Publication Date: December 7, 2001
Author: General Manager: SFA Student Channel
Clarification -- Ordering Bulk Quantities of 2002-2003 Application Materials
Publication Date: December 7, 2001
Author: General Manager: SFA Students Channel
Summary: Clarification -- Ordering Bulk Quantities of 2002-2003 Application Materials
On November 21, 2001, Student Financial Assistance (SFA) posted an electronic announcement on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) web site that provided ordering instructions for 2002-2003 financial aid application materials, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This announcement caused some confusion in the financial aid community and generated a considerable number of questions. In addition, several of you told us that you were unhappy with the procedures in place for fulfilling FAFSA orders.
We are posting this announcement to elaborate on several of the items discussed in the November 21st announcement. In particular, we wanted to provide additional details about how SFA is handling and processing orders for FAFSAs, The Student Guide, and Funding Your Education, and describe how we have modified our procedures to better meet your needs.
Web-based Bulk Publication Ordering System (BPOS)
Our web-based Bulk Publication Ordering System is available for ordering supplies of the 2002-2003 FAFSA and other application materials such as The Student Guide and Funding Your Education. You can access the system from our "Information for Financial Aid Professionals" (IFAP) web site at www.ifap.ed.gov by selecting Bulk Publication Ordering System from the list of links on the right-hand side of the IFAP main page. You will need your school's OPEID number to place an order.
FAFSA Orders
· Because more than 50% of our 2001-2002 applicants applied for financial aid electronically, and we expect at least 60% to apply electronically in 2002-2003, we decided it was the right time to decrease the number of paper FAFSAs we print each year. Therefore, we printed 33% fewer FAFSAs in 2002-2003 than we did in 2001-2002.
· To ensure that we have enough 2002-2003 FAFSAs to meet everyone’s needs, we are automatically reducing most initial FAFSA orders placed by postsecondary schools. The following explains how we will be handling, 2002-2003 initial FAFSA orders beginning December 7, 2001.
We have made programming changes to our web ordering system that will compare the number of 2002-2003 FAFSAs you order with the number of 2001-2002 FAFSAs requested.
(1) If your 2002-2003 order is less than your 2001-2002 order, we will send you the full number of FAFSAs you ordered.
(2) If your 2002-2003 order is equal to or greater than your 2001-2002 order, you will be presented with a message on the web ordering form telling you that we plan to reduce your initial 2002-2003 order.
- If the reduced amount is acceptable, you may proceed with your order.
- If you really need the same number of FAFSAs, or more FAFSAs, than you ordered in 2001-2002, you will have the option to tell us not to reduce your FAFSA order. The web ordering system will prompt you to reenter the number of FAFSAs that you want and your order will be fulfilled at 100%.
Student Guide and Funding Your Education
- All Student Guide and Funding Your Education orders placed by postsecondary schools will be fulfilled at 100%. No reductions to these orders will be made automatically, although, because these publications are available in electronic format on the web, we do encourage you to reevaluate your need for paper copies.
We hope this information makes our fulfillment procedures clearer and we thank you for considering reducing the number paper applications and publications you order. If you have any questions about your 2002-2003 order, please contact our publication call center at 1-800-394-7084. Their hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. A customer service representative will be glad to assist you.
And, thank you for Helping to Put America through School.