In December 2023, we will expand the features of FSA Partner Connect, the digital front door for all Federal Student Aid (FSA) and partner engagement. In an Oct. 20, 2023 Electronic Announcement, we provided a summary of the coming implementation and features of the new Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs (E-App). That announcement also provided information about a transition period in which the existing E-App in the eligcert.ed.gov online system will not be available.
In this announcement, we provide information about the E-App moving to FSA Partner Connect, information for current E-App users about obtaining user access to FSA Partner Connect, and we define the user roles that will be used for the new E-App and how those user roles are assigned.
Section 1: E-App Moves to FSA Partner Connect
Effective Nov. 25, 2023, the existing eligcert.ed.gov website and a user’s associated credentials for that site will no longer work. Beginning Dec. 18, 2023, users will use FSA Partner Connect to access the E-App and complete eligibility and oversight-related case management work. Schools should refer to the Oct. 20, 2023 Electronic Announcement for information about actions or reporting that needs to occur before the existing system closes on Nov. 25, 2023, what needs to be done during the transition period (on or after Nov. 25, 2023, and before Dec. 18, 2023), and what information can be held until the new system is available.
Following the system implementation, to complete eligibility and oversight-related case management work, users must—
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Have access to FSA Partner Connect (including an FSA User ID and password and a valid/registered Two-Factor Authentication (TFA) token), and
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Have an assigned Eligibility & Oversight (E&O) user role.
In Section 2 (FSA Partner Connect: E-App User Access Information), we talk about access to FSA Partner Connect which must be in place before user roles can be assigned. This step can be completed now. In Section 3 (FSA Partner Connect: E-App/E&O User Role Information), we discuss the new E&O user role that must be assigned to each user’s profile to be able to do eligibility and oversight-related case management work. This activity will be completed after Dec. 18, 2023.
Note: Eventually, the eligcert.ed.gov URL will redirect to FSA Partner Connect, and users will need to update bookmarks from the current site to FSA Partner Connect. We will provide more information about the timeline for the redirect in a future communication.
Section 2: FSA Partner Connect – E-App User Access Information
In this section, we talk about access to FSA Partner Connect and the new E-App. As noted above, to be able to use the new E-App, users must have access to FSA Partner Connect. Users can prepare for the December implementation by ensuring access to the system now. The information below is separated for users who already have access to FSA Partner Connect and users who do not.
Information for users who have access to FSA Partner Connect
For users who already have access to FSA Partner Connect, the login process will not change, and user roles already in place will remain the same.
Users who access another FSA system, specifically the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System, the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®), or the Central Processing System (CPS)/FAFSA Processing System (FPS), already have access to FSA Partner Connect. Generally, if someone regularly uses FSA Partner Connect, there are no additional enrollment/access actions.
Some users may need to have access reenabled if they have not signed into FSA Partner Connect in the last 90 days, or reactivated if they have not signed in within the last 365 days. To reenable an account (90-day inactivity), users should contact the FSA Partner and School Relations Center for assistance. To reactivate an account (365-day inactivity), users must contact their organization’s Primary Administrator for FSA Partner Connect for assistance.
Information for users who do not have access to FSA Partner Connect
Users who do not currently have access to FSA Partner Connect will need to contact their organization’s Primary Administrator to obtain FSA Partner Connect access. Note: In some cases, a user may need to obtain an FSA User ID and password and a valid/registered Two-Factor Authentication (TFA) token, if they do not already have one. This process will be initiated once the Primary Administrator adds the user to FSA Partner Connect. Users should allow at least 2-3 business days for the account creation process; if a user has not received information after three days, he or she should contact the call center for further assistance.
Section 3: FSA Partner Connect – E-App/E&O User Role Information
In this section, we define the user roles that will be used for the new E-App and how those user roles will be assigned. Specifically, we cover the information as follows:
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E&O User Roles Defined
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E&O Administrator Role Assignment (with subsections for Schools and Third-Party Servicers, and Guaranty Agencies)
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Other E&O User Roles
E&O User Roles Defined
There are four primary roles related to eligibility and case management-related work; a brief description of each role is listed below. These new E&O user roles will be assigned after Dec. 18, 2023, and as explained in the next sections, the E&O Admin role will be assigned automatically by FSA. The other roles will be assigned manually by the user’s organization. Note: Following implementation, all administrator roles will be managed in the E-App itself, while the other roles will be managed in the Account Access Management Center.
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Eligibility & Oversight Administrator Role – The Eligibility & Oversight Administrator (E&O Admin) will facilitate account management and grant access to those who will edit and update the E-App and view specific eligibility and oversight-related cases. Each organization can have only one person designated as the E&O Admin.
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Alternate E&O Administrator Role – This role has the same capabilities as the E&O Admin role described above. Each organization can have only one user assigned to this role.
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School Eligibility Application (Edit) Role – This role is assigned to users who complete the organization’s eligibility application and submit supporting documentation. Each organization can have multiple users assigned to this role.
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Case (Edit) Role – This role is assigned to users who complete the organization’s oversight-related case work. Each organization can have multiple users assigned to this role.
Note: Third-party servicer organizations will also have specific roles including a Third-Party Servicer Eligibility & Oversight Administrator (TPS E&O Admin) and Alternate TPS E&O Admin. More about third-party servicer users is included in the section below.
Note: Primary and Secondary Administrators will continue to be separate roles and remain responsible for managing users within their respective organizations by granting, removing, and maintaining (non-E&O Admin) FSA Partner Connect access.
E&O Admin User Role Assignment
Below we explain how the E&O Admin User role will be assigned at implementation.
E&O Admin Assignment - Schools
As part of the system implementation, FSA will automatically assign the E&O Admin role at each Title IV-eligible school to certain users meeting specific criteria.
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For any Financial Aid Administrator (FAA), as listed on the current ECAR, who is a current, active user in FSA Partner Connect, we will automatically assign the E&O Admin user role to their FSA Partner Connect profile. After implementation, these users can designate a different E&O Admin, and add or update other users, as needed. There also will be the ability to designate an alternate.
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For any FAA, as listed on the current ECAR, who is not a current, active user in FSA Partner Connect by the time of implementation, we will initiate the process to create an account on FSA Partner Connect (which starts with an email to users providing instructions to complete their FSA Partner Connect enrollment). Once the account creation process is completed, we will automatically assign the E&O Admin user role to their profile.
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All non-FAA users who are current, active users in FSA Partner connect will not be automatically assigned any E&O user roles. These roles must be added to each user’s FSA Partner Connect profile after implementation. As noted above, if a user does not have an account on FSA Partner Connect, the user will need to set that up first (through the Primary or Secondary Administrator) before being assigned an E&O user role (by the E&O Admin). Note: After Dec. 18, 2023, E&O Admins can also enroll users for FSA Partner Connect as well as assign user roles.
E&O Admin Assignment – Third-Party Servicers
As part of the system implementation, we will automatically assign the TPS E&O Admin user to certain users meeting specific criteria.
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For any Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or President, as listed in question #9 of the current, approved Third Party Servicer Data Form, who is a current, active user in FSA Partner Connect, we will automatically assign the Primary Administrator and TPS E&O Admin role to their profile. After implementation, these users can designate a different TPS E&O admin or update other TPS users as needed.
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For all Primary Contacts, as listed in question #11 of the current, approved Third Party Servicer Data Form, who are current, active users in FSA Partner Connect, we will automatically assign the Secondary Administrator & Alternate TPS E&O Administrator to their profile. After implementation, these users can designate a different Alternate TPS E&O admin or update other TPS users as needed.
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For any COO, CEO, President, or Primary Contact who is not a current, active user in FSA Partner Connect, we will initiate the process to create an account on FSA Partner Connect. Once that process is completed, we will automatically assign the TPS E&O Admin user role to their profile.
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All other TPS users who are current, active users in FSA Partner Connect will not be automatically assigned any TPS E&O user roles. These roles must be added to each TPS user’s FSA Partner Connect profile after implementation. As noted above, if a TPS user does not have an account on FSA Partner Connect, the user will need to set that up first before being assigned a TPS E&O user role.
IMPORTANT: After implementation, schools that work with a third-party servicer will need to take an action in FSA Partner Connect to authorize the third-party servicer (and its users) the capability to complete eligibility and oversight work. This school-based action must occur even if the TPS organization has users established in FSA Partner Connect and the appropriate TPS E&O user roles are assigned to those users. Schools, specifically the E&O Admin or Alternate E&O Admin, will complete this action on the Account Access Management Center – Eligibility and Oversight tab on FSA Partner Connect. We will provide reminders about this action item once the new functionality is in place.
E&O Admin Assignment – Guaranty Agency Users
All E&O user roles for guaranty agency users must be assigned by the E&O Admin at the organization after implementation. The E&O Admin for the guaranty agency will be assigned to the Primary Administrator for FSA Partner Connect.
Other E&O User Roles
Non-administrative E&O users roles must be assigned by the E&O Admin (or Alternate E&O Admin) at the organization after implementation. The following two roles are assigned by the E&O Admin (or Alternate E&O Admin) when creating or updating a user’s FSA Partner Connect profile in the Account Access Management Center; these roles are not assigned in the E-App itself.
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School Eligibility Application (Edit) Role
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Case (Edit) Role
Training, Additional Communication Plans, and Questions
We understand the community will have questions about the upcoming FSA Partner Connect implementation. In the coming weeks, we will provide additional information in the following ways:
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FSA Partner Connect FAQs – The FAQ page on the FSA Partner Connect Help Center has additional information about obtaining access to the site.
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Training Opportunities – We will provide FSA Partner Connect training to help partners use the new tools and resources. Training Announcements (ANNs) will be posted on the Knowledge Center to inform the community about these opportunities.
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Additional Electronic Announcements – We will publish additional Electronic Announcements that will help partners prepare for the upcoming implementation. Monitor the Knowledge Center for these announcements.
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Questions – Partners can send us questions through the Customer Support form in the FSA Partner Connect Help Center. To submit a question about the upcoming implementation, complete the form and select “Partner Connect Feedback” as the topic.