June 23, 2008

Who’s Who at OGSLP?

Laura Weiss

Department: Policy, Compliance and Training
Title: Policy Specialist
Years with OGSLP: 20

How do your daily duties impact OGSLP’s customers?
My duties directly support our customers! I monitor federal legislation, regulations, and student loan industry issues for the agency. It’s important to stay informed so we can respond quickly to the changes in our industry and to questions we receive from our customers. I’m involved in training, maintaining OGSLP’s legislation Web page, and drafting articles for our Online Newsletter to help our school and lender customers stay informed, too.


What advice would you give to someone who’s new to the federal policy realm?
I would offer the following tips, which have served me very well.

1. Don’t become overwhelmed by the federal policy process; it’s complicated.  Breaking the process down and learning it in pieces has helped me understand how it all flows together.
2. Find someone experienced to help you fill in the gaps, and ask lots of questions.  I’ve attended many policy-related training sessions and found mentors to help me learn. Take advantage of OGSLP’s training opportunities and contact me with questions and concerns – I’m ready and able to assist you and will gladly share what I know.
3. Learn where to find federal policy resources and how to utilize them effectively. I’ve learned that it’s important to have the right resources and know how to use them to access the information they contain. Our Policy, Compliance, and Training department offers a regulatory reference guide, which has proven to be really helpful to our customers.

What do you find most challenging about working with policy?
Keeping up! There’s so much student loan information to monitor, update, and disseminate to keep our agency and customers informed. It’s been a bigger challenge this year than most, given the recent industry climate and the pending reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Fortunately, though I can’t know everything about everything, I do know how to research policy and find the information we need.


What professional organizations do you belong to?
In July, I’ll begin my third year as a Program Regulations Committee member for the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP). This committee monitors and analyzes current and proposed student financial aid law, regulations, other federal guidance, and Common Manual proposals. The Program Regulations Committee also develops and provides training on the regulatory process.


What are your hobbies or interests?
I’m the co-leader of my 16 year-old daughter's Girl Scout troop and leader of my 12 year-old daughter's troop. When I’m not being a Girl Scout leader or acting as the girls' chauffeur to various activities, I can be found reading or napping.