2010 EFC MID-YEAR MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Date: July 12, 2010 - July 13, 2010
Early Registration Discount Expires on June 25, 2010
EFC Member Conference Fees:
Cancellation Policy:
All registration cancellation requests must be made in writing (e-mail is acceptable) to EFC. Full refunds will be provided for cancellation requests made on or before June 25, 2010. Requests made after June 25, 2010 and on or before July 2, 2010 will receive a 50 percent refund; any requests made after July 2, 2010 are not eligible for a refund even if the registrant does NOT attend the conference.
Hotel Information:
The Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert Street, NW
Washington. DC 20008
202.234.0700
Attire:
Business Attire
Travel Information:
Conference Description:
Conference Agenda:
Conference Agenda PDF: v15_Registration Information_OmniShoreham.pdf
Date: July 12, 2010 - July 13, 2010
Click here to register for this meeting.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION INFORMATIONEarly Registration Discount Expires on June 25, 2010
EFC Member Conference Fees:
- Registration received on or before June 25, 2010: $565.00
- Registration received after June 25, 2010: $615.00
- Registration received on or before June 25, 2010: $950.00
- Registration received after June 25, 2010: $1005.00
Cancellation Policy:
All registration cancellation requests must be made in writing (e-mail is acceptable) to EFC. Full refunds will be provided for cancellation requests made on or before June 25, 2010. Requests made after June 25, 2010 and on or before July 2, 2010 will receive a 50 percent refund; any requests made after July 2, 2010 are not eligible for a refund even if the registrant does NOT attend the conference.
Hotel Information:
The Omni Shoreham Hotel
Hotel room reservations may be made directly with the Omni Shoreham Hotel online by clicking here, or by calling the hotel at 800-843-6664. Please inform the reservation clerk that you are attending the EFC Mid-Year Membership Meeting to ensure the special room rate of $199 per night, plus applicable District of Columbia taxes (approximately 14.5%). Room rates will be in effect from Saturday, July 10, 2010 until Tuesday, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 and may be offered three (3) days prior and post the EFC event, subject to availability. You MUST make your reservations on or before June 25, 2010 to receive the special room rate. EFC has reserved a small room block and the hotel will fill up quickly. Once EFC’s room block is full, we cannot guarantee the lower rate or room availability regardless of the cut-off date. Reservations made after June 25, 2010 or after the EFC room block is full are subject to availability and rate change.
All hotel reservations must be guaranteed by a valid major credit card, which will be supplied at the time of reservation. Any guaranteed reservation not cancelled 72 hours prior to arrival will be subject to one night room and tax cancellation fee. Please only reserve the number of rooms that you will be using – cancelling rooms on or after the cut-off date prevents other members from receiving the EFC special rate and may lead to penalties for EFC.
The Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert Street, NW
Washington. DC 20008
202.234.0700
Attire:
Business Attire
Travel Information:
The Omni Shoreham Hotel is located in exclusive Woodley Park adjacent to the Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods. The hotel is just steps away from the Red Line Metro Stop, “Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan,” and approximately 8 miles from Ronald Reagan National Airport and 30 miles from Dulles International Airport.
Conference Description:
The EFC Mid-Year Membership Meeting will be strategically held in Washington, D.C. to attract key members of Congress and officials from the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, the Treasury Department, higher education associations and related organizations. The EFC Mid-Year Membership Meeting focuses on the regulatory and statutory policies that impact the EFC membership, and is recognized for its track record of combining substantive policy analysis with informative political insights from leaders in the Nation’s capital.
Conference Agenda:
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Sunday, July 11, 2010
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Registration
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Board Meeting – Executive Session – Closed Session
3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Break
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
EFC Voting Member CEO Meeting (Voting Members Only)
Evening on Your Own
Monday, July 12, 2010
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast
8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Chuck Sanders, President & CEO, South Carolina Student Loan Corporation; Chairman of the EFC Board, Education Finance Council
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Federal Update
Federal policy activity impacting student loan and service providers has barely slackened since enactment of the HCERA legislation terminating new FFELP originations. Live issues include proposed legislation concerning private student loan bankruptcy discharge, private student loan “debt swap”, financial services regulatory reform legislation, and tax proposals. Key HCERA implementation decisions are also being made, including the eligible not-for-profit servicer provision that EFC and its members managed to secure in the legislation. This session will provide an update on the latest on Congressional and Administration activity potentially impactful to the EFC membership.
Introduction:
Chuck Sanders, President & CEO, South Carolina Student Loan Corporation
Presenter:
Peter Warren, President, Education Finance Council
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Securing Grant Funds For College Access Programs
EFC’s non-profit and state-based members are known for their outstanding college access and preparedness programs, financial literacy education, and related community initiatives. Finding financing to continue and expand such programs is a major challenge in a post-FFELP environment. This session will feature an expert, experienced grant writer who will discuss ways that nonprofit loan providers can secure grant funding for such programs from federal, state and private foundation sources.
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Financial Industry Reform: A Changing Landscape For Student Lending
This panel will focus on provisions in the financial regulatory reform legislation that has consumed so much of federal lawmakers’ attention this year. A number of provisions in the legislation will impact the legal and regulatory playing field for student lenders looking to finance new private loans or refinance FFELP loans. Panelists will discuss the impact of provisions of the bill concerning risk-retention, consumer protection and more.
Moderator:
Vince Sampson, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Education Finance Council
Panelists:
Christopher P. Chapman, President & CEO, Access Group, Inc.
Michael Decker, Managing Director and Co-Head of Municipal Securities, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Student Loan Capital Market Update
A panel of experts will examine the state of the capital market recovery, including the student loan sector, the broad municipal sector, and the broad ABS sector. The discussion will include the use of taxable and tax-exempt LIBOR floating rate notes FRNs) and the fixed rate market. It will include a discussion of discount tender and ARS buyback restructurings. Both the private loan and FFELP markets will be explored. New state supported and other low-cost fixed rate private loan programs will be reviewed from the structuring, operational risk, financing and rating agency perspective.
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon - Keynote Speaker
The November elections could dramatically alter the playing field in the U.S. Congress. The minority party is expected to make significant gains in this mid-term election, but a volatile political environment presents challenges for both Democrats and Republicans. Expert, experienced pollsters from both major parties will describe the current state of play and provide an insightful preview of the drama expected to play out in November.
Moderator:
Rich Meade, Managing Director, Prime Plicy Group
Panelists:
Glen Bolger, Partner, Public Opinion Strategies
To Be Announced
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
College Access and Outreach Initiatives
A panel of experts will discuss successful programs funded under the Department of Education’s College Access Challenge Grant Programs, and how program administrators have been able to demonstrate proven results. The context of the discussion is the significant increase in funding awarded in the HCERA to the challenge grant program, and the opportunities that presents for potential new program participants.
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Non-Profit Direct Loan Servicing: Latest Developments
Implementation by the Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid of the HCERA provision providing for Federal Direct Loan servicing by eligible not-for-profit student loan servicers will be discussed. Panelists will share their experience planning and preparing for the upcoming solicitation.
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Break
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Downsizing - A New Paradigm?
With the elimination of new FFELP loan originations, and uncertainty concerning other work streams, many student loan organizations are faced with the prospect of downsizing and/or restructuring. This involves difficult personnel decisions potentially involving considerable legal complexity. An attorney experienced in employment law will discuss relevant legal considerations, and describe the benefits and pitfalls of different ways of approaching personnel decisions.
Introduction:
Chuck Sanders, President & CEO, South Carolina Student Loan Corporation
Presenter:
Robert S. Eitel, Member, Talbert & Eitel, PLLC
4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Congressional Staff Panel
A panel of key staff from the House and Senate education committees will provide insight on issues within the committees’ jurisdiction, including oversight of HCERA implementation, private loan debt swap, and other higher education issues the committees are tackling this year.
Panelists:
Jeff Appel, Senior Education Policy Advisor, House Committee on Education and Labor
Christoher Eyler, Republican Professional Staff Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Amy Jones, Esq., Republican Higher Education Counsel & Senior Advisor, House Committee on Education and Labor
5:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Reception
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Dinner
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Registration
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Member of Congress - Invited
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
U.S. Department of Education Official - Invited
An official with the U.S. Department of Education has been invited to provide an update on activities relating to higher education underway at the Department. This includes the implementation of various HCERA provisions including the transition to full direct lending, nonprofit servicer contracting, and challenge grant awards.
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Private Education Loans - A Growing Need To Meet Higher Education Costs
As the cost of higher education continues to soar, private education loans continue to be an integral component of higher education financing for many students and families across the United States. This session will discuss the state of the market and the practical impact of proposed and actual legislation and regulations impacting private student loans. The discussion will include bankruptcy discharge, consumer disclosure requirements, and more.
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
IRS Tax-Exempt Bond Enforcement
The Internal Revenue Service has stepped up its enforcement activity in the municipal bond area, and has publicly announced a goal of closing a record number of audits this year. Legal experts and issuers will discuss the latest agenda and activities of the IRS, and describe the processes and methodologies employed by the IRS in conducting and closing examinations and audits.
Panelists:
Fredric L. Ballard, Jr., Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP
Mitchell J. Bragin, Partner, Kutak Rock LLP
Dianne Stewart, Partner, Avant Strategic Partners, LP12:00 p.m.
Adjourn
Conference Agenda PDF: v15_Registration Information_OmniShoreham.pdf
