AAU joined ACE and 44 other higher education associations on a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, urging her to extend past Dec. 31 the current suspension of payment, interest accrual, and collections for federal student loan borrowers. “Borrowers who continue to be financially impacted by the pandemic need more time to get back on their feet in the form of extended relief from required repayments coupled with zero percent interest,” the letter says. The letter also calls for a “comprehensive communications plan” to help borrowers prepare to resume scheduled payments.