OTC Inside the Beltway: Verification, Countdown to FAFSA Launch, and a NegReg Roadmap
This week on "Off The Cuff," Melanie is joined by Karen to catch listeners up on identity verification news, FAFSA beta updates, and a roadmap to the upcoming Negotiated Rulemaking (NegReg) sessions. The team kicks things off with a discussion on the Department of Education’s (ED) new initiative concerning identity verification, and highlights some transition issues raised by NASFAA communities. Melanie and Karen then catch listeners up on the beta testing period for the 2026-27 FAFSA and discuss where things stand ahead of the now certified October 1 launch date of the form. The team then wraps things up with a discussion on the upcoming NegReg committees as well as the department’s unified agenda.
Speakers
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| Melanie Storey President and CEO |
Karen McCarthy Vice President |
Hugh Ferguson Managing Editor |
This episode is brought to you by Georgetown University
Take the next step with a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Georgetown. Explore our values-based curriculum, flexible course schedules, and professional advancement opportunities at scs.georgetown.edu/FLY.
Resources
- Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
- Episode Transcript (PDF)
- NASFAA Submits Comments Regarding ED's NegReg Committees Focused on New Provisions Under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'
- 2026-27 FAFSA Launch Date Certified Ahead of October 1 Launch
- Federal Student Aid: FAFSA Central
- NASFAA Call For Proposals Submission Form
- ED Provides Update on Identity Verification Reporting Functionality in FAFSA Partner Portal
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Publication Date: 9/12/2025
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