Common Manual: Unified Student Loan Policy, and Other Resources

The result of a partnership among the nation’s education loan guarantors, the Electronic Common Manual offers financial aid professionals a single authoritative source for guidance regarding Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) policies and regulations.

The Electronic Common Manual is divided by chapter, so you can find topics quickly and easily.

Below you will also find other resources for laws, regulations and policy. Ask American Student Assistance, our column on student finance and regulatory matters, is available to answer any specific questions you may have.

Manuals and Forms:

• – Common Manual – 2009 Annual Update (pdf, 13.5 MB)
• – Common Forms (pdf, 4.64 MB)
• – 10/26/2009 – Cover Memo Common Bulletin Batch 161 (pdf, 56 KB)
• – 10/26/2009 – Policy Changes Batch 161 (pdf, 52 KB)
• – 10/15/2009 – Policy Changes Approved Batch 161 (pdf, 80 KB)
• – 09/28/2009 – Cover Memo Common Bulletin Batch 160 (pdf, 23 KB)
• – 09/28/2009 – Policy Changes Batch 160 (pdf, 27 KB)
• – 09/17/2009 – Policy Changes Approved Batch 160 (pdf, 86 KB)

Laws and Regulations:

• – Higher Education Act (HEA) (pdf, 2.87 MB)
• – Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) (pdf, 1.13 MB)
• – Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (ECASLA) (pdf, 63 KB)
• – Integrated Regulations (pdf, 2.60 MB)
• – NCHELP Topical Index (pdf, 4.51 MB)

Dear Colleague Letters and Announcements:

• – Announcements (pdf, 5.3 MB)
• – Dear Guarantee Agency Director Letters (pdf, 27.9 MB)
• – Disaster Area Designation Letters (pdf, 1.35 MB)
• – Financial Partner Letters (pdf, 18.87 MB)
• – GEN Letters (pdf, 80.78 MB)
• – Guarantor Letters (pdf, 16.04 MB)
• – Lender Letters (pdf, 5.32 MB)
• – School Letters (pdf, 2.66 MB)