7. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets, and Other Assets

In order to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, CRA may issue forgivable loans or term loans to employees and non-employee experts, which are classified in "prepaid expenses and other current assets" and "other assets" on the accompanying balance sheets as of October 3, 2015 and January 3, 2015. A portion of these loans is collateralized. The forgivable loans have terms that are generally between three and eight years. The principal amount of forgivable loans and accrued interest is forgiven by CRA over the term of the loans, so long as the employee or non-employee expert continues employment or affiliation with CRA and complies with certain contractual requirements. The expense associated with the forgiveness of the principal amount of the loans is recorded as compensation expense over the service period, which is consistent with the term of the loans. During the fiscal year-to-date period ended October 3, 2015, CRA issued approximately $9.5 million in forgivable loans to employees and non-employee experts for future service.

Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):

	October 3, 2015		January 3, 2015
Forgivable loans to employees and non-employee experts	$	38,865	$	42,907
Other		3,296		5,008

Total	$	42,161	$	47,915