Summary: Temporary Suspension of COD System Enhancement Implemented for 2008-2009 Award Year

Publication Date: March 21, 2008

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

Summary: Temporary Suspension of COD System Enhancement Implemented for 2008-2009 Award Year

Posted on 03-21-2008

As explained in an Electronic Announcement posted on March 4, 2008 on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site, during the period March 14-15, 2008, we implemented additional Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System functionality that supports the processing of Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant), Federal Pell Grant (Pell Grant), and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) awards for the 2008-2009 Award Year. In the attachment to the March 4th Electronic Announcement, we highlighted processing function enhancements and modifications that we planned to implement.

On March 15, 2008, we implemented all of the system changes as planned; however, we are temporarily suspending one of the Direct Loan Program enhancements. The affected enhancement involves updating the Master Promissory Note (MPN) expiration date when a Direct Loan award is discharged due to Death (D), Unauthorized Signature/Unauthorized Payment (G), or Identity Theft (I). As we explained in the March 4th Electronic Announcement, the enhancement included 1) updating the MPN expiration date on the COD Web site’s Award Promissory screen to reflect the date the loan was discharged and 2) sending an unsolicited system-generated MPN Response with the updated MPN expiration date to all schools associated with the MPN.

Following a one-time update of all MPN expiration dates in the COD System that have been changed due to loan discharge, we realized that schools are not prepared to receive unsolicited system-generated MPN responses that include the MPN status information applicable in these situations. One problematic status received by schools to date is “I” for “Inactive.” We need to research resolution options, and, while doing so, will cease sending unsolicited system-generated MPN responses to schools when an MPN expiration date changes due to loan discharge. However, when an MPN expiration date changes due to loan discharge, we will continue to provide the information on the COD Web site.

We apologize for the inconvenience the unsolicited system-generated MPN responses have caused schools. If your school has received any of these responses, please refer to the COD Web site for the updated MPN expiration date and status information.

We will inform all schools of the results of our research through the “COD Processing Update” and COD Web messages.

If you have any questions about this announcement, contact the COD School Relations Center at 800/848-0978. You may also e-mail CODSupport@acs-inc.com.