(GEN-01-01) (GEN-01-01) This action letter provides information about recent changes and enhancements to the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG)

Dear Partner:

The Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) is the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) vehicle for electronically transmitting and receiving data on financial aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The following Title IV delivery system uses SAIG for data transmissions:

We would like to take this opportunity to announce the changes and enhancements that we have made to the Student Aid Internet Gateway System and to provide instructions on use of the attached updated SAIG Enrollment Form.

Why You Should Read This Action Letter

In our continuing efforts to improve the student aid delivery system, we have developed web sites to enter and update SAIG Enrollment data , distribute Student Financial Assistant ( SFA) provided Title IV application software and documentation products, and have enhanced the EDconnect transmission software.

While our intent is that these enhancements will make Title IV data processing less burdensome for our users, we realize that these enhancements may require you to make some modifications to your systems operations and office procedures. Therefore, it is important for you to become familiar with all of then information provided in this letter.

What is the purpose of SAIG Enrollment?

SFA utilizes data from the SAIG Enrollment to manage access for customers with the Title IV application systems. Current SAIG customers shall utilize the enrollment site, http://FSAWebEnroll.ed.gov, to update information about their enrollment on the SAIG. Enrollment on SAIG is a separate process from the one that establishes a school’s eligibility to participate in the Federal Title IV student financial aid programs.

The name of the document that you should use to establish eligibility is titled "Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs." A copy of this document can be requested via e-mail at IPOS@ed.gov. For customers who cannot access the internet , the paper process for SAIG enrollment is still available.

Who can enroll in SAIG?

Enrollment is open to postsecondary institutions, third-party servicers, software providers, lenders, guaranty agencies, contractors, and ED/SFA staff.

How does the enrollment process work?

Individuals working at schools, servicers, software providers and agencies are identified as destination point administrators (DPA's) for the SAIG destination points (mailboxes with TG numbers )assigned to their organization. The enrollment process operates on the premise that DPAs are responsible for maintaining a SAIG User Statement (Attachment B of the Enrollment Form) for each person given access under their destination point ID. Current SAIG destination point administrators must collect and maintain SAIG User Statements (Attachment B of enrollment form) from all individuals who have access to their SAIG mailbox. In addition to processing and maintaining the User Statements, the destination point administrator (DPA) must enter a profile for each user in the EDconnect software (see EDconnect Help Text). These instructions are only for PC or combo schools using EDconnect to transmit data. Please read and carefully follow the instructions for the enrollment form. Even if you have no new enrollment information to submit to SAIG at this time, User Statements and profiles must be created and maintained by the DPA.

Effective October 2, 2000, Presidents, Chancellors, or other authorized officials at the institution have the ability to designate an individual to sign the Enrollment Form on their behalf.

How many destination point administrators should a school have for one physical location?

In general, each organization is limited to one destination point (DP) for each of the functions that can be accessed over the SAIG (such as submitting correction transactions to the CPS, receipt of ISIRs, Pell Grant payment reporting, etc.), but there are some exceptions. For example, two destination points can transmit initial student application data and schools may have an unlimited number of destination point administrators with their own mailboxes to access NSLDS and RFMS data on-line.

You must make the determination of the appropriate number of destination points that will meet your needs. You should review the introductory language of the enrollment form for an explanation of how enrollment on the SAIG works and the number of destination points allowed for each function.

When can an institution or third-party servicer enroll in SAIG?

Eligible institutions and organizations may enroll in SAIG or update information at any time. However, new institutions or organizations seeking access to services for academic year 2001-2002 that they do not currently access should complete the form as soon as possible so that all Title IV student applicant files are received. For example, institutional enrollment in Central Processing System (CPS) is automatically continued each award year. However, institutions not currently enrolled to receive financial aid application data services through the CPS should enroll by December 29, 2000 to capture all 2001-2002 ISIR student records.

When should SAIG enrollment information be updated?

A web enrollment form should be submitted or hardcopy with corrected or new information whenever the services accessed need to be amended (see General Information section of enrollment form). The enrollment form should also be used to update information about any of the destination point administrators.

Similarly, if a school becomes newly eligible to participate in the Federal Direct Loan Program or an organization wants to change the individual who is the destination point administrator for a SAIG mailbox, the enrollment web site or paper enrollment form should be used.

If the enrollment form is used to submit changes or updates, all parts must be completed of each question being answered.

Even if your organization has no new enrollment information to submit at this time, all SAIG users should read this entire package carefully.

Is there an electronic version of the enrollment form?

The SAIG enrollment form is available in various formats. The form can be downloaded and printed from ED's Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) web site found at http://ifap.ed.gov. The form can also be printed from the http://www.fsawebenroll.ed.gov web site.

ED’s new web site, http://www.fsawebenroll.ed.gov, enables users of SAIG to control their participation in the electronic exchange of Title IV data through an Internet Web site. Users have the choice of entering their data via an interview format or via expert entry mode. Customers also have the ability to activate/inactivate the DPA via the web.

The expert entry allows more experienced users familiar with the existing enrollment process to more quickly and easily modify their existing enrollment services. The expert entry offers these advanced users the same options and core functionality of the interview process, but is displayed and functions from a graphical tree structure that shows updates, not requiring signature pages, in real time. Other updates, that will require a signature page, are appropriately flagged and shown as pending. The expert entry is also highly flexible allowing users to customize certain options (i.e. autofill their logged-in user ID into selected services, manually enter in institution and WAN ID codes, etc.) to their own preferences. This option is intended for the experienced user, and the interview option is still available and preferred for the less experienced user not as comfortable with the enrollment processes and functions.

A hardcopy of the form is also available by contacting Title IVWAN customer service at 800-615-1189.

What other enhancements can I look for?

We are pleased to release EDconnect for Windows, Version 4.0.1. This release adds a number of enhancements to the EDconnect 3.0.2 software that should assist users in using the software more efficiently. These enhancements are as follows:

1. Compatibility with the Windows 2000 operating system.

2. The ADD Date field within the Mailbox Query and Archive Views now reflect the date the data were placed in the user’s mailbox.

3. Windows 32-bit naming conventions.

4. Added a reference to both the SNRF number and the item number within the Activity Log so that entries can be cross-referenced with the Mailbox Query and Archive Views.

Version 4.0.1 replaces version 4.0.0 and corrects the following three issues:

1. The EDconnect database can now be properly updated to 4.0.1 format when the software is installed as an upgrade to 3.0.x on a WinNT Workstation PC with an "NTFS" formatted disk drive.

2. Some users of 4.0.0 experienced an immediate "disconnected" message from dial-up networking upon trying to transmit. EDconnect now ignores invalid error codes from the WindowsNT Remote Access Service, preventing this error.

3. The file "audit.cmp" is now deleted before each transmission, preventing the error "unable to compress audit.cmp" during a transmission.

The Interactive Voice Response Unit has been updated to simplify the transfer to a Spanish speaking Title IV WAN or CPS Customer Service Representative.

The National Student Loan Data Systems (NSLDS) has modified the services available to on-line participants. These modified services are Loan History, Pell Grant, Enrollment History, Overpayment History, SSCR Schedule, Data Provider Schedule, Student Repayment History, Organization Contacts, and Various Online Reports.

NSLDS users signed up on SAIG prior to October 1, 2000 were associated with these new services. Thus no action is required from these users to continue their existing processes.

The Recipient Financial Management System (RFMS) has been added as a separate Application Processing System. Users can sign up to participate in on-line and batch services. SAIG users enrolled in RFMS services prior to October 1, 2000 were automatically signed up for the new on-line service. Thus no action is required from these users to continue their existing processes.

Web Enrollment site code searches (institution and WAN ID codes) have been modified with an option to return an address for the selected codes. This added option can be customized by the user to indicate whether they wish to see address information (street address, city, state, and zip code) return in the search results, thereby allowing users to more easily and accurately choose the correct code for their organization.

Many of the enhancements we made this year were based on suggestions from you and your colleagues. As we continue our efforts to improve our services, and respond to the needs and concerns of the financial aid community, we encourage you to share with us your ideas and suggestions for further enhancements.

Sincerely,

Greg Woods

Chief Operating Officer

Student Financial Assistance

U.S. Department of Education