Posted Date:May 16, 2011
| Author: | Jana Hernandes, Service Director, Operations, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: 2011-2012 ISIR Analysis Tool Web Application Now Available
We are pleased to announce that the 2011-2012 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 site can also be accessed from the View menu in the EDExpress for Windows 2011-2012 software.
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).
You can use the ISIR Analysis Tool to perform the following functions:
Using a basic text flat file of Social Security Numbers (SSNs), request specific or random samples of Initial and Paid-On ISIR transactions from the ISIR Datamart to update your ISIR Analysis Tool database.
Define and complete 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 and delete 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 to conduct 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 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 school’s 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, your school must have a signed QA Amendment to its Title IV Program Participation Agreement (PPA).
In addition to the "live" version of the 2011-2012 ISIR Analysis Tool, demonstration (demo) functionality for the ISIR Analysis Tool is also now available on the FAA Access to CPS Online demo Web site. This demo site, which is automatically preloaded with test ISIR records, enables schools interested in using the ISIR Analysis Tool to examine features such as standard and ad-hoc report generation in a mock-production environment. For more information on accessing the demo site, see the 2011-2012 CPS Test System User Guide on the Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site, located at https://www.fsadownload.ed.gov.
For additional information on using the ISIR Analysis Tool, see the “Guidance” section of Federal Student Aid’s QA Program site, located at http://ifap.ed.gov/qahome/iatooltraining.html.
You 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 ISIR Analysis Tool site also supports Versions 1.5, 2.0, and 3.5.2 of the Mozilla Firefox browser.
Note: Visually impaired users that utilize screen reader technology must use Internet Explorer instead of Mozilla Firefox in order to access the ISIR Analysis Tool’s InfoAssist reporting features.
2011-2012 Enhancements to the ISIR Analysis Tool
The 2011-2012 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool includes the following enhancements:
Year References and Message Classes Updated for 2011-2012 - ISIR Analysis Tool Web site labels and other text have been updated to reference the 2011-2012 cycle. The message class for export files listing all student records in your ISIR Analysis Tool database has been updated to IATX12OP.
New ISIR Data Elements Added to the ISIR Analysis Tool Database - New ISIR fields for 2011-2012 were added to the ISIR Analysis Tool database as a result of an ISIR data request. For more information on 2011-2012 ISIR changes, see the latest version of the 2011-2012 ISIR Guide on the FSAdownload (https://www.fsadownload.ed.gov) Web site.
Enrollment for the ISIR Analysis Tool Web Site
Your staff members must be enrolled for FAA Access to CPS Online and the ISIR Analysis Tool to access the ISIR Analysis Tool. The Primary Destination Point Administrator (DPA) or Secondary DPA of the TG number currently used by your school to send and receive FAFSAs and ISIR corrections automatically has access to the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site and can add or modify rights. The Primary or Secondary DPA needs to enroll financial aid staff members for access to the FAA Access to CPS Online and ISIR Analysis Tool Web sites.
If your school is enrolled for 2010-2011, your enrollment carries over to 2011-2012. If your school is not enrolled, your school’s Primary or Secondary DPA can complete the enrollment for FAA Access to CPS Online Web site services for your school, including access to the ISIR Analysis Tool, through the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) Enrollment Web site, located at https://fsawebenroll.ed.gov.
Note: An SAIG-FAA User Statement must be printed by the Primary DPA and signed by new users of the FAA Access to CPS Online and ISIR Analysis Tool Web sites. While you are not required to mail SAIG-FAA User Statements to FSA’s Participation Management system, you should retain signed copies at your school.
Contact Information
If you have technical questions regarding the ISIR Analysis Tool, 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 quality.assurance@ed.gov, call your regional Federal Student Aid contact, or visit the QA Program Web site, located at http://ifap.ed.gov/qualityassurance.