Dear Colleague:
We are pleased to announce two upcoming webinars as part of a new default prevention initiative by Federal Student Aid (FSA) to support institutions of higher education in preparation for the upcoming release of official cohort default rates later this year and draft rates early next year. The initiative is part of our continuous and ongoing effort to assist institutions in reducing student loan delinquency and default, while ensuring compliance with Title IV program requirements and improving the overall health of the $1.7 trillion federal student loan portfolio. It is a direct response to recent U.S. Department of Education guidance emphasizing the key role that institutions play in improving borrower repayment outcomes and the increase in nonpayment rates among institutions, and will include webinars, regional workshops, conference sessions, and one-on-one consultations. The initiative is designed to help institutions improve borrower success and maintain eligibility for federal student aid programs, with particular attention given to institutions with elevated delinquency, nonpayment, or cohort defaults rates—especially those required to develop formal default prevention plans under the Higher Education Act.
We will launch the initiative with the two live webinars described below. We will announce additional training and technical assistance opportunities in the future.
Note: We recently announced an online learning track focused on cohort default rates and default prevention, offering a self-paced training opportunity to build foundational knowledge. Refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-26-19 for more details.
Default Prevention Webinars Schedule and Links
You must register to attend these live webinars. See below for details about each webinar and the link to register. We can accommodate up to 10,000 attendees in each session.
Please submit questions in advance to help us to consolidate similar questions and answer as many as possible. Instructions for submitting questions are on the registration form.
For the best webinar experience, download the Zoom app before the event.
Date/Time: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, 1:15–2:15 p.m. Eastern time (ET)
This webinar introduces NSLDS resources designed to help with default management and prevention. We will explain how to use the Delinquent Borrower report, the 24/36 Month Repayment report, the Loan Record Detail report, and explain the draft cohort default rate calculation.
Registration Link for Default Prevention: NSLDS Reporting Tools Webinar
Date/Time: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, 1:15–2:15 p.m. ET
This session highlights the importance of managing and preventing loan defaults for campus leaders, showing how they affect daily operations and eligibility for federal student aid. It also offers practical resources to improve borrower communication and support students as they repay their loans.
Registration Link for Default Prevention: Institutional Strategies for Success Webinar
Additional Webinar Resources: Handouts, Recordings, and Transcripts
You may download a PDF version of the presentation the day before the live webinar in the “Upcoming Webinars” section of the FSA Training Center. We will post a recording and transcript of the webinar on the FSA Training Center the week following the live webinar. After logging in, go to “Recorded Webinars and Training” on the main menu bar, select “Webinars and Training Videos,” then select “School Eligibility.”
We look forward to your participation in these webinars. If you have questions about the training content, contact the Default Prevention Team at DefaultPreventionAssistance@ed.gov. If you have questions about the FSA Training Center, contact helpdesk.fsatraining@ed.gov.
Sincerely,
Federal Student Aid