Posted Date: June 1, 2009
Author: Jana Hernandes, Service Director, Operations, Federal Student Aid
Subject: 2009-2010 ISIR Analysis Tool Web Application Now Available
We are pleased to announce that the 2009-2010 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool is now available through the FAA Main Menu of the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site (https://faaaccess.ed.gov/).
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 a school to perform the following functions:
Request specific or random samples of Initial and Paid On ISIR transactions from the ISIR Datamart to update its ISIR Analysis Tool database using a basic text flat file.
Define and add user-specified fields to track data specific to the school.
Set the School Verification Flag to indicate students meeting the 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 the school's 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 the school's user data and student demographics.
Export a flat file listing of all student records in the school's ISIR Analysis Tool database to its Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) mailbox.
Note: Using the ISIR Analysis Tool does not mean that a school is in the QA Program or is exempt from federal verification requirements. To have these benefits, the school must have a signed QA Amendment to its Title IV Program Participation Agreement (PPA).
A user must have Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6.0, Service Pack 2, or higher to utilize the reporting features available in the ISIR Analysis Tool. The site also supports Versions 1.5 and 2.0 of the Mozilla Firefox browser.
2009-2010 Enhancements to the ISIR Analysis Tool
The 2009-2010 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool includes the following enhancements:
Year References and Message Classes Updated for 2009-2010 - We updated all ISIR Analysis Tool Web site labels and other text to reference the 2009-2010 cycle. We also updated the message class for export files listing all student records in a school's ISIR Analysis Tool database to IATX10OP.
New ISIR Data Elements Added to the ISIR Analysis Tool Database - New ISIR fields for 2009-2010 will be added to a school's ISIR Analysis Tool database as a result of an ISIR data request. This includes responses to the new dependency status questions and the new Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant question. For more information on 2009-2010 ISIR changes, see the 2009-2010 ISIR Guide, posted in November 2008 to the IFAP (http://ifap.ed.gov) and FSAdownload (https://www.fsadownload.ed.gov) Web sites.
Security Authentication Updates to FAA Access to CPS Online Web Site
As described in the April 6, 2009 Electronic Announcement posted on the IFAP Web site at http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/040609PMSARegistration.html, Federal Student Aid implemented a new authentication process for the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site on May 17, 2009 in order to eliminate the use of personal identifiers such as Social Security Number (SSN), date of birth (DOB), and name ID as login elements.
To access the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site and the ISIR Analysis Tool, a user must apply for and use a new FSA User ID and password. The login credentials used prior to May 17, 2009 will no longer function.
All destination point administrators (DPAs), secondary destination point administrators (SDPAs), and other FAA Access users at a school can obtain their new FSA User ID by completing the FSA User ID enrollment process.
Note: For more detailed information on the FSA User ID creation process, see the April 6, 2009 Electronic Announcement posted on the IFAP Web site at http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/040609PMSARegistration.html.
Enrollment for the ISIR Analysis Tool
If a school already enrolled its staff for access to the 2008-2009 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool, it is not necessary to enroll them again for 2009-2010.
For those staff currently not enrolled, a school 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 of the TG number currently used by the 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. The Primary Destination Point Administrator or the Secondary Destination Point Administrator assigned to the school's Primary TG Number will need to enroll financial aid staff members for access to FAA Access to CPS Online and to the ISIR Analysis Tool.
A school 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 https://fsawebenroll.ed.gov.
Signature pages are not required for FAA Access to CPS Online or ISIR Analysis Tool enrollment.
Contact Information
If you have technical questions regarding the ISIR Analysis Tool, the changes to the FAA Access to CPS Online security authentication process, 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, 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.