NEWS RELEASE

September 23,2002

Alma Bowen 770-724-9018                                                                 

Governor proclaims October 'Student Loan Default Prevention Awareness Month'

Gov. Roy Barnes has proclaimed October as "Student Loan Default Prevention Awareness Month" in Georgia. Throughout the month, efforts will be made to educate students and increase awareness of student loan issues - repayment, default prevention, and debt and money management.

Georgia's statewide Default Prevention Task Force, which was formed in 1999 by the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation (GHEAC), is asking that all schools of higher education - colleges, universities, and technical colleges - conduct a default prevention activity during October, and make students aware of an interactive, online Chat Night scheduled for Oct. 22.

The Default Prevention Task Force, which has more than 25 active members, operates with one goal - to develop strategies and products for reducing student loan defaults in Georgia. It regularly offers workshops, default prevention tools and techniques, default awareness fairs, and more.

The Default Prevention Chat Night can be accessed by computer by anyone from any place in Georgia or from other states. Answers will be provided by student financial aid professionals regarding student loans, default and debt, and money management. The Chat Night is hosted by the Default Prevention Task Force, which is made up of financial aid professionals from schools, and representatives from lenders, from the U.S. Department of Education, from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, Inc., and from GHEAC.

The Chat Night, from 7 until 9 p.m. on Oct. 22, can be accessed by logging on to www.gsfc.org, the Web site of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, parent agency of GHEAC. Participants who would prefer to get answers by telephone may call toll-free, 1-800-776-6878.

More information about the Chat Night or about Georgia's Default Prevention Task Force is available from Marcia Coleman, Default Prevention Coordinator, 770-724-9174, or marciac@mail.gsfc.state.ga.us.