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Summary: Tips from CPS/SAIG Technical Support to Ensure Schools Have Access to All Necessary ISIRs

Publication Date: September 5, 2006

Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, Application, Operations and Delivery Services, Federal Student Aid

Summary: Tips from CPS/SAIG Technical Support to Ensure Schools Have Access to All Necessary ISIRs

Posted on 09-05-2006

A few schools recently reported to the Central Processing System (CPS)/Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) Help Desk that they have been unable to locate Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) for a small number of students. After researching the issue, we determined that in all cases, if an ISIR existed for a student and the record listed the appropriate school, the ISIR was successfully delivered to the school's electronic mailbox. However, something was preventing the school from accessing the ISIR in question.

Based on our research, we would like to provide the following tips to all schools to ensure that everyone has access to the ISIRs they need:

* Make sure your students have filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have listed your school on the application.

* Make sure you are downloading and importing all your ISIR files, including files in the new message class IGAA07OP, which was implemented for the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (the HERA) and is described in an electronic announcement posted on June 30, 2006 to the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site. If you use EDconnect, the latest message class file that includes IGAA07OP will have been automatically downloaded and imported. If you are using a mainframe or third-party system to download your files, make sure your system is set up to download IGAA07OP files.

* If you use EDconnect, check the Receive path to make sure the files you download are going to the correct location. You can check the Receive path by selecting File, New, Security View from the menu bar and right-clicking on the user ID you use to download files. Click the Directories tab and select Receive from the drop-down list. The text box to the left of the Browse button will indicate where your files are downloaded.

* If you are unable to locate large numbers of student records, perform a search of your computer's hard drive or your network drives for typical ISIR message classes, such as IDSA06OP or IDSA07OP. It is possible that your message class table was not updated immediately and files downloaded at the beginning of the year, for example, went to a different location than files you are currently downloading and all files have not been imported into your financial aid software.

* Call CPS/SAIG Technical Support to make sure the students in question filed applications or listed your school.

If you have any questions regarding this message, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806) or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.