Posted Date:September 26, 2016
Author: | Lisa DiCarlo, Director, Student Experience Group, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: Availability of 2017-2018 CPS Web Applications Demonstration (Web Demo) System and 2017-2018 CPS Mainframe Test System
We are pleased to announce that the 2017-2018 Central Processing System (CPS) Web Applications Demonstration (Web Demo) System, located at http://fafsademo.test.ed.gov, and the mainframe portion of the 2017-2018 CPS Test System are now available for your use. Most of the features of the production versions of 2017-2018 FAFSA on the Web and FAA Access to CPS Online (including Return of Title IV Funds) are available on the Web Demo system. The mainframe portion of the CPS Test System is designed to test application and correction data processing between your system and the CPS outside the production environment.
For additional information regarding the Web Demo system and the mainframe portion of the CPS Test System, see the sections below and the 2017-2018 CPS Test System User Guide, which is available in PDF format on the Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site, located at https://www.fsadownload.ed.gov, under “Technical References and Guides.”
2017-2018 Web Demo System
The 2017-2018 Web Demo system, which is preloaded with test data, can be used to demonstrate electronic applications to parents and students or as an aid in training financial aid administrators to assist applicants. Financial aid administrators can also use the Web site to become familiar with FAA Access to CPS Online functionality and train their staff to use the system.
Note: You can access both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 versions of our Web sites in the demonstration system. For the FAFSA on the Web feature, the “My FAFSA” page includes a tab for the previous award year. Pre-loaded demonstration data is available for both award years.
You can access the 2017-2018 version of the Web Demo system at http://fafsademo.test.ed.gov using the following user name and password:
User Name: eddemo
Password: fafsatest
The User Name and Password fields are case-sensitive.
Mainframe Portion of 2017-2018 CPS Test System
The mainframe portion of the CPS Test System is designed to test application and correction data processing between your system and the CPS outside the production environment. You can use CPS test files of application records and matching Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs), or you can create and submit your own application records. To download the CPS test application and ISIR data files for 2017-2018, go to the “Technical References and Guides” section of the FSAdownload Web site and click the “2017-2018” link under “CPS Test System.”
In particular, we encourage schools and servicers to test the 2017-2018 correction process. To submit only test correction records you have created, you must contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support to request record IDs that will process successfully in the CPS Test System. Schools and servicers interested in using the CPS Test System should download and review the 2017-2018 CPS Test System User Guide for more information. The guide is available under the “2017-2018” link for the “CPS Test System” in the “Technical References and Guides” section of the FSAdownload Web site.
Note: We will post an Issues Log in Microsoft Excel format to the FSAdownload Web site identifying CPS changes that result in an update to the mainframe test system. Each entry in the log will include the date the item was identified, resolved, or resulted in a change, and will include the status of resolved and unresolved issues so that you can easily determine if and when previously identified issues were resolved. It will also indicate whether the specifications or test cases have been updated for 2017-2018.
Important Note: The CPS will not process responses to submissions of 2017-2018 test data until 2017-2018 processing begins on October 3, 2016.
Contact Information
If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding the FAFSA on the Web component of the Web Demo system, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800/4-FED-AID (800/433-3243) or by e-mail at FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov. TDD/TTY service is also available at 800/730-8913.
If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding the FAA Access to CPS Online portion of the Web Demo system, or if you have questions regarding the 2017-2018 CPS Test System, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806), or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.