Posted Date:July 9, 2012
| Author: | Jana Hernandes, Service Director, Operations, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: 2012-2013 ISIR Analysis Tool Web Application Now Available
We are pleased to announce that the 2012-2013 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 2012-2013 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 2012-2013 ISIR Analysis Tool, the 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 2012-2013 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 3.6 and higher 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.
2012-2013 Enhancements to the ISIR Analysis Tool
The 2012-2013 version of the ISIR Analysis Tool includes the following enhancements:
Year Reference and Message Class Updates for 2012-2013: We updated all ISIR Analysis Tool Web site labels and other text to reference the 2012-2013 cycle. We also updated the message class for export files listing all student records in your ISIR Analysis Tool database to IATX13OP.
New and Revised 2012-2013 ISIR Data Elements: The 2012-2013 ISIR Analysis Tool imports student responses to multiple new and revised ISIR data elements into your database during the data request process. For more information on the 2012-2013 ISIR, see the 2012-2013 ISIR Guide, available for download from the FSAdownload Web site (https://www.fsadownload.ed.gov).
New “Institution Verification Criteria” Field: The “Institution Verification Criteria” field value can now be added for each record on the ISIR data request flat file. In addition, users can filter standard reports so that only those records where the school’s Institution Verification Criteria field value is equal to or contains the value entered display on the report.
New Reports: Three new reports – Additional Statistics, Verification and Change by Dependency Status, and Pell Improper Payments – were added to the Dashboard and the list of standard reports or as custom reports.
Additional Statistics Report – This report is accessible via the ISIR Analysis Tool Dashboard and the Standard Reports menu on the left toolbar. It can assist you in determining what percentages of student and parent records have Expected Family Contributions (EFC), Adjusted Gross Incomes (AGI), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Match Statuses within particular value ranges or with particular values. In addition, the report can help you determine the total Federal Pell Grant (Pell Grant) disbursement value for all of the selected student records, and the percentage of all Pell Grant disbursements that are represented by the selected student records.
Verification and Change by Dependency Status Report – This report is displayed by default on the ISIR Analysis Tool Dashboard and displays the percentage of all student records in the IA Tool database that meet criteria related to School Verification and CPS Verification summary data. (Note: With this change, the Verification Summary report no longer displays on the dashboard.)
The Pell Improper Payments Report – This is a custom report, accessible from the Reporting Objects, Custom Reports folder on the left toolbar that can assist you in measuring potential Pell Grant improper payments.
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 2011-2012, your enrollment carries over to 2012-2013. 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 SAIG Enrollment Web site, located at https://fsawebenroll.ed.gov.
An SAIG-FAA User Statement must be printed by the Primary DPA and signed by new users of the FAA Access to CPS Online, R2T4 on the Web, or ISIR Analysis Tool Web sites. While you are not required to mail SAIG-FAA User Statements to FSA’s Participation Management system, you must retain signed copies at your school.
To access the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site, you must use an FSA User ID and password. Any FAA Access users at your school who do not have an FSA User ID can acquire one by completing the FSA User ID enrollment process. For more information on the FSA User ID creation process, see the April 6, 2009 Electronic Announcement posted on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site.
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.