Cohort Default Rate (CDR): An FAA’s Challenge of Discovery Panel Discussion Moderated by Bill Spiers – Financial Aid Director, Tallahassee Community College

Panel Members Thresa Tyus Default Aversion Consultant TG Mary McKinney Executive Director, Office of Student Financial Assistance University of Central Florida Shavon Seegobin Default Prevention Manager Full Sail University Tocoa Evariste Assistant Director of Student Financial Services Polk State College

Outline Default management – why does it matter? Cohort default rate (CDR) – what is it? Panel discussion – Best practices and strategies to keep CDRs low

Default Management – Why does it matter?

Managing default is more important than ever Tough economy and job market Rising enrollment and borrowing Split loans (multiple servicers) Transition to a 3-year cohort default rate

Default management – Why does it matter? Higher education is an investment worth protecting Cohort default rates help enforce accountability

Default management – Why does it matter? Schools – May result in provisional certification or loss of Title IV eligibility – Risk of negative publicity – Additional time and resources to manage and reverse high rates Borrowers – Damaged credit – Wage garnishment, collections costs, treasury offset, etc.

Cohort default rate – What is it?

What is a Cohort Default Rate (CDR)? A “cohort” is a group of Stafford loan borrowers who enter repayment within a given federal fiscal year (FY) The CDR is the percentage of those students in a school’s cohort who default within a specified period of time: – 2-year CDR: by the end of the next fiscal year – 3-year CDR: within the next two fiscal years

2-year and 3-year CDR illustration FY year CDR = Stafford borrowers who entered repayment and defaulted between 10/1/08 and 9/30/10 Stafford borrowers who enter repayment and default between 10/1/08 and 9/30/11 Stafford borrowers who entered repayment between 10/1/08 and 9/30/09 FY year CDR =

2-year CDR trends Source data:

Comparing the 3-year CDR Source data:

Benefits for low CDRs Three most recent 2-year CDRs < 10% – Loans released in one disbursement – No 30-day delayed disbursement for first-year, first-time borrowers Three most recent 2- or 3-year CDRs < 15% (Effective for loans first disbursed after October 1, 2011)

Sanctions for high CDRs – Provisional certification Trigger event – A single 2-year CDR ≥ 25% Two 3-year CDRs ≥ 30% in last three years Effective with third 3-year rate (September 2014)

Sanctions for high CDRs – Loss of eligibility FDLP loans only : 2- or 3-year CDR greater than 40% for a single year FDLP loans and Pell Grants: 2-year CDR 25% or greater for 3 years 3-year CDR 30% or greater for 3 years Effective with third 3-year rate (September 2014) 1 year

High CDRs – New requirements When 3-year CDRs are ≥ 30%, but less than 40%: First year – Establish default prevention task force – Prepare default prevention plan Second year – Review and revise plan Third year – Lose eligibility (Pell grants and Direct loans)

Two-Year and Three-Year CDRs

Panel Discussion

Questions?

Contact Information Thresa Tyus Mary McKinney Shavon Seegobin Tocoa Evariste

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