[Federal Register: September 19, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 182)]
[Notices]
[Page 49413-49416]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se97-174]
[[Page 49413]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VI
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Student Assistance General Provisions; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Student Assistance General Provisions
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of deadline dates for institutions to use designated
electronic processes in order to meet administrative capability
requirements for participation in the Student Financial Assistance
Programs authorized by title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (HEA).
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of 34 CFR 668.16(o), the
Secretary gives notice to institutions of the designated electronic
processes in which they must participate, and the respective deadline
dates. Table A provides a listing, with deadline dates, of those
designated electronic processes. Table B provides institutions with
technical hardware and software specifications for both current and
future levels of participation in the designated electronic processes.
As provided for by the regulation, the Secretary considers an
institution that fails to participate in one or more of the electronic
processes listed in this notice by the respective deadline date for
that process, to lack administrative capability to administer the title
IV, HEA programs properly.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Title IV Federal Student Aid Program Policy: Jacquelyn C.
Butler, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W.
(ROB-3, Room 3045), Washington, DC 20202-5447. Telephone: (202) 708-
8242.
2. Title IV Wide Area Network (TIV WAN): Title IV WAN Customer
Service, P.O. Box 30, Iowa City, IA 52244. Telephone: 1-800-615-1189
3. ``Info for Financial Aid Professionals'' website or the Student
Financial Assistance Bulletin Board System (SFA BBS): Customer Support
Branch, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW.
(ROB-3, Room 3108A), Washington, DC 20202-5231. Telephone: 1-800-433-
7327.
4. Electronic Application for Approval to Participate in Federal
Student Aid Programs: Patricia Patterson, Institutional Participation
and Oversight Services, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence
Avenue, SW. (ROB-3, Room 3682), Washington, DC 20202-5300. Telephone:
(202) 260-5742.
5. Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP):
Campus Based Programs State Representatives, Institutional Financial
Management Division, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence
Avenue, SW. (ROB-3, Room 4714), Washington, DC 20020-5458. Telephone:
(202) 708-7741.
6. Federal Pell Grant Reporting: Financial Management Specialists,
Institutional Financial Management Division, 600 Independence Avenue,
SW. (ROB-3, Room 4714), Washington, DC 20202-5458. Telephone: (202)
708-9807.
7. National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS): F. Lynn Alexander,
U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW. (ROB-3, Room
4520), Washington, DC 20202-5259. Telephone: (202) 708-8125.
8. Project EASI (Easy Access for Students and Institutions): Fred
Sellers, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW.
(ROB-3, Room 3045), Washington, DC 20202-5447. Telephone: (202) 708-
8242.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may
call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 9
a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to Vicki Wilson, U.S. Department of Education, 600
Independence Avenue, SW., (ROB-3, Room 3030), Washington, DC 20202-
5352. Telephone: (202) 708-8619.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 29, 1996, the Secretary
published final regulations in the Federal Register (61 FR 60603) that
require institutions to participate in the electronic processes that
the Secretary identifies and provides during a processing year in order
to improve the delivery of title IV, HEA program funds to students and
institutions and to protect further the Federal fiscal interest. An
institution will be able to use software provided by the Secretary or
software developed by the institution, or its vendor, in accordance
with specifications provided by the Secretary. The Secretary believes
that the savings and benefits from improved business processes made
possible by using these electronic processes will more than offset any
necessary initial investments by both the Department of Education
(Department) and by institutions. To achieve these savings and
benefits, it is essential that, to the extent practicable, electronic
processes and, in the future, magnetic tape and cartridge data
submissions, replace paper processes at both the Department and
institutions. The Secretary also believes that most institutions
already have the necessary equipment and technical expertise to use
these processes, and institutions that have to purchase or replace
equipment to meet the standards will be making an investment that will
improve their institutional processes at minimal cost.
The Secretary believes that use of these electronic processes is
also essential to the implementation of Project EASI. Project EASI is
an initiative of the Secretary to pursue a collaborative effort among a
diverse group of government, business, and educational leaders to
develop an integrated student aid delivery system available not only to
students and their families but also institutions, State agencies, and
others.
As part of Project EASI, the Secretary is joining with other
partners in the student aid delivery system in the development of data
standards and standards for electronic transmission of data. Electronic
data interchange (EDI) standards of the American National Standards
Institute now exist for numerous applications relevant to the student
aid delivery system. They include electronic payments, invoices,
purchase orders, student transcripts, enrollment verifications, student
loan applications, and transfer and status verifications. Using the EDI
process, the Secretary with other partners in the student aid delivery
system, will provide agreed upon data standards that can be updated as
new needs arise. The Secretary believes that EDI standards are an
important basis to achieving systems integration and will participate
in their development and implementation for the title IV, HEA programs.
Additional information about Project EASI can be found at http://
easi.ed.gov on the Project EASI World Wide Web home page.
This notice also furthers the implementation of the Secretary's
initiatives to reduce burden and improve program accountability by
using electronic processes to achieve an integrated student aid
delivery system for students and institutions. The Secretary believes
that using these electronic processes is essential to simplifying
program administration, improving program accountability, and providing
institutions with the experience necessary to begin developing an
expertise in using the electronic processes that the Department
provides. This expertise is essential to the implementation of
additional electronic processes that the Secretary expects to use in
administering the title IV, HEA programs.
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In order to assist institutions with their implementation of these
designated processes, the Secretary will be offering a series of
informational and hands-on training activities. On October 16, 1997,
the Department will broadcast another in its series of video-
conferences. That video-conference called, ``SFAP Update: The 1998-99
FAFSA and More,'' will focus on the electronic requirements contained
in this notice as well as on changes to the federal student aid
delivery system for the 1998-99 award year. In November and December of
this year, the Department will, once again, present three on-site
conferences where institutions can learn about the electronic processes
required by this notice as well as other electronic services available
from the Department. The first of these conferences, ``A Second Decade
of Partnership Through Electronics,'' will be held in St. Paul,
Minnesota from November 4 through November 6. The second will be in
Seattle, Washington from November 17 until November 19. The final
conference will be from December 16 through December 18 in Boston,
Massachusetts. For additional information on these conferences, visit
our website at http://edeworkshop.walcoff.com.
The conference sites are accessible to individuals with
disabilities. An individual with a disability who will need an
auxiliary aid or service to participate in the conference (e.g.,
interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials in an
alternate format) should notify Vicki Wilson, U.S. Department of
Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., (ROB-3, Room 3030),
Washington, DC 20202-5352, Telephone: (202) 708-8619, at least two
weeks before the scheduled conference date. Although the Department
will attempt to meet a request received after that date, the requested
auxiliary aid or service may not be available because of insufficient
time to arrange it.
Finally, the Department will begin training in February 1998
throughout the country on ``The Electronic Financial Aid Office''
focusing on the uses of electronics in the administration of student
financial aid programs.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you
have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing
Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Table A: Designated Processes and Deadline Dates
This table provides a listing of the electronic processes, and
their respective deadline dates, in which institutions must participate
in order to be considered administratively capable to participate in
the Title IV student assistance programs. The Secretary will provide
additional details on these requirements in a letter that will be sent
to all participating institutions.
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Deadline date Designated electronic processes
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January 1, 1998........................................ 1. Participate in the Title IV Wide Area Network (TIV
WAN).
2. For the 1998-99 Processing Year \1\ and Beyond:
a. Receipt of Institutional Student Information
Records (ISIRs).\2\
b. Adding Your Institution to the Central Processing
System Record (CPS).
c. On-line Access to the National Student Loan Data
System (NSLDS).
July 1, 1998........................................... 1. Access to the ``Info for Financial Aid
Professionals'' website or the Student Financial
Assistance Bulletin Board System (SFA BBS).
2. Submission of the Application for Approval to
Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs
(recertification, reinstatement, and changes) through
the Internet.
3. Submission of the Fiscal Operations Report and
Application to Participate (FISAP) to the Title IV
Wide Area Network (TIV WAN). Diskettes will be
eliminated.
July 1, 1999........................................... 1. For the 1999-2000 Award Year and Beyond:
Report Federal Pell Grant Payments Electronically or
on Magnetic Tape or Cartridge to the Title IV Wide
Area Network (TIV WAN). Diskettes will be eliminated.
2. Submit Student Status Confirmation Report (SSCR)
data Electronically or on Magnetic Tape or Cartridge
to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
Diskettes will be eliminated.
3. Submit Federal Perkins Loan Data Electronically or
on Magnetic Tape or Cartridge to the National Student
Loan Data System (NSLDS). Diskettes will be
eliminated.
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\1\ The application processing cycle lasts 18 months. For the 1998-99 award year, application processing begins
in January 1998 and applications for that year will be accepted until June 30, 1999. (See The 1997-98
Counselor's Handbook for Postsecondary Schools, page 19.)
\2\ The Secretary realizes that processing title IV aid upon the receipt of an ISIR, rather than the paper
Student Aid Report (SAR), may be new for some institutions. In order to provide these institutions sufficient
time to implement electronic procedures to receive ISIRs, the Secretary will not assess any penalties against
an institution that is not able to comply with this requirement on January 1, 1998. However, beginning July 1,
1998, all institutions are expected to be receiving ISIRs electronically for any title IV applicant who has
listed that institution on the applicant record in the CPS.
Technical Specifications
The technical specifications table that follows provides
institutions with information regarding hardware and software
requirements that will enable them to participate in these designated
electronic processes. Some of the specifications, while not needed to
meet the current requirements designated in this notice, will be
required in future years as the title IV student aid programs delivery
system is upgraded and enhanced. Therefore, institutions should include
in their automated data processing budgets, on a regular basis, plans
for upgrades and enhancements to their systems.
The table includes two columns of specifications. The left column
provides information on the current minimum configuration needed in
order for an
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institution to maintain a basic level of electronic efficiency. The
right column provides information on the configuration that will be
needed to support the electronic requirements beginning in January 1999
as designated in this notice. Although many institutions are able to
participate electronically using the current minimum configuration, it
is recommended that institutions that need to acquire resources in
order to meet the requirements of this notice invest in the equipment
and software that will be needed in the future (January 1999). Schools
that currently participate electronically should prepare to upgrade
their equipment and software in time to meet the January 1999
requirements. When reviewing these specifications, institutions should
be aware that capacity requirements (processor speed, RAM, hard drive
storage, etc.) are greatly affected by specific factors at each
institution, including which EDExpress functions the school uses,
number of records processed, and institutional database interfaces.
Finally, institutions should particularly note that, beginning on
January 1, 1999, for the 1999-2000 processing year, the Department's
electronic processes will require a Windows 95 or Windows NT operating
system. Neither the Disk Operating System (DOS) or earlier versions of
Windows will be supported.
Table B.--Technical Specifications
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Current minimum configuration
(depending upon volume and Minimum configuration required
usage) by January 1999
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Equipment.................................... IBM or fully IBM-compatible PC.. IBM or fully IBM-compatible PC.
66 MHz Processor 486DX2......... 200 MHz Pentium Processor or
comparable.
16MB RAM........................ 64MB RAM.
300MB Hard Disk Space........... 4.0 GB SCSI Hard Drive.
14,400 bps or higher baud Hayes 56K Analog Modem.
or comparable Modem.
3.5''/1.44MB Diskette Drive..... 3.5''/1.44MB Diskette Drive.
SVGA Monitor.................... SVGA Monitor.
Standard Keyboard............... Windows 95 Keyboard.
Printer capable of printing on Laser printer capable of
standard paper (8\1/2\'' x printing on standard paper
11''). (8\1/2\'' x 11'').
4x CD-ROM Drive with sound board 12x CD-ROM Drive with sound
*. board.*
Software..................................... MS-DOS version 6.2 or higher; 32 bit operating system
Windows 3.1, 3.11 or 95. (Windows 95 or Windows NT
4.x).
Internet Service Provider Internet Service Provider
(ISP).**. (ISP).**
Netscape Navigator 3.0 or 3.01 Netscape Navigator 3.0 or 3.01
(domestic) or web browser. ***. (domestic) or web browser.***
Phone Line................................... Dedicated phone line............ Dedicated phone line.
Diskettes.................................... 3.5'' high-density double-sided 3.5'' high-density double-sided
diskettes. diskettes.
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* Required if institutions want to use the EDExpress Tutorial and the AWARE software.
** Will be necessary to access the ``Info for Financial Aid Professionals'' website or the Student Financial
Assistance Bulletin Board System and for submission of the Application for Approval to Participate in Federal
Student Aid Programs (recertification, reinstatement, and changes).
*** Must use Netscape Navigator 3.0 or 3.01 (domestic) in order to utilize FAFSA on the web.
Applicable Regulation
The regulation applicable to this notice is the Student Assistance
General Provisions, 34 CFR part 668.
(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c)
Dated: September 9, 1997.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 97-24958 Filed 9-18-97; 8:45 am]
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