The manual contains the texts of all federal regulations concerning federal student financial aid programs, many of which are authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, as of December 31, 1997. An introductory section gives guidance in reading and understanding the regulations; the relationship of law to regulation; differences between proposed rules, final rules, and notices; how regulations are developed, negotiated, and numbered; how they are structured; the significance of effective dates; and distribution of regulations. This is followed by the regulations themselves, by program or legislation, and within those by date of publication of the final regulations. Regulations are grouped by type, and include those for drug-free schools and campuses, family educational rights and privacy, institutional eligibility, recognition of accrediting agencies, recognition of state agencies, scholarships, student assistance general provisions, loan programs, work-study programs, grants, and early intervention programs. Appended materials include a list of final regulations published in 1997 and a summary of changes in final regulations published in 1997. (MSE)