/FP-06-17 – THEEA Public Law 109-292
- GEN-06-20/FP-06-16 – Consolidation loan issues update
- GEN-06-19 – Agreements between higher education public institutions and vocational rehabilitation agencies
- GEN-06-18 – Implementation of "Academic Year" definition in the ACG and SMART Grant Programs
- FP-06-15 – Payment of special allowance on loans made or acquired with funds from a tax-exempt obligation
- GEN-06-17 – Institutional accreditation for distance learning programs
- GEN-06-15– Revised list of eligible majors for the SMART Grant Program
- GEN-06-13/FP-06-13 – Teacher Loan Forgiveness application and forbearance forms
- FP-06-12 – Revised addendum for federal consolidation loan program application and promissory note
- GEN-06-12/FP-06-11 – FFELP and Direct Consolidation loan program changes by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006
- GEN-06-11 – HERA change notification to foreign schools and provides revised FFELP reporting requirements
- GEN-06-10 – Guidance HERA changes related to estimated financial assistance, cost of attendance, expected family contribution calculations and student eligibility
- FP-06-10- Special allowance payments for FFELP Plus loans
- ANN-06-05 – HERA training opportunities
- FP-06-09 – Lender options for determining Federal Consolidation Loan interest rates as of July 1, 2006
- FP-06-08 – Approval of FFELP Stafford PLUS MPNs
- FP-06-07- GAFR reporting changes for guaranty agencies
- GEN-06-08 – Implementation guidance on ACG and SMART grant programs
- GEN-06-07 – Notification and guidance to help those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- GEN-06-06 – List of eligible majors for the SMART Grant Program
- GEN-06-05 – Changes made by HERA to student and institutional eligibility, and student assistance general provisions
- FP-06-05 – Promissory note addenda, revised Plain Language Disclosures and guidance on awarding PLUS Loans to graduate and professional students
- GEN-06-04 – ACG and SMART grant programs
- FP-06-04– Lender reporting changes
- FP-06-03 – Confirms April 1, 2006, enforcement of the single holder rule in FFELP consolidation loans
- GEN-06-03/FP-06-02 – Correction to GEN-06-02/FP-06-01
- GEN-06-02/FP-06-01 – Enactment of the HERA