By Jason Alderman

My wife recently enrolled in graduate school, so like millions of other Americans we've paid close attention to news about student loan programs. One recent example: A key component of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act will result in several significant modifications to the how federal student loans are offered and processed.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the changes will save approximately $61 billion over the next 10 years - money that will partially be used to expand the Pell Grant program for low-income students, beef up community college funding and eventually lower monthly loan repayment amounts for lower-income earners participating in the Income-Based Repayment Plan.

Here's an overview of key changes:

As of July 1, all new federally backed student loans are now issued directly through the Department of Education's Direct Loan program, thereby eliminating the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), which had allowed banks and other private lenders to offer federally guaranteed loans. The government is essentially eliminating banks as the middleman for these loans.

Affected loans include subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans for undergraduate and graduate students, PLUS Loans for parents and PLUS Loans for graduate and professional degree students. Under Direct Loan, the latter two actually have lower interest rates than they did under FFELP (7.9 percent vs. 8.5 percent); and, the approval rate for parent loans tends to be higher.

Private lenders will continue servicing student loans already on their books and may continue offering student and parental loans that are not federally guaranteed, just as they always have. Such uninsured loans typically have higher interest rates but may allow larger loan amounts.

Another feature: For federal loans granted beginning in 2014, lower-income graduates with outstanding Stafford or Grad PLUS loans who opt for an Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan will see their monthly repayment amount capped at 10 percent of income, compared to the current 15 percent, provided their loan debt qualifies as high relative to income and family size. Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov and search "IBR" to read about eligibility requirements.

These changes do not impact the process of applying for federal grants, loans or work-study programs or change the amount of federal aid that students are eligible to receive. The first step for students interested in receiving federal aid is still to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, from the school's guidance counselor or financial aid office, or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID.

Most of the savings reaped by eliminating the FFELP will be applied toward the Federal Pell Grant program. (Pell Grants are scholarships given to students from lower-income families that needn't be repaid.)

Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011), the maximum Pell Grant amount increases by $200 to $5,550, where it will remain until 2013-2014. In addition, from the 2013-2014 through 2017-2018 academic years, the amount will be indexed for inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers), capping out at $5,975.

For more details on the budgetary impacts of this Act, visit the Congressional Committee on Education and Labor's website, www.edlabor.house.gov and search "SAFRA" (Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act).

Des Moines, IA, June 29, 2010- Iowa students and families can receive the latest college planning, career planning and financial literacy tips by following the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid) and I Have a Plan IowaTM on Facebook® and TwitterTM and viewing video clips on YouTube.
"We know that the social media movement is changing how students seek and share information," said Karen Misjak, executive director of the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. "As Iowa's official state resource to help students and families plan, prepare and pay for college, it is important that our information is available where it is most convenient for them," Misjak explained. "Social networking enables us to interact and communicate with Iowa students and families in a new environment."

Students and families interested in learning about college planning and financial literacy can click on the Facebook®, TwitterTM or YouTube badges on Iowa College Aid's website, www.IowaCollegeAid.gov, to receive college planning tips, post questions, participate in discussions, and view student and parent interviews. The social networking pages for I Have a Plan IowaTM, accessible through the links on www.IHaveaPlanIowa.gov, primarily focus on career planning and employment opportunities.

Iowa College Aid is the state agency that administers Iowa's student aid programs, the GEAR UP Iowa program, the I Have a Plan IowaTM statewide community web portal and serves as the state-designated administrator of the U.S. Department of Education's College Access Challenge Grant. To learn more about how these programs help Iowa families plan, prepare and pay for college, contact the Iowa College Aid Information Service Center at 877-272-4456 or visit www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.

About the Iowa College Student Aid Commission
As the state's designated guaranty agency for the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), Iowa College Aid provides college access, financial literacy, and outreach services to Iowa's students and families as they prepare, plan and pay for college. Iowa College Aid also administers state scholarship, grant, work study, and loan forgives programs totaling over $68.5 Million annually, provides borrowers with assistance to avoid the serious consequences of default, conducts research and distributes higher education data, and offers Iowans assistance in obtaining student financial aid
and college-related information. Through its role, Iowa College Aid also serves as the state-designated administrator of the U.S. Department of Education's College Access Challenge Grant, which is designed to increase the college-going culture in Iowa. Additionally, Iowa College Aid is the administrator of the Federal GEAR-UP Grant, a multi-year state-wide grant which is being utilized to provide early awareness programming and outreach initiatives to thousands of Iowa's students and families. More information is available at www.IowaCollegeAid.gov

More than 5,070 Iowa State University undergraduates have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the 2010 spring semester Dean's List.  Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.

Students from our local area who qualified for the Dean's List are listed below:

from Bettendorf:

• Kristin Alexa Allen, Environmental Science (AGLS)
• Rachel Marie Ashley, Dietetics (H SCI)
• Andrea Lynne Baker, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Ashley Marie Beck, Early Childhood Education
• Maggie Elizabeth Beckman, Interior Design
• Carolyn Elizabeth Bennie, Early Childhood Education
• Jennifer Marie Blaser, Microbiology
• Stephanie Ann Blaser, Food Science (H SCI
• Jessica Marie Blaum, English
• Kaitlin Janaye Bohn, Kinesiology and Health
• Kimberly Ann Booe, Chemical Engineering
• Stephanie Suzanne Booe, Advertising
• Elizabeth C. Brebner, Psychology
• Benjamin Alexander Britz, Mechanical Engineering
• Sarah Anne Buck, Psychology
• Brett T. Bueker, Kinesiology and Health
• Joseph Stephen Byrnes, Physics
• Dan Eric Candler, Mechanical Engineering
• Jonathan A. Carlz, Computer Engineering
• Brittney Corrine Carpio, Political Science
• Daniel Norbert Congreve, Electrical Engineering
• Danielle Lee Cook, Communication Studies
• Jack Edward Cozad, Mathematics
• Emily Marcene Doerder, Music
• Jared Andrew Evans, Political Science
• Daniel Lawrence Finnegan, Aerospace Engineering
• Jennifer Ann Garter, Kinesiology and Health
• Matthew Nicholas Gaul, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Pierre Luc Gilles, Mechanical Engineering
• Valerie Sylvie Gilles, Biology
• Jiyeon Han, Preprofessional Health Programs
• Jacob T. Hemberger, Chemical Engineering
• ron Michael Hewitt, Integrated Studio Arts
• Leah Elizabeth Hodgin, Elementary Education
• Lindsay Jo Hoffman, Pre-Diet and Exercise (H SCI)
• Stephanie D. B. Holloway, Veterinary Medicine
• Bryce Phillip Johnson, Open Option (LAS)
• Carolyn Anne Johnson, Animal Science
• Megan Michelle Johnson, Kinesiology and Health
• Abigail Marie Kline, Child, Adult, and Family Services
• Deborah Nicole Kraft, Integrated Studio Arts
• Stephanie Lynne Kraft, Spanish
• Matthew Douglas Krajewski, Aerospace Engineering
• Jason Carl Kruse, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Elizabeth Ilene Larsen, Psychology
• Jessica Marlo Madsen, Integrated Studio Arts
• Molly Christine Madsen, Spanish
• Elizabeth J. Martin, Elementary Education
• Christopher P. Meadows, Mechanical Engineering
• Spencer William Mesick, Biology
• Brock Robert Mills, Psychology
• Andrew Joseph Morse, Mechanical Engineering
• Gordon Theodore Mueller, Mechanical Engineering
• Stefan Juel Nitzschke, Management Information Systems
• Catherine Erin Owens, Accounting
• Rachel Ann Potthoff, Construction Engineering
• Abigail S. Pritz, Graphic Design
• Emily Paige Rheinhart, Child, Adult, and Family Services
• Samuel James Russell, Construction Engineering
• Mindy Jolene Schlueter, Kinesiology and Health
• Meredith Kim Sherrill, Veterinary Medicine
• Jana Kristine Stolze, Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
• Kelly Ann Wagner, Dietetics (H SCI)
• Stefani Nicole Williams, Psychology
• Zhiyi Xu, Management Information Systems
• David Thomas Zimmerman, Industrial Engineering

from Davenport:

• Derek Mitchell Adams, English
• Derek Reid Attwood, Aerospace Engineering
• Brian Victor Becker, Marketing
• Nathan Joseph Bierl, Music
• Elizabeth Ann Borcherding, Elementary Education
• Nicholas C. Borcherding, Pre-Diet and Exercise (H SCI)
• Matthew Allen Burmeister, Mechanical Engineering
• Margaret Marie Carlin, Pre-Community and Regional Planning
• Carolyn Anne Chrissotimos, Kinesiology and Health
• Brion Niquan Coleman, Civil Engineering
• Anthony Patrick Colombari, Chemical Engineering
• Michael Dolan Connors, Liberal Studies
• John Michael Crispin, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Kalynn Dawn Doebel, Biology
• Joshua M. Dunham, Electrical Engineering
• Brett Christopher Ebert, Mechanical Engineering
• Nicholas A. Eisenbacher, Civil Engineering
• Kelly Jean Goossen, Forestry
• Alexander Joseph Gowey, Accounting
• Thomas Winston Hales, Music
• Anne Marie Harre, Psychology
• Kathleen Marie Hoil, Performing Arts
• Lance David Keltner, Civil Engineering
• Emily Marie Kenneke, Elementary Education
• Paul Charles Moffit Keppy, Political Science
• Nicholas Aaron King, Landscape Architecture
• Laura Beth Klavitter, Horticulture
• Laura Marie Kleinschmidt, Veterinary Medicine
• Luke William Klenske, Art and Design
• Austin Miles Laugen, Computer Engineering
• Amber Marie Loerzel, Graphic Design
• Farica Lynnette Lomas, Pre-Business
• Britney Jean Meier, Child, Adult, and Family Services
• Alexandra Eleni Menard, Anthropology
• Anna Elizabeth Mullen, Anthropology
• Quynh-Nhu M. Nguyen, Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
• Alison Margaret Perkins, Design
• Nathan S. Premo, Software Engineering
• Mohammed Ashiqur Rahim, Electrical Engineering
• Kelsey B. Regan, Biological Systems Engineering
• Stephen Philip Richard, Industrial Engineering
• Aleah Nicole Salisbury, Finance
• Bryce Taylor Sandry, Pre-Business
• Elizabeth Gwen Shorter, Early Childhood Education
• Matthew J. Skoglund, Chemical Engineering
• Brian Michael Smith, Journalism and Mass Communication
• Brittany L. Springmeier, Food Science (AGLS)
• Michal-Marie Tillotson, Open Option (LAS)
• Christopher A. Van Buer, Aerospace Engineering

from Moline:

• Lisa Marie Harmon, Accounting
• Christina Elizabeth Mital, Interior Design
• Daniel Joseph Siroky, Architecture-Professional Degree

from Riverdale, Iowa:

• Amy K. DCamp, Pre-Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration

from Rock Island:

• Taylor Marie Downing, Food Science (AGLS)
• Jacob L. Schrader, Mechanical Engineering
• Eric Steven Schroder, Biology
• Grant Aaron Vermeer, Computer Engineering

ROCK ISLAND, IL (06/18/2010)(readMedia)-- Six hundred and twenty-seven students of the class of 2010 graduated from Augustana College with their Bachelor of Arts degree. Augustana's 150th commencement convocation was held on May 23, 2009 at the iwireless Center in Moline.  The following local students were among the graduates:

Faria Ahmed from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in psychology and biology and pre-medicine.

Kristin Albrecht from Moline, IL, who majored in communication studies.

Drew Allen from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in international business.

Samuel Alvarado from Davenport, IA, who majored in chemistry.

Britney Anderson from Reynolds, IL, who majored in religion.

Isaac Anderson from Moline, IL, who majored in biology.

Carrie Bestian from Taylor Ridge, IL, who majored in elementary education.

Katherine Bieber from Davenport, IA, who majored in history.

Nicholas Borchert from Rock Island, IL, who majored in English and philosophy.

Benjamin Borhart from Illinois City, IL, who majored in English.

David Brickner from Rock Island, IL, who majored in accounting and business finance.

Andrew Brown from Port Byron, IL, who majored in business management.

Katherine Caldwell from Moline, IL, who majored in theatre arts.

Nicholas Camlin from Rock Island, IL, who majored in political science.

Kevin Carton from Moline, IL, who majored in communication studies and French and Africana studies.

Brittany Dalton from Eldridge, IA, who majored in pre-medicine.

Darin Decker from Moline, IL, who majored in business marketing.

Jacquelyn Engel from Davenport, IA, who majored in biology.

Megan Ferris from Moline, IL, who majored in elementary education.

Melissa Fobert from Rock Island, IL, who majored in accounting and business finance.

Kai Frazier from Moline, IL, who majored in psychology.

Adam Friedrich from Port Byron, IL, who majored in philosophy and English writing emphasis.

Andrew Fritch from East Moline, IL, who majored in accounting and business finance.

Monica Glancey from Moline, IL, who majored in communication studies.

Melissa Goode from Davenport, IA, who majored in music.

Clayton Holst from Davenport, IA, who majored in biology.

Sara Howell from Milan, IL, who majored in biology.

Olivia Husman from East Moline, IL, who majored in communication studies.

Monica Johnson from Davenport, IA, who majored in business marketing and Spanish.

Michael Kendall from Silvis, IL, who majored in biology.

Paul Lambrecht from Moline, IL, who majored in history education.

Thomas Larrison from Davenport, IA, who majored in religion.

Thomas Lemon from Moline, IL, who majored in history and business management.

Megan Lonergan from Davenport, IA, who majored in elementary education and mathematics.

Emilie Malone from Davenport, IA, who majored in sociology and art history.

Benjamin Marine from Coal Valley, IL, who majored in biology and pre-medicine and business.

Peter Marogil from Moline, IL, who majored in biology and pre-medicine.

Tiffany Massey from Rock Island, IL, who majored in communication sciences and disorders.

George Mathew from East Moline, IL, who majored in philosophy.

Daniel Meden from Davenport, IA, who majored in biology.

Olivia Menage from Moline, IL, who majored in history.

Sara Michaletti from Rock Island, IL, who majored in classics with Latin emphasis.

Emma Moran from Rock Island, IL, who majored in biology and pre-medicine.

Allison Mulherin from Moline, IL, who majored in biology.

Seneca Munos from Moline, IL, who majored in biology.

Cara Neary from East Moline, IL, who majored in psychology.

Zachary Newcomb from Rock Island, IL, who majored in philosophy.

Anthony Nobiling from Moline, IL, who majored in sociology.

Luke Osborne from Moline, IL, who majored in classics with Latin emphasis.

John Patton from Rock Island, IL, who majored in English.

Srividya Prabhu from Moline, IL, who majored in biology and pre-medicine.

Andrew Randone from Davenport, IA, who majored in political science.

Bridget Reich from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in psychology.

Cristal Rios from Moline, IL, who majored in Spanish.

Sydney Royal from Rock Island, IL, who majored in accounting and German.

Kelli Schledewitz from Davenport, IA, who majored in elementary education.

Geoffrey Schoon from Rock Island, IL, who majored in accounting and business finance.

Alyssa Schroeder from Coal Valley, IL, who majored in business finance and accounting.

Bryan Schuldt from Rock Island, IL, who majored in physics.

Alex Sieg from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in biochemistry.

Darla Smith from Port Byron, IL, who majored in elementary education.

Nicholas Stader from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in communication studies.

Amber Staes from Moline, IL, who majored in business.

Henry Stauffenberg, from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in Geology.

Sarah Taylor from Moline, IL, who majored in accounting and business finance.

Amanda Thomas from Rock Island, IL, who majored in political science.

Kevin Tracey from Moline, IL, who majored in political science.

Angel Traman from Moline, IL, who majored in business management.

Alison Tunnicliff from Rock Island, IL, who majored in political science.

Katherine Vander Vennet from Rock Island, IL, who majored in business marketing and communication studies.

Bret VanDeWoestyne from Silvis, IL, who majored in biology.

Lucie VanHecke from Moline, IL, who majored in political science.

Maria Vital from Moline, IL, who majored in Spanish.

Emily Weller from Rock Island, IL, who majored in art education.

Jacob Wells from Moline, IL, who majored in biology.

Emily Welser from Moline, IL, who majored in biology.

Brandon West from Moline, IL, who majored in history.

Eric Wigand from Moline, IL, who majored in business finance.

Nicholas Wilczynski from Moline, IL, who majored in pre-medicine and biology.

Joshua Woodham from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in biology.

Catherine Ziegler from Bettendorf, IA, who majored in English.

For more information, contact Kamy Beattie at kamybeattie@augustana.edu or 309-794-7721.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it always has done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.