| PublicationDate: 9/6/96 Summary: Letter From Deputy Assistant Secretary Betsy Hicks Author: ODAS - Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary - SFA Dear Colleagues: This is the second in a series of periodic updates to keep you informed on a variety of delivery system issues for both 1996-97 and 1997-98. *1996-97 FAFSA PROCESSING DATA. As of (9/6/96) we have processed a total of: 4,281,525 1996-97 FAFSAs 3,482,799 Renewal applications 4,014,573 Corrections Current turnaround time for a FAFSA: 14 days Current turnaround time for a SAR Correction: 12 days. * START-UP OF 1997-98 APPLICATION PROCESSING SYSTEM We remain on schedule for our expected processing system startup on January 10, 1997. FAFSA Express will be available at system startup. * FAFSA PRINTING: The contract for printing the 1997-98 FAFSA has been awarded, and the estimates for the delivery dates we gave in our 9/3/96 BBS message were accurate. We will mail supplies to high schools first, and then begin mailing to postsecondary schools. We expect the postsecondary mailout of 1997-98 FAFSAs to begin in late October. * NEW PAPERLESS FAFSA ORDERING SYSTEM: On 9/11/96, we posted on the BBS the text of a Dear Colleague letter (ANN-96-4) we recently mailed to postsecondary schools, giving full details on how to use our paperless order system. This new system will speed up the ordering process and allow you to check on your order to make sure it has been received. * SSCR ISSUES: We are aware of your concerns, raised on FINAID-L and in other forums, about your difficulties in getting started with the new NSLDS Student Status Confirmarion Reports (SSCRs).We are working with our contractor to resolve identified problems and provide schools with assistance. We will soon give you a status report on issues and what is being done. Immediately following this message is the text of a Dear Colleague Letter we will mail to you as soon as printed copies are available. This letter responds to many of the concerns we have heard from you. We hope this information is helpful to you, and we appreciate your continued support. Betsy Hicks ******************************************************************* September 1996 Summary: This letter describes the implementation of the Student Status Confirmation Report function of the National Student Loan Data System. GEN-96-17 96-L-189 96-G-291 Dear Colleague: I wish to provide you with important information concerning the implementation of the Student Status Confirmation Report (SSCR) function of the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). As many of you are aware, we announced earlier this year that the SSCR function of the NSLDS would be fully operational this Fall. In anticipation of that event, we developed an implementation strategy that provided schools extra time to work with a "practice" SSCR file during the Spring and Summer, while continuing to respond to SSCRs presented to them by their guaranty agency(ies). Special timeframes were established for Direct Loan schools because "practice" SSCR was the only way they could inform the Direct Loan servicer of changes in enrollment status for Direct Loan borrowers. Because of issues related to Title IV Wide Area Network (TIV-WAN) connectivity and the NSLDS software, only a few schools were able to access their "practice" file, and fewer still were able to complete and return their file successfully. Therefore, in early July we announced revised plans, which are still in effect. The revised plans expected Direct Loan schools to return their files by August 15, 1996 or as soon thereafter as possible, and expect all other schools to process and return their "practice" files by October 15, 1996. Furthermore, the revised date for the NSLDS SSCR to be in a fully operational mode is February, 1997. At that time, we will inform guaranty agencies that they no longer need to create and send SSCRs to their schools. Until that time, all schools, both Direct Loan and FFELP, must continue to return guaranty agencies' SSCRs according to current regulatory requirements. Beyond this first NSLDS-generated SSCR the next SSCR will be sent to Direct Loan schools this Fall and to all other schools after February 1, 1997. The Fall cycle for Direct Loan schools is necessary to capture Direct Loan-specific enrollment data. The attachments to this letter provide an overview of the NSLDS SSCR process by addressing the following issues: Why is it Important to Report and Update Enrollment Information? Why Use the NSLDS for SSCR Reporting? What Are the NSLDS SSCR Objectives? Dear Colleague - SSCR page 2 What Schools Must Participate in the SSCR Function? How will NSLDS SSCR Data be Transmitted? What is the Schedule for Schools' Receiving SSCR Rosters? How Will Schools Access NSLDS SSCR Rosters? Which Borrowers Will Appear on SSCR Rosters? What are the School's Responsibilities Upon Receiving an SSCR? What are the Special Definitions Used in the NSLDS SSCR Process? What Will the NSLDS Do With the Submitted SSCR Roster? What Happens to the SSCR Data Submitted by Schools to the NSLDS? What is the Implementation Schedule? Will SSCR Training be Provided? Whom Can I Call for NSLDS SSCR Help? We have also provided as an attachment to this letter a series of Questions and Answers (Q&As) addressing a number of issues that have been raised by schools over the past several months. The Department of Education is excited about the implementation of the SSCR function as a part of the NSLDS and is committed to assisting schools during this transition from the guaranty agencies' SSCRs to those created by the NSLDS. Sincerely, Elizabeth M. Hicks Deputy Assistant Secretary for Student Financial Assistance Programs Attachments A - What is the NSLDS SSCR Function? B - SSCR Questions & Answers Attachment A Attachment B |