Publication Date: January 2002
Author: General Manager: SFA Student Channel
Summary: Direct Loan and Pell Beta Test Volunteers Needed for 2002-2003 EDExpress, Version 8.1
Posted on January 4, 2002
TO: All Destination Points
FROM: U.S. Department of Education
RE: Direct Loan and Pell Beta Test Volunteers Needed for 2002-2003 EDExpress, Version 8.1
The U.S. Department of Education invites schools and servicers to participate in beta testing the upcoming 2002-2003 EDExpress for Windows, Version 8.1. Schools and servicers are needed to test the Direct Loan and Pell modules (both of which will be included in Version 8.1).
Beta test participants will download the software from an FTP site along with detailed test procedures. Participants will then replicate their typical use of the software in a mock-production environment, report any problems encountered, and submit a summary report detailing their testing experience for ED analysis.
Direct Loan beta testing is scheduled to take place from February 4 to February 15, 2002. Pell beta testing is scheduled to take place from February 18 to March 1, 2002.
If you are interested in participating as a beta test site for the Direct Loan and/or Pell module of Version 8.1, please send an e-mail to CPSWAN@NCS.COM with the subject line “Attention: EDExpress 8.1 Beta Testing” and provide the following information:
1) School name and address
2) School type (4-year public university, 2-year private college, proprietary/trade school, etc.)
3) Primary and Secondary testing contact names, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses
4) TG# identifier
5) Windows Operating System version(s) and environment (network/standalone)
6) Network type and version (if applicable)
7) EDExpress modules (Direct Loan and/or Pell) you wish to test
8) Modules/features/tools you currently use in EDExpress (please provide specific details, such as External Add Imports, User Database, etc.)
9) Do you use EDExpress in combination with your mainframe or 3rd party software? If so, what type of mainframe system and/or 3rd Party software do you use?
10) Printer type and version, and if printer is standalone or networked
11) FTP download capability (I.E. Can you upload/download files from an FTP server?)
12) Your school’s average number of Title IV applicants per year
The Department and CPS PC development staff will select schools and servicers representing a wide variety of processing environments to ensure that the most diverse and thorough testing of the software is performed.
We will contact all Direct Loan module beta volunteers by January 28, 2002. All Pell module beta volunteers will be contacted by February 11, 2002. If your site is selected for either beta test, further information will be provided by the aforementioned date.
We thank you for your interest in helping make 2002-2003 EDExpress 8.1 a superior software product. We look forward to hearing from you.