Federal Update

FASFAA Region III April 10, 2015

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FAFSA Definition of Parent• Current definition is: biological or adoptive• New definition will be: biological, adoptive or

person that the state has determined to be the parent – For example, a person listed on the birth certificate

• Clarifying who is not a parent– List of people who are not considered a parent unless

they have legally adopted the student will now include widowed stepparent

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Legal Parent

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Who’s My Parent?

DRAFT

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Foster Care Benefits

• Require all FOTW applicants to tell us if they are or were in foster care to ensure people entitled to benefits receive them

• Separate from current dependency question– New question will be earlier in application process

• “Yes” answer will result in SAR comment with hyperlink to information regarding benefits, and hyperlink will also appear on FOTW confirmation page

Foster Care Benefits

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List of Colleges• School selection page

• Adding text to tell students that all schools they select will receive the list of selected schools

• School selection summary page• Adding text to tell students that for federal purposes it does not matter in what order schools are listed but it may be important for state purposes• Direct students to check with state• May need to list state school first in order to receive state benefits

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List of Colleges

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List of Colleges

Data Retrieval Tool – Amended Returns

• In the filtering question, unusually large number of applicants report filing an amended return• Rewording question to specifically ask if they have filed a 1040-X amended return

• Help text will also refer to the 1040-X and make clear what the 1040-X is

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Amended Return

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If you, the parent(s), filed a Form 1040X Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for 2014, select Yes; otherwise, select No. The Form 1040X is used to correct your original filed tax return. You are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if you amended your 2014 federal tax return.

Data Retrieval Tool – Timing Issues

• Some applicants who are eligible to use the tool find there is no data to import due to owing taxes

• New hyperlink statement: “How you filed your taxes can affect if tax information is available to import.”• Hyperlink will lead to help text that explains timing for tax information availability

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Data Retrieval Tool – Timing Issues

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Help Text Changes• Gender question

• Clarifying help text to state we are asking about sex at birth

• Citizenship status• Adding help text regarding DACA to help

students in this category identify themselves• Should answer that they are neither citizens or

eligible noncitizens• Although they can receive Social Security

numbers, they are not eligible for Title IV

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Introducing the FSA ID

• FSA is adopting the best practice of using a username and password instead of personal information

• The FSA ID • Requires users to enter less information (2 fields

instead of 4)• Provides more secure access to user’s information• Links to PIN information during registration • Offers self – service capability (name change)

• The FSA ID (username and password) will replace PIN for students, parents and borrowers accessing FSA systems starting May 10, 2015

New FSA ID login

Old PIN login

The FSA ID will modernize access for students, parents and borrowers to FSA systems

The FSA ID will modernize access for students, parents and borrowers to FSA systems

Will be updated

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Introducing the FSA IDUsers still click the Sign in button. This directs them to the FSAID login

page. Once they enter their FSA ID, they are directed back to the application landing page

Users still click the Sign in button. This directs them to the FSAID login page. Once they enter their FSA ID, they are directed back to the

application landing page

Will be updated

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Introducing the FSA ID• What happens for new user?

• Registration requests the same required information as PIN • New users will be directed to the registration page to create an FSA

ID (username and password) similar to today’s PIN creation page

• What happens if I have a PIN already?• During account creation, the user will be asked for their PIN.• As long as the PIN information matches their other information, the

account will be linked to the FSA ID account

• Will the changes affect a user’s ability to access previous FAFSA submissions?• If the user links their PIN, they will have access to previous FAFSA

submissions

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Introducing the FSA ID

• Can users still access FAFSA by providing their Last name, SSN and DOB?• FAFSA functionality will not change except that the FSA ID will replace the

PIN information• Users will not be able to sign or correct their application without their FSA ID.

• Will customer support change?• Customer support will not change. Similar to PIN, all users will be directed to

call the FSAIC helpdesk for login related issues

• Will my FSA access to other people’s information require a new username and password?• This is only for users who are accessing their own information such as

students, parents, borrowers and applicants

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FSA ID Communication to Students• ED to post high-level information about the FSA ID on each

impacted website in mid-April 2015• As of May 10, 2015, users who arrive at impacted websites

will be directed to a link to register for their new FSA ID• registration process should take less than seven minutes

• Later this winter, ED will post a step-by-step guide about registering for an FSA ID on IFAP for schools to share with students, parents, and borrowers

All information will stress there is nothing a user can or should do prior to implementation on or after May 10, 2015

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Enrollment Reporting Transition• All schools must have implemented the new

enrollment reporting processes and file layouts by October 1, 2014 – Schools that report using the new enrollment

reporting file layouts after July 1, 2014 must report program-level enrollment information retroactive to July 1, 2014

• New format includes: – Campus level data

– Program level data (can be multiple programs)

– Email Address

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Enrollment Reporting Frequency

Beginning July 1, 2014, ED will request enrollment information from schools every 60 days and schools will be required to respond to those requests within 15 days of the date that ED sent the enrollment reporting roster to the school• Schools may choose to receive reports more frequently

Upcoming Enhancements

• Student Contact Information will be mandatory

• Compliance Measurements/Letters to schools• Focus on roster completion, including program-level• Report all Title IV students attending your school• Escalating notices will be sent for non-compliance • Referral to FSA Program Compliance for action

• Updated Enrollment Reporting Guide (Summer 2015)

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Gainful Employment - Regulations

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)• Federal Register - March 25, 2014• OPE Website with discussions and materials

associated with GE negotiated rulemaking:• http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/

hearulemaking/2012/gainfulemployment.html

• Final Federal Register - October 31, 2014• Effective date - July 1, 2015• http://ifap.ed.gov/fregisters/attachments/FR103114Final.pdf

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The HEA provides that to be Title IV eligible an educational program must be offered by:

Generally, all non-degree programs must lead to gainful employment

A public or non-profit postsecondary educational institution and leads to a degree; or

Any institution and “to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”

Generally, all programs at for-profit institutions must lead to gainful employment

Which Programs are GE Programs

• At proprietary institutions, all programs are GE Programs except for –• Preparatory coursework necessary for enrollment in an eligible program

• Bachelor’s degree programs in liberal arts offered since January 2009 that are offered by a proprietary institution that has been regionally accredited since October 2007

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Which Programs are GE Programs

• At public institutions and not-for-profit institutions, all programs are GE Programs except for –• Programs that lead to a degree• Programs of at least two years in length that are designed to be fully transferable to a bachelor’s degree program

• Preparatory coursework necessary for enrollment in an eligible program (loan only)

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Which Programs are GE Programs• GE Programs include –

• Teacher certification programs leading to a certificate awarded by the institution

• English as a Second Language programs• GE Programs do not include –

• Teacher certification coursework that does not lead to a certificate awarded by the institution

• Preparatory coursework necessary for enrollment in an eligible program (loans only)

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Gainful Employment Measure• Debt-to-earnings (D/E) rates• Annual Earnings D/E rate• Discretionary Income D/E rate• Passing: Annual D/E < = 8% or Discretionary D/E < =

20%• Failing: Annual D/E > 12% or Discretionary > 30%• Zone: Annual D/E > 8% and < = 12% or

Discretionary D/E > 20% and <= 30%

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Gainful Employment Results

• Program’s loses Title IV eligibility if:

• D/E measures – Fails in two out of three years

OR

• D/E measures - Fails or in the zone for four consecutive years

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GE Reporting • GE reporting now available in NSLDS (GE EA #52

- 2/11/15)• Report all Title IV students by July 31, 2015

• Report 2008-09 through 2013-14 award years• Programs with Medical and Dental Residencies report 2007-08 through 2013-14 award years

• Report future award years by October after end of the award year• Report 2014 – 2015 Award Year by October 1, 2015

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GE Data to ReportInstitutional Data

Program Data

Student Enrollment Data

Student Financial Data

•ONLY submit data on students enrolled in a GE program•ONLY submit data on Title IV aid recipients (exclude FWS or FSEOG only recipients)•ONLY submit data for programs that exist as of 7/1/15

Data provided in 2011 will not be available to reuse

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GE Data - Students to Include A student enrolled in more than one GE

Program must be reported separately for each program.

A student who ‘stopped out’ and re-entered the same GE Program during the same award year must be reported separately for each enrollment.

A student who was enrolled in the same GE Program during multiple award years must be reported separately for each award year.

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GE Data to Report

• Institution Data• Institution Code (OPEID)• Institution Name

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GE Data to Report

• GE Program Information• Program Name• Award Year• CIP Code• Credential Level• Medical or Dental Internship or Residency• Length of GE Program• Length of GE Program Measurement

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GE Data to Report

• Student Data• Student Social Security Number• Student First Name• Student Middle Name or Initial• Student Last Name• Student Date of Birth

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GE Data to Report • Student Data continued

• Student’s Enrollment Status as of the 1st Day of Enrollment in Program (Full-Time, Three-Quarter Time, Half-Time, and Less Than Half-Time)

• Program Attendance Begin Date• Program Attendance Begin Date for this Award Year• Program Attendance Status During Award Year (Graduated, Withdrew, Enrolled)

• Program Attendance Status Date

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GE Data to Report

• Financial Data for Students• Private Loans Amount• Institutional Debt• Tuition and Fees Amount• Allowance for Books, Supplies, and Equipment (COA)

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Debt- to-Earnings Rate Calculation Process

Note: FSA Calculates & Validates each step before sending to schools

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Certifications

December 31, 2015 – Transitional Certifications Due Signed by CEO/President

Certify that each currently eligible GE Program(s) is: Approved by accrediting agency and State Graduates qualify to meet educational prerequisites of the licensing or certification exam required to work in the state, if any

Certifications renewed when institution recertifies Program Participation Agreement (PPA)

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Gainful Employment – Current Disclosures

Court left regulations (34 C.F.R. 668.6(b)) in place that require schools to disclose certain GE Program data•Schools must use the Department’s GE Disclosure Template to provide all GE disclosures

• Schools must update their GE program disclosures with 13-14 information no later than January 31, 2015

• GE Electronic Announcement #50 (9/11/14)• Template updates include: improved printing capabilities,

updated SOC codes, optional context boxes, graduate certificate option, school name on output screen, bulk upload tool used if certain criteria met with different length programs

• Technical questions: (855) 359-3697 or gedt@inovas.net

Disclosure Availability• Post the Template on your institution’s Web page• Prominently display direct links to the Template on:

• The GE program home page• Other institutional Web pages about the GE program

• Include the Template in all promotional materials about the GE program• Promotional materials include invitations, ads, course catalogs,

social media, etc. that mention or otherwise refer to a specific GE program

• If not feasible to include the Template, include a live link or URL to it and clearly explain what is available at that Web page

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Disclosures Under New Final Rules• Through December 31, 2016, current disclosure

requirements remain in effect• Occupations; Normal time to complete program; On-time

graduation rate for completers; Tuition & fees, books & supplies, room & board; Placement rate for completers (as determined by State or Accreditor methodology); and Median loan debt

• Institutions must comply with new disclosure requirements (October 31, 2014 Final Rules) beginning January 1, 2017•ED to conduct consumer testing and hold focus groups to determine new disclosure requirements and prepare new disclosure template

GE Resources• GE Information Page on IFAP

• Federal Register Notices; DCLs; Electronic Announcements; FAQs; Webinars; Presentations; Resources

http://www.ifap.ed.gov/GainfulEmploymentInfo/indexV2.html

• GE presentations at the FSA Training Conference• fsaconferences.ed.gov – sessions #GS1, 30, 58

• EA 1/9/14 (GE #51) – Updated NSLDS Gainful Employment Submittal File Record Layouts

• ANN-15-01 - Recorded Webinar – GE Reporting

send questions to GE-Questions@ed.gov

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Ability to Benefit (ATB)• The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations

Act, 2015 reinstated the ATB alternatives for Title IV student eligibility for students enrolled in “career pathway programs”• Applies to students who are enrolled or who first enroll in an eligible program of study on or after July 1, 2014

• Pell limitations for students who first enroll in an eligible program on or after July 1, 2015

OPE and OGC are currently reviewing the law and will provide detailed guidance to schools in the near future

Stay tuned to IFAP!

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DL Cohort Default Rates• CDR sanctions based solely on a school’s 3-year rates • CDR benefits (single disbursement in a single term loan

and 30 day delay for 1st time 1st year borrower exemptions) are based on school’s three most recent fiscal years for which official CDRs are available• Can be made up of 2 or 3 year rates IF both rates exist for a FY• Must pick one rate (either 2 or 3 year rate) to be used for each FY • Currently, the most recent fiscal year CDRs are FY09, FY10 and

FY11 which have official 2 and 3 year rates for each of those FYs• HOWEVER, future FY rates will only have 3 year rates so that by

September 2017, the 3 most recent fiscal years will only have 3 year rates

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Prerequisite Courses • If a student is already admitted into a program of study but needs to take a prerequisite course that is not part of the program but is necessary in order to take a course in their current program of study, the prerequisite course in this scenario is considered “remedial” and falls under all of our remedial coursework regulations – 34 CFR 668.20• It is counted against the remedial course limits (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) and must be at least qualitatively evaluated within SAP

• If within remedial limits, can be factored into the students enrollment status and COA

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FSEOG/FWS Matching Fund Waivers• To obtain a waiver for matching funds for FSEOG or FWS, a

school must be eligible to apply for a TITLE III/V grant• To see if a school would be eligible to apply for a TITLE III/V grant,

school must apply electronically with OPE (as outlined in federal register notice – current notice dated 11/3/14)

• If approved, a school will obtain a waiver for matching funds for FSEOG and FWS for one year• However, if school actually applies for and receives a Title III/V grant, the school can receive a waiver for FSEOG/FWS matching funds for the duration of their Title III/V grant.

• Questions about current waiver duration or concerns about FSEOG/FWS waiver process, please contact the Campus-Based Call Center at 877-801-7168

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Institutional Security & Crime Reporting

• The “Violence Against Women Act” (VAWA) amended the “Clery Act”• Negotiations finished in April 2014 – consensus

reached• NPRM published on June 20• Final published October 20, 2014

• Effective July 1, 2015

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Final Federal Register highlights:•Maintain statistics about the number of incidents of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking •“Clery geography” includes areas within the patrol jurisdiction of the campus police or the campus security department•Definitions of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking•Updated crime definitions under the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program

Institutional Security & Crime Reporting

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Final Federal Register highlights:•Revised categories of bias for the purposes of Clery Act hate crime reporting to add gender identity and to separate ethnicity and national origin into separate categories

•Develop primary educational programs and on-going campaigns to promote the awareness of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assaults and stalking

•Develop descriptions of safe bystander intervention options, risk reduction information and the definition of consent in reference to sexual activity

Institutional Security & Crime Reporting

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Institutional Security & Crime ReportingFinal Federal Register highlights:•Process to remove and maintain documentation for “unfounded” crimes•Clear procedures for handling institutional disciplinary actions in cases of alleged dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking which include:

– proceedings be conducted by officials who receive at least annual training on issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking and on how to conduct investigations and hearings that protect the safety of the victims and promote accountability

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Institutional Security & Crime Reporting• GEN-14-13 & EA dated 8/1/14

• Statute requires institutions to include this new information in annual security reports beginning with the October 1, 2014 report

• Institutions must make a good-faith effort to comply with the statutory provisions as written • should use the statute as the basis for revising or developing policies, procedures, and

programs in advance of the report that must be issued by 10/1/14• make sure appropriate authorities on campus are aware of these changes

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Final Rules – Direct PLUS Loans

• NPRM published 08/08/14

• Final Rule published 10/23/14

• Federal Register Notice published 1/14/15 – New PLUS loan regulations

will be early implemented early as of March 29, 2015

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“Charged Off” and “In Collection”

• Charged off – a debt that a creditor has written off as a loss, but that is still subject to collection action

• In collection – a debt that has been placed with a collection agency by a creditor or that is subject to more intensive efforts by a creditor to recover amounts owed from a borrower who has not responded satisfactorily to the demands routinely made as part of the creditor’s billing procedures

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Adverse Credit History

• One or more debts with total outstanding balance greater than $2,085 that are - – 90 or more days delinquent as of date of credit report; OR– have been placed in collection or charged off during two

years preceding date of credit report

OR• Subject of default, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure,

repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment or write-off of a debt under title IV during the five years preceding date of credit report

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Required PLUS Loan Counseling

• PLUS loan counseling required for borrowers who have adverse credit history and successfully:– document extenuating circumstances; OR– obtain an endorser (cannot have an adverse credit history)

• Counseling will include:– information on borrowers’ current loan indebtedness– provide estimated loan repayment amounts– describe ways to avoid delinquency and default– provide additional financial aid literacy information– effective March 29, 2015 in StudentLoans.gov

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Voluntary PLUS Loan Counseling• Enhance consumer information for PLUS applicants

• Some items that will be included:– Calculator to allow borrowers to estimate future requirement

monthly payment amount under various repayment plans

– Tools to assist borrowers in determining how factors such as taking out additional PLUS loans or deferring repayment affect required monthly repayment and total amount repaid

– Available repayment plans for student/parent PLUS borrowers

– Budgeting information for minimum amounts needed

– Strategies for avoiding delinquency and default

• Available prior to start of the 2015-2016 academic year

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Validity of Credit Check

• Credit check indicating no adverse credit history will remain valid for 180 days instead of 90 days

• Any action that would normally trigger a credit check will not do so if prior credit check with no adverse credit obtained within past 180 days

• Effective March 29, 2015

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Performance of PLUS Loans

• Will collect and publish (where appropriate) information about performance of parent and student PLUS loans, including – default rate information based on credit

history characteristics of PLUS loan applicants and

– individual institutional default rates

Teacher Preparation - Proposed

• Negotiations held in 2012

• Consensus not reached

• NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 3, 2014

• Comments due by February 2, 2015

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Teacher Preparation - Proposed• Focus is to improve existing Title II, HEA data collection

on teacher preparation programs• Proposed rule changes focus from input measures to

meaningful outcome-based categories• States have primary responsibility in determining specific

measures and have significant flexibility to meet local needs• Measures include feedback from new teachers and

employers, employment and retention rates, and student learning outcomes

• States must consult with range of stakeholders in designing systems

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Teacher Preparation - Proposed• Other changes in proposed rule:

• Performance ratings at program, rather than institutional level

• Minimum of four performance levels for programs• Restricts TEACH Grant eligibility to programs

rated “effective” or higher in two of three reporting years or meets the ‘‘high-quality’’ standards for a STEM program to ensure TEACH Grants are provided for quality programs

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Teacher Preparation - Proposed• Timing under the proposed rule

• Oct 2017: Institutions begin reporting under new framework based on data from 2016-17

• April 2018: States submit pilot report

• April 2019: State reports must use new indicators to determine ratings

• July 2020: New ratings begin to determine TEACH Grant eligibility

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Pay As You Earn Expansion• Federal Register Notice published Sept. 3, 2014• Held two public hearings

• Propose to develop regulations that:• Allow more students the opportunity to cap their monthly

student loan payments at 10%• Target new PAYE option to borrowers who would otherwise

struggle to repay their student loans

• Planned Negotiated Rulemaking • Three negotiating sessions will begin Feb. 2015 • Goal of making repayment option available to borrowers by

December 31, 2015

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-15-05 – 2015-16 Unusual Enrollment History Flag2015-2016 UEH Flag has expanded to consider–

• An applicant’s prior receipt of, in addition to a Federal Pell Grant, a Federal Direct Loan (not including Direct Consolidation Loans or parent PLUS Loans) 

• The prior four, instead of three, award years  • For 2015-2016, UEH Flag evaluation includes the 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015 award years

A school may self-select a student for UEH (not selected by ED) if suspect enrollment problems

• Self-selected students treated as if have UEH 3 flag

GEN-13-09 provides full institutional resolution guidance

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-15-03 – Federal Perkins Program•Barring any Congressional action, the authority to make Perkins loans to new borrowers will end September 30, 2015

• If prior to October 1, 2015, school makes the first disbursement of a Federal Perkins Loan to a student for the 2015-2016 award year, school may make any remaining disbursements of that 2015-2016 loan after September 30, 2015

Additional aspects of winding-down the Federal Perkins Loan Program, including disposition of schools’ Perkins revolving funds and outstanding loan portfolios will be addressed in

future communications

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-15-03 – Federal Perkins Program

• Narrow “grandfathering” provision allows schools to make Perkins Loans to certain students through 9/30/2020, if:• Student received at least one Perkins Loan disbursement on or

before 6/30/15 (2014-2015 award year or earlier)• Student enrolled at same institution where the last Perkins Loan disbursement was received

• Student enrolled in same academic program for which student received his or her last Perkins Loan disbursement– first four digits of the program’s CIP code are identical

• Perkins Loan can be made only after student awarded all Direct Subsidized Loan aid for which student is eligible

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-15-02 – Pell Payment & Disbursement Schedule

• Maximum Pell for 2015-2016 - $5,775• 2015-2016 minimum scheduled award is $588• Maximum Pell Grant eligible EFC for 2015-2016 will be 5198

• ED to develop a separate Pell Grant Program Payment and Disbursement for students in eligible career pathway programs who become TIV eligible through the reinstated ATB process• Will be provided in a subsequent communication

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-15-01 – Third-Party Servicer Institutional Requirements and Responsibilities•Contains information about -

• Definition of third-party servicer• Institutions must report 3rd-party servicers to ED via E-App

• Some servicers not being reported properly to ED• Third-party servicer contract requirements• FERPA requirements and third-party servicers• Information security requirements established by Federal Trade Commission apply to Title IV 3rd-party servicers as well as schools

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-15-01 – Third-Party Servicer Institutional Requirements and Responsibilities•3rd-party servicers submit annual compliance audits to ED

• If failed to submit audit, third-party servicer must – • Submit a compliance audit no later than one fiscal year subsequent to the date of this DCL (1/9/15); and

• Submit a letter to ED within 60 days of the date of this DCL describing the Title IV-related functions and reason(s) the servicer did not submit its required compliance audits

•Third-Party Servicer Oversight Group can be reached at:• FSAPC3rdpartyserviceroversight@ed.gov or (816) 268-0543

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-14-23 – Title IV aid and competency-based education (CBE) with current statutory/regulatory rules

• Distinction between competency-based education in eligible direct assessment programs and regular credit-hour programs

•ED established e-mail address for competency-based education questions: CBE@ed.gov•Currently have 3 experiments related to competency-based education and direct assessment programs

• For more information contact - experimentalsites@ed.gov

•Schools interested in developing a direct assessment program should also review DCL GEN-13-10

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-14-23 – Title IV aid and CBE•16 Q & As to help address school questions about -

• Distinction between credit hour CBE and direct assessment; • Requirements for establishing credit hour equivalencies in direct

assessment programs; • Requirements for regular and substantive interaction between

students and faculty; • Prohibitions on paying Title IV aid for credit earned through prior

learning assessments; • Satisfactory academic progress; • Return of Title IV Funds provisions; and • Accrediting agencies’ roles in reviewing CBE programs

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-14-22 –Title IV aid and apprenticeship programs•Apprenticeship is a training system that combines job-related instruction with structured on-the-job learning experiences•If apprenticeship is part of academic program that participates in Title IV programs, school may provide aid to an eligible student, including the apprenticeship portion of the program•An institution may use its Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program funds to pay the training wages for otherwise eligible FWS students employed as apprentices, even when apprenticeship is not part of the student’s eligible academic program•Under FWS JLD program, an institution, or group of institutions, may use a portion of FWS Federal allocation to locate and develop off-campus apprenticeship opportunities for students

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-14-22 –Title IV aid and apprenticeship programs

• Unless restricted by accreditation or state, there are no limits on the percentage of the program that may consist of on-the-job training, as long as the training is provided by the institution

• Report to ED locations at which 50% or more of an academic program is provided, including on-the-job training component

• If entity other than institution provides the on-the-job training, that component must be 25 percent of the program or less, or, with specific permission of the institution's accrediting agency, over 25 percent but less than 50 percent of the program• In such "contracting-out" situations, the institution must enter into a written arrangement with the entity providing the on-the-job training

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-14-21 – Pell Grant eligibility for students confined or incarcerated in locations not Federal or State Penal Institutions

• Clarifies students confined/incarcerated in locations not Federal or State penal institutions, like juvenile justice facilities, and meet applicable eligibility criteria, are eligible for Pell

• Juvenile justice facilities are not Federal or State penal institutions for Pell purposes regardless of what gov’t entity operates or has jurisdiction over the facility, including Federal or State government

• Students confined in juvenile justice facilities after being adjudicated delinquent are considered to be “incarcerated”

• Pell eligibility applies to students in juvenile justice facilities regardless of age, type of sentence, length of sentence, and whether adjudicated as a juvenile or convicted as an adult

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Dear Colleague LettersGEN-14-06 – Recognized Equivalent of a HS Diploma

• A State-authorized examination that the State recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma is considered a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma

• State authorized exams include not only the GED test but now also include the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) and the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC)

• As of Jan. 2014, some States replaced GED with different State-authorized exams or offer choices of authorized exams

• A student who takes the HiSET, TASC, or other State-authorized examination will receive official notification of a passing or failing score used to determine if a State will issue a high school equivalency certificate

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Electronic Announcements2/24/15 – 2015-2016 Shopping Sheet•Only one addition to the 2015-2016 Shopping Sheet, the addition of an “American Opportunity Tax Credit” bullet under the “Other options” section•Attachments include: XML file layout, HTML specifications, Institutional metric data file, Excel schema and PDF version of the 15/16 Shopping Sheet

2/20/15 – 2014-2015 FSA Handbook•Appendix F (Consumer Information) posted under Appendices•“Institutional Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Federal Student Assistance Programs”

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Electronic Announcements2/23/15 – FY 2012 3-year draft Cohort Default Rates•Draft rate information sent to SAIG mailbox for the destination point administrator designated by the school

•Time period for challenging a school’s FY 2012 3-Year Draft Cohort Default Rate under 34 C.F.R Part 668, Subpart N began on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 for all schools

•Questions or concerns about draft FY12 CDRs can be directed to:

– fsa.schools.default.management@ed.gov, or – Operations Performance Division Hotline - 202-377-4259

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Electronic Announcements2/12/15 – Third Party Servicer Reporting•Third Party Servicers required to submit Third Party Servicer Data Form (attached to EA) within 30 days of date of EA or within 30 days of receiving notification from the Department•In addition, third party servicers are required to update their information within 10 days of the date, if:

– Name change

– Address or contact information change for primary or additional location

– Adds or terminates a contract with an eligible Title IV institution

– Buys, sells, or merges with another third party servicer

•Third-Party Servicer Oversight Group can be reached at:• FSAPC3rdpartyserviceroversight@ed.gov or (816) 268-0543

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Electronic Announcements 12/29/14 – Transition to Soft Tokens

– Alternative to the Two Factor Authentication (TFA) physical token is now a "soft token” - an app on user's mobile device that automatically generates a One-Time Password (OTP) when app is opened

– Use of a soft token is optional at this time– Step-by-step instructions are provided to use soft tokens– PDPA must collect and store unused physical token (do NOT

send to ED)– Cannot have both a soft token and physical token

• Once soft token is activated, physical token is disabled

TFA Support Center – 800-330-5947, option 2 or TFASupport@ed.gov

X

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Electronic Announcements• 1/5/15 – 2015-2016 EDExpress – 1.0 available• 11/24/14 – verification suggested text along with IRS

transcript request process and time frames• 8/4/14 - revised Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan and

Direct PLUS Loan MPNs with an expiration date of 2/29/2016

• 7/2/14 – on 7/1/14 the HEAL Program was transferred from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the U.S. Department of Education– New HEAL Program Information area on IFAP -

ifap.ed.gov/HEALInfo/HEALInfo.html

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Training• 2015 FSA Training

Conference • Tuesday, December 1 – Friday, December 4, 2015

• Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada

• fsaconferences.ed.gov (right-hand side of IFAP website)

• Conference and lodging registration will open this summer – stay tuned to IFAP!

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Training• ANN-14-15; ANN-14-18; ANN-14-19; ANN-14-26 -

Online training modules – Institutional Eligibility; Completing FISAP; Consumer Information and R2T4• Available on FSA E-Training Website - fsatraining.info

• 2014 FSA Training Conference presentations• fsaconferences.ed.gov

• Past FSA presentations in audio and video format• http://ifap.ed.gov/ifap/ifapMedia.jsp• Topics include – GE and NSLDS Enrollment Reporting

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