Posted Date:February 10, 2012
| Author: | Pamela Eliadis, Service Director, System Operations & Aid Delivery Management, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: SAIG Upgrade - Upcoming Enrollment Changes and Software Upgrade for EDconnect Users (Updated March 15, 2012)
Note: On March 9, 2012 EDconnect 8.1 was posted to the Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site. EDconnect 8.1 replaces the previous version of the software, EDconnect 8.0, and must be used by all EDconnect users. Refer to the March 15, 2012 electronic announcement for further information.
As explained in a November 18, 2011 Electronic Announcement on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site, over the next several months we will implement an upgrade to all components of the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG), including TDNgine, TDClient, TDCommunity Manager (SAIG Portal), and the EDconnect software. The upgrade to the SAIG is related to our ongoing effort to ensure the security of Federal Student Aid's data systems.
The upgrade to the EDconnect software will require all EDconnect users complete a process that will involve enrolling for a new EDconnect Entitlement service and obtaining an FSA User ID and password.
In this announcement, we provide information related to the SAIG upgrade for EDconnect users and present the information in the following order:
Schedule for Implementation
Ensuring EDconnect Users are Enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement Service
Obtaining FSA User IDs and Passwords
Contact Information
Note: The actions described below apply to EDconnect users only; however, enhancements will also be made to TDNgine, TDClient (upgrade to version 3.2), and TDCommunity Manager (SAIG Portal). We will provide information about the enhancements to these products in forthcoming guidance posted on the IFAP Web site.
Schedule for Implementation
The SAIG upgrade for EDconnect users will take place in two parts and will require EDconnect users complete the following actions:
On February 12, 2012, we will implement an enhancement to the SAIG Enrollment Web site to include a new service “EDconnect Entitlement”. Primary Destination Point Administrators (PDPAs) can enroll EDconnect users for the EDconnect Entitlement service.
Action: All EDconnect users must be enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement service before they will be able to use the upgraded EDconnect software (version 8.0). Note: EDconnect users who are Destination Point Administrators (DPAs) of a mailbox will automatically be enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement service. (See the next section for information about users who are automatically enrolled and users who are not automatically enrolled.) EDconnect users must also have an FSA User ID and password to use EDconnect 8.0.
In early March 2012, the EDconnect 8.0 software will be available for download.
Action: All schools that use EDconnect to connect to the SAIG will be required to download and begin using the EDconnect 8.0 software by May 27, 2012. As described above, all EDconnect users will also need to be enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement service and have an FSA User ID and password to access and use the new software. Note: The EDconnect 8.0 installation process will require that FSA User IDs be added to the software and associated with each user.
Ensuring EDconnect Users are Enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement Service
Beginning February 12, 2012, users will be enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement service automatically or must be manually enrolled by the PDPA:
Automatically Enrolled – PDPAs, Secondary DPAs, and all DPA users associated with a mailbox. Enrollment will be completed during system implementation on February 12, 2012. Any users who will be automatically enrolled and already have an FSA User will receive an e-mail from Federal Student Aid informing them the EDconnect Entitlement service has been added.
Manually Enrolled by PDPA – New EDconnect users or any user not automatically enrolled (that is, DPAs not associated with a mailbox used for transmissions such as FAA Access to CPS Online users or staff who transmit using EDconnect but are not currently enrolled with the SAIG). In an attachment to this announcement, we provide an explanation of the process a PDPA follows to enroll users for the EDconnect Entitlement service.
In either case, if the EDconnect user does not have an FSA User ID and password, he or she will need to complete the actions noted in the “Obtaining FSA User IDs and Passwords” section of this announcement.
If a user does not need to access the EDconnect 8.0 software, no action needs to be taken.
Obtaining FSA User IDs and Passwords
In addition to enrollment in the EDconnect Entitlement service, EDconnect users must also have an FSA User ID and password to use EDconnect 8.0.
Some EDconnect users currently have FSA User IDs and passwords because they are authorized users of one or more Federal Student Aid systems that currently use an FSA User ID to log in. This includes eCampus-Based (eCB), eCDR Appeals, FAA Access to CPS Online, National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Professional Access Online, and SAIG Enrollment. Other EDconnect users do not yet have FSA User IDs and passwords. Below, we address the actions each type of EDconnect user must take.
Users With FSA User ID and Password
EDconnect users who currently have an FSA User ID and password and are enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement service as described above will need to take no additional action to be able to use the EDconnect 8.0 software.
Password Refresh Reminder: If an EDconnect user has not used his or her FSA ID and password within 90 days prior to the user’s first attempt to log in to the EDconnect 8.0 software, the user will be prompted to refresh his or her password. After refreshing his or her password, the user will be able to proceed with logging in to the EDconnect 8.0 software.
Users Without FSA User ID and Password
EDconnect users who do not currently have an FSA User ID and password will need to take action to be able to use the EDconnect 8.0 software.
In addition to ensuring they are enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement service as described above, EDConnect users will need to register for an FSA User ID by completing the following steps:
Step 1: Go to https://fsawebenroll.ed.gov/PMEnroll/PMAccountServlet.jrun.
Step 2: Enter the identifying information requested and click on Submit.
Step 3: Follow the remaining steps, which include establishing a password and setting up challenge questions.
During the FSA User ID registration process, the user will be presented with the e-mail address reflected within the SAIG Enrollment Web site. We will use this e-mail address to send the FSA User ID. Note: If the user changes the e-mail address during the registration process, we will use the new e-mail address to send the FSA User ID, but it will not be saved or updated within the SAIG Enrollment Web site.
Once the registration process is complete and the FSA User ID is received, the user will then have the credentials needed for the new SAIG/EDconnect login process.
As a final reminder, an EDconnect user will need to be enrolled for the EDconnect Entitlement service and have an FSA User ID and password to access the EDconnect 8.0 software.
Contact Information
Again, we appreciate the assistance that all EDconnect users will provide as we upgrade the SAIG. We will provide additional information about the software upgrade in March; however, we encourage all users who must enroll for the EDconnect Entitlement service or register for an FSA User ID to act promptly.
If you have questions about how to enroll an EDconnect user for EDconnect Entitlement service or how to register for an FSA User ID, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806) or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.