New Student Loan
Management System

The new system will provide a more modern, secure, and userfriendly experience for borrowers, institutions, and scholarship recipients. It will support the administration and servicing of the College Access Loan (CAL), Future Occupations & Reskilling Workforce Advancement to Reach Demand (FORWARD) Loan, and Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP).

Key SLMS Transition Dates &
Deadlines Requiring Action

Audience

Date

Event

Applicants & Cosigners

Sept. 15, 2026

Last day to submit a CAL or FORWARD application in the current HelmNet portal.

Institutions

Sept. 25, 2026

Last day for institutions to certify pending CAL or FORWARD applications before system transition. Assign disbursement dates by the end of September to ensure funds are disbursed before the system transition.

Institutions

Oct. 2, 2026

Final disbursement of CAL or FORWARD in the current system. Disbursements will resume after the new system launches.

Applicants & Cosigners

Oct. 9, 2026

Last day to accept all disclosures, including the Loan Approval Disclosure (LAD), for pending CAL or FORWARD applications. Any pending applications remaining after this date will be canceled. A new application must be submitted in the new SLMS portal.

Borrowers & Cosigners

Oct. 21, 2026

Final date for payments to apply to borrower accounts in the current HelmNet portal. Online payments must be made by 6:00 P.M. CDT to be processed through the current portal.

All Customers

Oct. 29, 2026

New Student Loan Management System (SLMS) launches.

Important Note: From Oct. 22 through Nov. 9, online loan account access and payments will be temporarily unavailable while we transition to a new system. Customers can still make payments by phone or mail. No penalties will apply for payments missed during this transition.

Borrowers & Cosigners

Nov. 9, 2026

All welcome emails with login instructions will be sent to all borrowers and cosigners by this date.

TASSP Transition Update

Due to system conversion, some Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP) disbursements may be delayed during October – December.

Audience

Date

Event

Institutions

Dec. 4, 2026

Last day to certify TASSP applications before system transition.

Applicants

Dec. 10, 2026

Last day to submit a TASSP application in the current portal.

Applicants

Dec. 14, 2026

Last day to accept the Loan Approval Disclosure (LAD) for TASSP applications in the current portal. Pending applications will be canceled after this date.

All Customers

Jan. 4, 2027

New TASSP portal is available to institutions and applicants.

Key Benefits

End-to-End Application Tracking

Monitor application progress from submission through certification, disbursement, and servicing.

Streamlined Certification Process

Certify and update loan information online through a dedicated institution portal.

Real-Time Status Updates

Access current application, eligibility, and disbursement information without waiting for manual updates.

Automated Notifications

Receive system-generated updates when borrower information changes or actions are required.

Reporting and Data Access

Generate and download reports to support financial aid administration and reconciliation activities.

Improved Student Loan Visibility

Online access to loan details from application through repayment.

What You Need to Know

Plan Ahead

Institutions are encouraged to schedule
fall 2026 disbursements during August
and September 2026 to ensure a smooth
transition to the new Student Loan
Management System.

Stay Informed

To stay informed throughout the
transition, all stakeholders are
encouraged to subscribe to the Student
Financial Aid Programs listserv for
updates and communications.

Institutional Resources

Training webinars, instructional guides,
FAQs, and transition materials will be
listed below as they become available throughout summer 2026.

Student Resources

Resources and guidance will be available
on HHLoans to help students successfully
navigate the transition to the new Student
Loan Management System.

Download a printable version of the SLMS flyer.