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Summary: 2008-2009 ISIR Analysis Tool Web Application Now Available

Publication Date: February 19, 2008

Author: William Leith, Acting General Manager, Application, Operations and Delivery Services, Federal Student Aid

Summary: 2008-2009 ISIR Analysis Tool Web Application Now Available

Posted on 02-19-2008

Federal Student Aid is pleased to announce that the 2008-2009 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool is now available through the FAA Main Menu of the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/faa/faa.jsp).

The ISIR Analysis Tool is designed for any school that wants to review and analyze its Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) data and better understand certain characteristics about its Title IV applicant population and verification process (either selected by the U.S. Department of Education or defined by the school).

The ISIR Analysis Tool allows you to perform the following functions:

  • Request specific or random samples of Initial and Paid On ISIR transactions from the ISIR Datamart to update your ISIR Analysis Tool database using a basic text flat file.
  • Define and add user-specified fields to track data specific to your school.
  • Set the School Verification Flag to indicate students meeting your school's institutional verification criteria.
  • Run the Data Validation process to identify student records missing an Initial or Paid On ISIR transaction and perform other calculations to finalize your overall ISIR sample before generating reports.
  • Generate standard reports that are used for in-depth analysis based on discrepancies or trends identified in requested ISIR data. Quality Assurance (QA) Program participants can share standard report templates with other QA participants using the ISIR Analysis Tool.
  • Create ad-hoc reports that can be used to conduct additional analysis unique to your school's user data and student demographics.
  • Export a flat file listing of all student records in your ISIR Analysis Tool database to your Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) mailbox.

Note: Using the ISIR Analysis Tool does not mean that your school is in the QA Program or is exempt from federal verification requirements. To have these benefits, you must have a signed QA Amendment to your Title IV Program Participation Agreement (PPA).

You must have Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 5.5 or higher as your browser in order to utilize the reporting features available in the ISIR Analysis Tool.

2008-2009 Enhancements to the ISIR Analysis Tool

The 2008-2009 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool includes the following enhancements:

  • Year References and Message Classes Updated for 2008-2009. We updated all ISIR Analysis Tool labels and other text to reference the 2008-2009 cycle. We also updated the message class for export files listing all student records in your ISIR Analysis Tool database to IATX09OP.
  • Relabeled 2008-2009 ISIR Data Elements Added to the ISIR Analysis Tool Database. We relabeled two ISIR fields for 2008-2009 that are added to your ISIR Analysis Tool database as a result of an ISIR data request. The relabeled fields are:
    – Is Student Male or Female?" (previously "Are you male?")
    – Professional Judgment" (previously "FAA Adjustment")
  • New Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Impact Analysis Report Added. We have added a new standard report for 2008-2009 called the EFC Impact Analysis. This report, displayed in graph format, can assist you in determining which EFC-critical ISIR fields are being corrected most often by your students between Initial and Paid On ISIR transactions.
  • New Look and Feel for Standard and Ad-Hoc Reports. We upgraded the report component of the ISIR Analysis Tool (WebFocus). As a result, both the look and feel of the standard and ad-hoc reports differ from previous versions of the ISIR Analysis Tool. Contact your regional QA contact person if you have questions or require assistance with creating and running standard and/or ad-hoc reports.

Enrollment for the ISIR Analysis Tool

If you already enrolled your staff for access to the 2007-2008 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool, you do not need to enroll them again for 2008-2009.

For those staff currently not enrolled, you will need to enroll each user for both FAA Access to CPS Online and the ISIR Analysis Tool specifically to access the ISIR Analysis Tool. The Destination Point Administrator (DPA) or Secondary Destination Point Administrator (SDPA) of the TG number currently used by your school to send and receive Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs) and ISIR corrections has access to FAA Access to CPS Online by default and can add or modify rights. The DPA or SDPA will need to enroll financial aid staff members for access to FAA Access to CPS Online and to the ISIR Analysis Tool.

You can easily sign up financial aid staff members for FAA Access to CPS Online and the ISIR Analysis Tool on the SAIG Enrollment Web site, located at http://fsawebenroll.ed.gov.

Signature pages are not required for FAA Access to CPS Online or ISIR Analysis Tool enrollment.

If You Have Questions

If you have any technical questions regarding the ISIR Analysis Tool or the SAIG enrollment procedures described in this message, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806) or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.

If you are a participant in Federal Student Aid's QA Program and have questions regarding the ISIR Analysis Tool, you can contact QA Program staff at qualityassurance@ed.gov, call your regional Federal Student Aid contact, or visit the QA Program Web site, located at http://ifap.ed.gov/qualityassurance.