Posted Date:July 11, 2013
| Author: | Sue O’Flaherty, Service Director, Program Management, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: COD XML SCHEMA - Preliminary Information About New COD Common Record XML Schema 4.0a Planned for March 2014
In March 2014, we plan to implement a new version of the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Common Record XML Schema. The new version - 4.0a - of the COD Common Record XML Schema incorporates new tags related to the 150% Direct Subsidized Loan Limit.
We strongly encourage all schools and third party software providers to be ready to process records using the COD Common Record XML Schema Version 4.0a for all programs in March 2014. In this announcement, we provide preliminary information about the COD Common Record XML Schema change to assist schools in their planning efforts.
Also in March 2014, we will begin to fully validate all Common Record files against the published COD Common Record XML Schema (versions 3.0d, 3.0e, and 4.0a). This means that if a school submits a Common Record that does not conform to the published schema format, it will not be acknowledged or processed by the COD System. The COD School Relations Center will contact a school that sends a Common Record that fails schema validation.
COD Common Record XML Schema Change – What Schools can Expect Between Now and March 2014
Fall 2013 – Later this year, we plan to post the new COD Common Record XML Schema 4.0a on the Information for Financial Aid Professional (IFAP) Web site. At the same time, we plan to post several draft sections of the 2014-2015 COD Technical Reference that will include a new format for the Common Record Layout section.
COD Testing Support – As we do each year, we will offer testing support. To assist in the transition to the new schema version, we plan to expand our testing window for schools and vendors to allow ample time for sending test files to the COD System using the new schema version.
The technical documentation and the expanded testing window will help schools and vendors begin preparing for the transition to the new schema version in advance of the March 2014 implementation.
March 2014 – In early 2014, we plan to implement the COD Common Record XML Schema version 4.0a. We also plan to retire some of the earlier schema versions including 2.0e, 3.0a, 3.0b, and 3.0c. We will continue to accept schema versions 3.0d and 3.0e, but we remind schools that these earlier versions will not include the tags needed to report the required information related to the 150% Direct Subsidized Limit.
We appreciate your cooperation in preparing for the COD Common Record XML Schema change. Please continue to monitor the IFAP Web site for additional information about the forthcoming change.
Contact Information
If you have questions about the COD Common Record XML Schema, contact the COD School Relations Center at 800/474-7268 for Grants or 800/848-0978 for Direct Loans. You may also e-mail CODSupport@ed.gov.