| Publication Date: July 14, 2006 Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, Application, Operations and Delivery Services, Federal Student Aid Summary: HERA Operational Implementation Guidance (CPS, COD System, EDExpress Suite) -- Issue Alert: EDconnect Displaying Incorrect Message Class Cycle and Description for 2006-2007 Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) Data File Posted on 07-14-2006 Federal Student Aid would like to alert all institutions to an issue in the EDconnect software regarding the message class cycle and description displayed for the new ACG Data file. The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is one of two new grant programs established by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (the HERA), Pub. L. 109-171. The ACG Data file contains student responses to the rigorous secondary school program questions that can be answered online or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC). The information contained in the ACG Data file can assist schools in determining a student's eligibility for an ACG. For more information and guidance regarding the ACG and use of the ACG Data file, see the June 30, 2006 electronic announcement "HERA Operational Implementation Guidance (CPS, COD System, and EDExpress Suite) -- ACG and National SMART Grant" on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site, located at http://ifap.ed.gov. Issue On June 30, 2006, the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) sent out a message class table (MESSAGTB) to all mailboxes. The message class table included the new ACG Data file message class ED2007OP. EDconnect incorrectly displays the Cycle for the ACG Data file as "05-06 Data" and the Description as "05-06 ACG DATA FILE." The Cycle should be "06-07 Data" and the Description should be "06-07 ACG DATA FILE." Resolution This is a display-only issue in EDconnect and does not affect your ability to download ACG Data files from your SAIG mailbox. The data contained in the file is valid and can be used by institutions for 2006-2007. A new message class table will be released during the week of July 17, 2006 to resolve this issue. Once the message class table is available in your mailbox, EDconnect will automatically download it and import it the next time you transmit. The message class table update will be transparent to you except for an import dialog box that will appear on your screen and display the progress of the import. DO NOT CLICK THE "CANCEL" BUTTON DURING THE IMPORT PROCESS. After EDconnect has imported the new message class table, the Cycle for the ACG Data file will display correctly as "06-07 Data" and the Description will display as "06-07 ACG DATA FILE." Contact Information If you have any questions regarding the EDconnect software or the ACG Data file, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806), or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov. For other questions about the HERA, contact the Federal Research and Customer Care Center (RCCC) at 800/433-7327, 202/275-5532 (fax), or by e-mail at fsa.customer.support@ed.gov. |