"In a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Monday, consumer advocacy groups, higher education associations and others asked the bureau to require that colleges give prior approval before students borrow private loans, saying that the bureau has the power to require full certification by institutions," Inside Higher Ed's Quick Takes reports.

"In post-Great Recession America, which is the bigger barrier to opportunity — race or class?" an Associated Press article asks.

"The Republicans and Democrats are at in again, debating the future of college loan interest rates," Frank Palmasani, creator of Financial Fit, writes in the Huffington Post.

"Six months after inauguration ... one of the biggest questions facing the Education Department is whether it has the personpower to carry out its ambitious, if still hazy, agenda," Inside Higher Ed reports.

"Anyone who has ever applied for college financial aid knows how confusing it can be. Many times, students—and parents—will incur debt that will haunt them years after college is in the rearview mirror," Suzi Parker writes for TakePart.

"Economists mislead families by framing college attendance as an issue of capital investment rather than one of affordability," Robert E. Martin writes in The Chronicle of Education.

"Colleges, universities and community colleges are centers of innovation, cultural hubs and engines of economic growth. In short, they are a tremendous public good," Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, writes in the Huffington Post.

In a recent Federal Register notice and Dear Colleague Letter, the Department of Education (ED) announced that “other untaxed income” will be added to the list of verification items for the 2014-15 application year. In addition, guidance was provided on acceptable documentation, verification tracking groups, and paper tax returns. ED will be offering an interest session on verification at the NASFAA national conference, which will included updated information for 2014-15 verification. The session is offered on Sunday, July 14 at 2:30 pm and on Monday, July 15 at 1:30 pm.

The Journal of Student Financial Aid is pleased to announce the inaugural cohort of the Rising Professionals Editorial Board! This new board brings together a diverse group of talented early-career financial aid administrators, policy analysts, and doctoral students who will aid in the development and advancement of the Journal and NASFAA’s mission to bridge financial aid research and practice. NASFAA's new journal management system, launched last week, will help to streamline the process as board members go about their duties.