This week the U.S. Department of Education released a new strategic plan for the Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid.

The plan, Federal Student Aid: Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2011-15, identifies five strategic goals with several objectives for each goal. Each goal is aligned with performance targets to be achieved over the next five years.

• Provide superior service and information to students and borrowers
• Work to ensure that all participants in the system of postsecondary education funding serve the interests of students, from policy to delivery
• Develop efficient processes and effective capabilities that are among the best in the public and private sectors
• Ensure program integrity and safeguard taxpayers’ interests
• Strengthen FSA’s performance culture and become one of the best places to work in the federal government

More specifically the plan calls for efforts to increase awareness about the availability of federal student aid and to educate students about the costs and benefits of specific postsecondary programs.  In addition, the plan promises increased oversight of for-profit colleges and a greater focus on the credit risks assoicated with student loans.