Posted Date:February 23, 2015
Foreign School Update ID: FS-2015-01
Author: | Pamela Eliadis, Service Director, System Operations & Aid Delivery Management, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: ACTION REQUIRED - Steps to be Taken by Foreign Schools Affected by the National Student Clearinghouse's Discontinuation of Enrollment Reporting Services
Federal Student Aid is aware that, effective November 14, 2014, the National Student Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) discontinued its service to provide institution enrollment reporting to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) on behalf of foreign schools. As a result, foreign schools that used the Clearinghouse for enrollment reporting must report enrollment information directly to NSLDS.
Enrollment Reporting is required for all schools participating in the Title IV Aid programs. Timely reporting of changes ensures the accuracy of student information. Certification of all student enrollment data must be performed within 15 days of the date that NSLDS generates and sends roster files to the school’s designated Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) mailbox. NSLDS generates and sends roster files to the designated SAIG mailbox according to the school’s enrollment schedule, which should be at least every 60 days. To learn about enrollment reporting, refer to the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide.
Necessary Actions for Foreign Schools to Begin Enrollment Reporting to NSLDS
Managing the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting process requires both batch and online enrollment update access. The batch process (which was formerly used by the Clearinghouse on behalf of some foreign schools) uses the SAIG mailbox to transmit enrollment files electronically. The online capability provides access to the NSLDS Professional Access Web site. A school should review its access and take the appropriate action to ensure it is set up for the enrollment reporting process.
- If a school confirms that it is set up for the enrollment reporting process, it should continue to report within the correct timeframe.
- Report every 60 days and respond to rosters within 15 days.
- Report every 60 days and respond to rosters within 15 days.
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If a school is not enrolled in the SAIG and not set up for the enrollment reporting process, it must complete a “SAIG Form for Designating a Primary Destination Point Administrator (DPA) with All Services” as found in the SAIG Introduction document posted in the Direct Loan Setup Area of the Foreign School Information Page of the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site.
- If a school is enrolled in the SAIG, but is not setup for the enrollment reporting process, the Primary DPA must submit a completed SAIG Form for Adding/Modifying Services for an Existing DPA User to the following address:
Attn: Jamal Steward
U.S. Department of Education
Federal Student Aid
Multi-Regional and Foreign Schools Participation Division
830 First Street, NE
Union Center Plaza, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20202-5340
Instructions for completing the SAIG Form for Adding/Modifying Services for an Existing DPA User are available in the SAIG Introduction document. Only the following fields of the SAIG form require completion:
- Item 1C, Page 15
- Item 2, Page 15
- Item 4, Page 15
- Item 10, Page 19 (NSLDS Batch Services)
- Item 13, Page 21 (NSLDS Online Services)
- Step Three, Page 34
- Step Four, Page 35
When submitting a SAIG form that involves removing a DPA/servicer, your school must also attach to the SAIG form a statement on the school’s letterhead requesting that the DPA/servicer is removed.
Updates to the Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (E-App) Also Required
To fulfill the school’s reporting requirement at 34 C.F.R. § 668.25(e)(1)(i)(B) the school must also remove the Clearinghouse from the third-party servicer information in Section J of the E-App at http://www.eligcert.ed.gov. If the school has selected a new third-party servicer, it should add the new servicer’s information in Section J.
Contact Information
For questions about updating your SAIG Enrollment, contact the Multi-Regional and Foreign Schools Participation Division at fsa.foreign.schools.team@ed.gov.
For more information about NSLDS enrollment status reporting, refer to the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide. You may also contact the NSLDS Technical Support Desk at +1-785-838-2141 or nslds@ed.gov.