Enclosure A

####### Summary of Changes to the

**2000-2001 Application Processing System**

######## 

######## 

######## 

Enclosure A contains information about changes we have made to the
2000-2001 application processing system. The following is a list of the
specific topics covered in this Action Letter.

-   Application Processing System Schedule

-   Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

-   Central Processing System (CPS)

-   Renewal Application and Renewal Application Process

-   PIN (formerly EAC) Web Site and PIN Registration System

-   Web Applications

-   Web Enhancements

-   FAFSA on the Web

-   Renewal FAFSA on the Web

-   Corrections on the Web

-   FAFSA Express

-   Student Aid Report (SAR) and Institutional Student Information
    Record (ISIR)

-   Verification Worksheets

-   EDExpress

-   References

-   Glossary of Terms

## 

## 2000-2001 APPlication processing system schedule

+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| #### Date       | ######### Event                                    |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| September 1999  | Procedures for ordering 2000-2001 FAFSAs posted on |
|                 | IFAP.                                              |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| September 22,   | Students with PINs (formerly Electronic Access     |
| 1999            | Codes, or EACs) can now use Corrections on the Web |
|                 | to change their name, address, phone number, and   |
|                 | housing and school codes for the 1999-2000         |
|                 | application processing cycles.                     |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| September 30,   | Last day students could submit address corrections |
| 1999            | to their 1999-2000 record in the Central           |
|                 | Processing System (CPS) for inclusion in the       |
|                 | 2000-2001 Renewal Application Database.            |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| October 1999    | The Department of Education (ED) began             |
|                 | distributing paper 2000-2001 FAFSAs to schools.    |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| October 4, 1999 | First day for schools to submit requests to the    |
|                 | Central Processing System (CPS) to have Renewal    |
|                 | FAFSAs mailed to schools to distribute to          |
|                 | students. Also, first day for schools to request   |
|                 | that PINs be mailed to students instead of paper   |
|                 | Renewal FAFSAs.                                    |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| October 13,     | ED began processing requests from schools for      |
| 1999            | Renewal FAFSAs and PINs.                           |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| October 27,     | New PIN Web site operational for students already  |
| 1999            | in the PIN database (this Web site is discussed in |
|                 | detail later in this letter).                      |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| October 1999    | Draft 2000-2001 SAR, SAR Instructions, and SAR     |
|                 | Acknowledgement on IFAP.                           |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| November 5,     | Last day that schools could request to participate |
| 1999            | in the Renewal Application process.                |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| November 11-19, | CPS prints and mails school-requested Renewal      |
| 1999            | FAFSAs to schools.                                 |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| November 15 to  | CPS prints and mails PINs to applicants.           |
| December 31,    |                                                    |
| 1999            |                                                    |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| November 15,    | First day that new eligible Renewal applicants can |
| 1999            | request PINs. (Individuals who have already been   |
|                 | assigned a PIN will receive a duplicate copy of    |
|                 | the PIN.)                                          |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| November 22 to  | CPS prints and mails non-school requested Renewal  |
| December 31,    | FAFSAs to students.                                |
| 1999            |                                                    |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| December 1999   | Schools can download 2000-2001 EDExpress software  |
|                 | (version 6.0) for the Global, Application          |
|                 | Processing, and Packaging modules from ED's new    |
|                 | SFA Software Download Web site                     |
|                 | (www.SFAdownload.ed.gov).                          |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| January 3, 2000 | 2000-2001 FAFSA on the Web and Renewal FAFSA on    |
|                 | the Web are available for students to use to apply |
|                 | for aid.                                           |
|                 |                                                    |
|                 | FAFSA Express available on the Web to download.    |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| January 14,     | The 2000-2001 Application Processing System starts |
| 2000            | up.                                                |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+
| March 2000      | Using Corrections on the Web, students can begin   |
|                 | making corrections to all of their 2000-2001 FAFSA |
|                 | data, except SSN and date of birth.                |
+-----------------+----------------------------------------------------+

## 2000-2001 FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID 

We made relatively few changes to the 2000-2001 Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The major changes resulted from last year's
Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. We made other changes based
on suggestions from financial aid administrators (FAAs), students,
parents, higher education associations, and state agencies. We also made
changes because 1999-2000 application data indicated that certain
questions on the 1999-2000 FAFSA could be improved.

#### New FAFSA Data Elements

There are five new data elements on the 2000-2001 FAFSA, increasing the
total number of questions from 99 to 104. No data elements were deleted
from the FAFSA.

-   **Drug Conviction Question (Question 28)**. The Higher Education
    Amendments of 1998 (Reauthorization) added a new student eligibility
    criteria for Title IV aid. Students who have federal or state
    convictions for possession or sale of an illegal drug (not including
    alcohol or tobacco) may be ineligible to receive Title IV funds.
    FAFSA question 28 addresses this new requirement.

Students who have never been convicted of any illegal drug offense are
instructed to answer question 28 with a "1" and move on to the next
question.

Students who cannot immediately answer with a "1" are instructed to call
a toll-free number (1-800-4FEDAID) or go to a web site
(<http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/q28>) to find out how to answer this question.
Students will be led through a series of questions on the phone or web
site that will help them answer question 28. Those students whose prior
drug-related convictions do not affect their Title IV eligibility will
be instructed to enter a "1" in question 28.

Students who are not eligible for Title IV aid at the beginning of the
2000-2001 award year due to a prior drug conviction, but who will regain
eligibility at some point during the award year, will be instructed to
enter a "2" in question 28.

Finally, students who have prior drug convictions that make them
ineligible for Title IV aid for the entire 2000-2001 award year will be
instructed to enter a "3" in question 28. Students who don't know how to
answer question 28 will also be instructed to enter a "3."

If necessary, students can correct question 28 on their SAR or by using
Corrections on the Web when it becomes operational.

The drug worksheets, also known as the "Question 28 Worksheets" are
available as Enclosure F of this letter. Additional guidance about this
new student eligibility criteria will be provided in an upcoming Dear
Partner Letter and in ED training and publications.

-   **Parent Names and Social Security Numbers (Questions 61-64).**
    Reauthorization authorized ED to verify FAFSA information with the
    Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and to collect parent names and
    Social Security Numbers (SSNs). The 2000-2001 FAFSA now asks
    dependent students to provide the SSN(s) and last name(s) for the
    parent(s) whose data were required on the FAFSA. We will not be
    performing a live match with the IRS in 2000-2001; however, we are
    working with the IRS to develop a study comparing FAFSA income data
    with IRS data. In order to match FAFSA data to IRS data for this
    study we need parent SSNs and last names for dependent students.
    Dependent students whose parents do not have Social Security
    numbers, such as parents who are not U.S. citizens or permanent
    residents, or who are Pacific Islanders, can leave these items
    blank.

+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| #### Ch                      |                                       |
| anges to FAFSA Data Elements |                                       |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| ***What We Changed?***       | ***Why?***                            |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Veterans Education Benefits  | We made this change to make room in   |
| moved from Page 3 to Page 4  | Step One for the new drug question    |
| (Questions 52 and 53)        | (question 28). Also, it seemed        |
|                              | logical to ask about VA benefits      |
|                              | along with questions about other      |
|                              | sources of income.                    |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Grouped student income and   | The FAFSA asks for a lot of           |
| asset questions into its own | information. Wherever possible we try |
| step, Step Two (Questions    | to break the form up into manageable  |
| 37-53)                       | pieces. It seemed helpful to group    |
|                              | all student income and asset          |
|                              | questions in their own step with its  |
|                              | own instructions.                     |
|                              |                                       |
|                              | While this change does not affect the |
|                              | actual order of the questions, it did |
|                              | create an additional step (the FAFSA  |
|                              | now has seven steps instead of six).  |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Changed order of the six     | On the 1999-2000 form, the dependency |
| dependency status questions  | question that asks applicants if they |
| (Questions 54-59)            | have dependent children was the last  |
|                              | of the six dependency questions.      |
|                              | Because of its placement at the       |
|                              | bottom of the list, and the way the   |
|                              | six questions were spaced, some       |
|                              | students were inadvertently leaving   |
|                              | it blank.                             |
|                              |                                       |
|                              | On the 2000-2001 FAFSA we have        |
|                              | reordered the dependency questions so |
|                              | that this particular question is      |
|                              | asked as the fourth question. We also |
|                              | changed the spacing of the questions  |
|                              | so it is clearer that all six         |
|                              | questions must be answered. In        |
|                              | addition, we added instructions to    |
|                              | "Answer all six questions in this     |
|                              | step."                                |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Reordered parent questions   | To make it clear that we want the     |
| in Step Four (Questions      | last names and SSNs of the parents    |
| 60-85)                       | who report information on the FAFSA,  |
|                              | we included these four new questions  |
|                              | in Step Four, along with the other    |
|                              | parent information.                   |
|                              |                                       |
|                              | We also moved parents' marital        |
|                              | status, names, and SSNs to the        |
|                              | beginning of Step Four so that the    |
|                              | applicant can determine who is        |
|                              | considered a parent for purposes of   |
|                              | filling out the FAFSA, and then       |
|                              | complete the rest of Step Four about  |
|                              | them.                                 |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Student number in household  | To make space for the VA questions on |
| and number in college moved  | page 4 of the FAFSA, we moved the     |
| to Page 6 (Questions 86-87)  | student's household size and number   |
|                              | in college questions to page 6.       |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+

#### Other FAFSA Changes 

-   **Color**. The 2000-2001 FAFSA is pink (PANTONE 196 CVU) for student
    items and purple (PANTONE 263 CVU) for parent items.

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-   **Name (Questions 1-3).** We clarified the instructions for "Your
    Name." Applicants are now asked to use their name as it appears on
    their Social Security card so that our data more accurately match
    the Social Security Administration\'s data.

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-   **Instructions for Separated Applicants.** The instructions at the
    beginning of Step Two have been revised to direct separated
    applicants to ignore references to "spouse."

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-   **TeleFile References.** TeleFile line item references have been
    added to all applicable income fields in the student and parent
    sections.

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-   **Investment Instructions (Questions 49, 83).** The notes for
    investments now specify that Education IRAs should be considered
    "investments" for Title IV purposes.

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-   **Number in College (Questions 66, 86).** Reauthorization excluded
    parents from being counted in the number in college. We changed the
    text of both the parent (question 66) and student (question 86)
    number in college questions so it is clear that parents should not
    be included in the answers. We also changed the notes for these
    questions on Page 7 accordingly. FAAs can use professional judgment
    to account for a parent in college, but there must be unique
    circumstances for doing so and exceptions must be made on a
    case-by-case basis.

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-   **Housing Plans (Questions 89-99).** Because we are requesting new
    data elements on the FAFSA, we designed this section of the form to
    make more efficient use of the space. Applicants must now enter
    housing codes in boxes rather than filling in bubbles.

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-   **Certification Statement.** Step Seven now includes a certification
    statement acknowledging that the Secretary of Education has the
    authority to verify certain information reported on the FAFSA with
    the IRS.

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-   **Worksheet A: W-2 Box 13 Codes.** We added specific Box 13 codes
    from the W-2 Form to the line item for "Payments to tax-deferred
    pensions and savings plans." Applicants are now instructed to
    include codes D, E, F, G, H, and S from Box 13 of their W-2 Form.
    Both direct payments and amounts withheld from earnings should be
    included on this line of Worksheet A. Applicants are also instructed
    to include untaxed portions of 401(k) and 403(b) plans in this line
    item.

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-   **Worksheet A: Cash Received.** We clarified the wording of the
    "Cash or money paid on your behalf" item on Worksheet A. This item
    now reads: "Cash **received**, or any money paid on your behalf, not
    reported elsewhere on the form."

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-   **Worksheet B: AmeriCorps Awards.** We clarified that only living
    allowances should be included in the "AmeriCorps Benefits" item on
    Worksheet B.

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-   **FAFSA**.**PDF Discontinued.** The FAFSA.PDF, which allowed
    students to download, print, complete, and mail in a FAFSA, will not
    be available in 2000-2001. FAFSA.PDF did not offer the advantages of
    a paper FAFSA (scanning) or an electronic FAFSA (speed, skip logic,
    data editing), and was used by less than one one-thousandth of all
    applicants in 1999-2000.

You can view the final version of the 2000-2001 FAFSA by going to IFAP
([http://ifap.ed.gov](http://ifap.ed.gov/)) and clicking on the
"Bookshelf" icon or by clicking on "Current SFA Publications." In the
Bookshelf, scroll down and click on "FAFSAs and Renewal FAFSAs." Then
click on "By 2000-2001 Award Year" and "FAFSA form/Instructions." You
will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view the file.

#### FAFSA Ordering and Distribution

***When Can You Order FAFSAs?***

You can order 2000-2001 FAFSAs now. Go to IFAP, and click on the link to
"Bulk Publication Ordering System." For more information about ordering
your supply of 2000-2001 FAFSAs, see Dear Partner Letter, GEN-99-26, on
IFAP.

***When Will We Distribute FAFSAs?***

The initial distribution of 2000-2001 FAFSAs began in October 1999. We
will ship FAFSAs by the dates orders were placed. Once shipped, allow
2-6 working days for delivery. We will begin shipping Spanish FAFSAs in
November 1999.

## CENTRAL PROCESSING SYSTEM (CPS)

#### Schedule for the Central Processing System (CPS)

The Central Processing System (CPS) will start up on January 14, 2000
for the 2000-2001 award year.

#### Institutional Student Information Records (ISIR)

> In July 1999, we posted the draft 2000-2001 ISIR record layout on
> IFAP. A revised draft ISIR record layout was posted to IFAP in October
> and sent to schools in the 2000-2001 Technical Reference in November
> 1999. The final ISIR record layout will be posted to IFAP shortly
> after the system starts up on January 14, 2000. We do not anticipate
> that the final layout will differ from the layout included in the
> 2000-2001 Technical Reference.

#### CPS Edits

#### We added several new edits to the 2000-2001 Central Processing System, primarily as a result of Reauthorization changes. We also modified and deleted several existing edits. 

***New CPS Edits:***

(1) **FAFSA Question 28 edits.** As discussed earlier, FAFSA question 28
    asks about an applicant's drug-related convictions.

-   ***Response = 1:*** If an applicant enters a "1" in question 28 it
    means either that the student has never been convicted of an illegal
    drug offense or that a conviction does not affect his or her
    eligibility for Title IV aid for the 2000-2001 award year. If an
    applicant answers question 28 with a "1," no comment will appear on
    the student's SAR or ISIR.

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-   ***Response = 2, 3, or blank:*** Students who answer this question
    with a "2," a "3," or who leave this question blank, will receive a
    SAR/ISIR comment and a SAR "C" Code. SARs with "C" codes will
    require resolution before the student is eligible to receive federal
    student aid. A Dear Partner Letter will be posted to IFAP with more
    information about resolving these "C" codes.

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-   ***Drug Conviction Worksheet:*** Students who answer question 28
    with a "3" or who leave the question blank will be sent a drug
    conviction eligibility worksheet with their SARs. The worksheet is
    designed to help students answer question 28 and tells them what to
    do next.

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-   ***Correcting or Updating Question 28:*** If necessary, students can
    change their answers to question 28. Changing a "2" or a "3"
    response to a "1" will generate a new transaction with no SAR "C"
    Code. A new comment will appear on this and all subsequent
    transactions for the remainder of the award year.

> If a blank is corrected to a "1," both the SAR "C" Code and comment
> will disappear on the resulting transaction.

  ---------------- ---------- ------------------ -------------------------
  **2000-2001 Drug                               
  Edits and                                      
  Comments**                                     

  ***Answer to     ***C       ***Worksheet in    ***SAR Comment?***
  Question 28***   Code?***   SAR?***            

  Q28 is "2"       Yes        Yes                Yes. See SAR/ISIR Guide
                                                 for full comment text.

  Q28 is Blank     Yes        Yes                Yes. See SAR/ISIR Guide
                                                 for full comment text.

  Q28 is "3"       Yes        No                 Yes. See SAR/ISIR Guide
                                                 for full comment text.

  "2" changes to   No         No                 Yes. See SAR/ISIR Guide
  "1", or "3"                                    for full comment text.
  changes to "1"                                 
  within award                                   
  year                                           
  ---------------- ---------- ------------------ -------------------------

(2) **Parents' Social Security Numbers and Last Names.** For dependent
    students, we have added edits for father's and mother's social
    security numbers (SSN) and last names (questions 61 -- 64).

-   If at least one parent's social security number and last name are
    not provided in Step Four of the FAFSA, the student's SAR and ISIR
    will contain comment 49 or 51. These comments tell dependent
    applicants that they did not provide their mother's or father's SSN,
    or did not provide a complete parent SSN, on their FAFSA. The
    missing data elements will be printed in boldface type on the SAR.

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-   If the student's SSN and the parent's SSN are reported as the same
    value, and the student's SSN has been confirmed with the Social
    Security Administration, the parent's SSN will be set to blank and
    comment 48 will appear on the SAR and ISIR. In addition, the
    parent's SSN will be printed in boldface type on the SAR.

-   Reported SSNs must be numeric. All non-numeric SSN responses will be
    changed to blanks.

> Because we are collecting parent SSNs and last names for a possible
> test match study with the IRS in 2000-2001, rather than an actual
> match, applicants will not be required to provide this information in
> order to receive Title IV aid, nor will schools be required to follow
> up with students for whom this data is missing.

(3) **Taxes Paid.** A CPS edit has been added to generate a comment on
    the SAR and ISIR when the student's or parent's reported taxes paid
    is equal to or greater than 35% of their reported Adjusted Gross
    Income (AGI).

***Changes to CPS Edits:***

[]{.mark}

(1) **Number in College.** The assumptions performed by the CPS for the
    number in college question for dependent students (question 66) have
    been modified. Because parents can no longer be included in this
    field, except under professional judgment, if the number of family
    members and the number in college are equal and their values are
    greater than two, the CPS will assume that only one family member is
    in college.

In 1999-2000, financial aid administrators using EDExpress, or students
using FAFSA Express, FAFSA on the Web, and Renewal FAFSA on the Web can
override the number in college assumptions made by the CPS; however, in
2000-2001, this assumption override has been deleted and the subsequent
override codes have been renumbered. The number in college assumption
will not be applied if a financial aid administrator submits a record
and indicates that professional judgment was used.

(2) **Alien Registration Number.** We will no longer highlight Alien
    Registration Numbers (ARN) on students' SARs and ISIRs when they
    indicate on the FAFSA that they are U.S. citizens but also provide
    an ARN. We will continue to perform a match with the Immigration and
    Naturalization Service (INS) for these students and include the INS
    match results and corresponding comments on their SARs and ISIRs.

(3) **Date of Legal Residence.** The CPS will accept partial answers for
    the date of the legal residence questions on the FAFSA (question 27
    for students and question 69 for parents), including either year
    with no month or month with no year. In the past, when partial
    answers were provided the MDE changed the answer to blank.

(4) **Earned Income Credit.** We have changed the way we edit reported
    earned income credit values. On all initial transactions, when the
    amount reported by the applicant is greater than the allowable
    maximums, we will continue to change the earned income credit fields
    to the maximum allowable amount. However, we will suppress this edit
    when the reported amount is reentered on a correction. This change
    is effective for the 1999-2000 application year and we will carry it
    forward to 2000-2001 and beyond.

(5) **Graduate Students and Pell Eligibility.** The Higher Education
    Amendments of 1998 allow certain graduate students enrolled in
    teaching credential programs to receive a Federal Pell Grant. In
    1999-2000, we changed the CPS edits to include in the Pell-eligible
    file all students who indicated on their 1999-2000 FAFSA that they
    were enrolled in a teaching credential program (i.e., they answered
    question 31 with a 7), regardless of whether they already have a
    bachelor's degree or are enrolled as a graduate or professional
    student in 1999-2000. In 2000-2001, we will continue to include
    these types of students in the Pell-eligible file.

**New Social Security Administration Matches**

At system start up, we will implement a new match with the Social
Security Administration (SSA) and expand an existing match. These
matches will be conducted on 2000-2001 financial aid applicant records
and will be made against the SSA's Date of Death field and Prisoner's
File.

***Match with SSA's Date of Death Field***

The current Social Security Number (SSN) match with the SSA will be
expanded to include the SSA's Date of Death field. This field is
maintained by SSA and is updated when the SSA is notified of an
individual's death.

When a date of death is provided to ED through the SSA match, applicants
will receive a rejected SAR/ISIR (reject reason 8) and comment 145
telling them that SSA records indicate their SSN belongs to a deceased
person. The SSN Match Flag will be 5.

If the SSA's records are incorrect, the applicant ***must*** resolve the
error with the SSA. Once the SSA corrects its records, the student must
re-enter his or her SSN, name, or date of birth on the SAR/ISIR so that
the CPS will perform the match again and a new SAR/ISIR will be
generated with updated match results.

As with other SSA match results, if a student entered an incorrect SSN
on the FAFSA, the student must correct the SSN on his or her SAR or
ISIR, or on a new FAFSA, as appropriate, and the CPS will run the match
again.

***Match with SSA's Prisoner's File***

The match with SSA's Prisoner's File is intended to prevent inmates
incarcerated in certain types of prisons from receiving Title IV aid for
which they are not eligible. Financial aid applicants who are in the
SSA's Prisoner's File will receive a SAR "C" Code on their SAR and ISIR,
a comment that indicates the type of prison facility in which the
applicant is incarcerated, and a Prisoner's Match Flag.

The following are the five possible Prisoner's Match Flag results:

+------------+-------------------------+------------------------------+
| **Match    | **Reason for Results**  | **SAR "C" Code and           |
| Flag       |                         | Comment/Resolution**         |
| Results**  |                         |                              |
+------------+-------------------------+------------------------------+
| **1**      | Applicant is not in     | No SAR "C" Code; no comment. |
|            | Prisoner's File         |                              |
+------------+-------------------------+------------------------------+
| **2**      | Applicant is a prisoner | SAR "C" Code and comment 81: |
|            | in a local facility     | Social Security              |
|            |                         | Administration records       |
|            |                         | indicate that you are        |
|            |                         | incarcerated in a local      |
|            |                         | prison facility. Your        |
|            |                         | incarceration may affect     |
|            |                         | your eligibility for Federal |
|            |                         | student aid. Please contact  |
|            |                         | your FAA for additional      |
|            |                         | information.                 |
|            |                         |                              |
|            |                         | ***Resolution:*** A student  |
|            |                         | incarcerated in a local      |
|            |                         | prison facility is not       |
|            |                         | eligible to borrow under any |
|            |                         | Federal loan program. If the |
|            |                         | student is not incarcerated, |
|            |                         | he or she can contest the    |
|            |                         | match with the Social        |
|            |                         | Security Administration --   |
|            |                         | Office of Program Benefits.  |
|            |                         | Students must be allowed at  |
|            |                         | least:                       |
|            |                         |                              |
|            |                         | -   30 days after the        |
|            |                         |     student receives the SAR |
|            |                         |     and discusses the match  |
|            |                         |     with the institution to  |
|            |                         |     resolve this issue, or   |
|            |                         |                              |
|            |                         | -   30 days after the        |
|            |                         |     receipt of the ISIR by   |
|            |                         |     the institution to       |
|            |                         |     resolve this issue.      |
|            |                         |                              |
|            |                         | The student can self-certify |
|            |                         | to the FAA that he or she is |
|            |                         | not incarcerated in a local  |
|            |                         | prison facility.             |
+------------+-------------------------+------------------------------+
| **3**      | Applicant is a prisoner | SAR "C" Code and comment 83: |
|            | in a State or federal   | Social Security              |
|            | facility                | Administration records       |
|            |                         | indicate that you are        |
|            |                         | incarcerated in a State or   |
|            |                         | Federal prison facility.     |
|            |                         | Your incarceration may       |
|            |                         | affect your eligibility for  |
|            |                         | Federal student aid. Please  |
|            |                         | contact your FAA for         |
|            |                         | additional information.      |
|            |                         |                              |
|            |                         | ***Resolution:*** A student  |
|            |                         | incarcerated in a State or   |
|            |                         | Federal prison facility is   |
|            |                         | not eligible for any Federal |
|            |                         | student assistance.          |
|            |                         | Resolution is the same as    |
|            |                         | for Match Flag = 2.          |
+------------+-------------------------+------------------------------+
| **8**      | Record was not sent for | SAR "C" Code and comment 84: |
|            | a match because either: | We could not complete        |
|            |                         | eligibility matching with    |
|            | (1) the applicant's     | the Social Security          |
|            |     name or date of     | Administration because you   |
|            |     birth was missing,  | did not give us your last    |
|            |     or                  | name or date or birth.       |
|            |                         | Correct items 1 and/or 9 on  |
|            | (2) the applicant is a  | your SAR.                    |
|            |     Pacific Islander    |                              |
|            |     with a SSN          | ***Resolution:*** In the     |
|            |     beginning in 888    | first case, the FAA should   |
|            |                         | help students make           |
|            |                         | corrections to their social  |
|            |                         | security number, name,       |
|            |                         | and/or date of birth, if     |
|            |                         | necessary, so that the       |
|            |                         | student\' record can be sent |
|            |                         | back to SSA for matching.    |
|            |                         | Review subsequent            |
|            |                         | transactions for updated     |
|            |                         | match flag.                  |
|            |                         |                              |
|            |                         | In the second case, where    |
|            |                         | the applicant is a Pacific   |
|            |                         | Islander, no resolution is   |
|            |                         | required.                    |
+------------+-------------------------+------------------------------+

We will issue additional guidance soon that explains how schools can
resolve records with SAR "C" Codes that result from the new Date of
Death and Prisoner's matches. Guidance will be provided in the SAR/ISIR
Guide, in a Dear Partner Letter, and other ED publications and training.

### Need Analysis Changes

We have made several changes to the need analysis formulas for
2000-2001, most of which are a result of Reauthorization.

(1) **Student Income Protection Allowance.** In 2000-2001, the student
    Income Protection Allowances are as follows:

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Student Income Protection         
  Allowance**                         

  ***Type of Student***               ***Income Protection Allowance***

  Dependent students                  \$2,200

  Single independent students without \$5,000
  dependents other than a spouse      

  Married independent students        \$5,000
  without dependents other than a     
  spouse and both spouses are         
  enrolled in postsecondary school    

  Married independent students        \$8,000
  without dependents other than a     
  spouse and only the applicant is    
  enrolled in postsecondary school    

  Independent students with           Use 2000-2001 Income Protection
  dependents other than a spouse      Allowance table to determine the
                                      student's IPA (IPA is based on
                                      household size and the number of
                                      college students in the household).
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

(2) **Student Allowance for Negative Parent Income.** In order to
    recognize that many students from low-income families must use their
    earnings to help support their families rather than save for
    educational expenses, the Federal Methodology now allows negative
    parental Available Income (AI) to reduce a dependent student's
    contribution from income. The Student Contribution from Available
    Income cannot be less than zero, however, which means that a
    student's Total Income can be reduced by a negative parental AI, but
    the student's assets cannot.

(3) **Parents no longer allowed in number in college.** As discussed
    previously, parents are no longer allowed in number in college. This
    need analysis change will have a major impact on some dependent
    students whose parents were included in previous years.

(4) **Alternate EFC Calculations.** Reauthorization changed the EFC
    calculations for some students enrolled for periods less than or
    greater than nine months.

+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| **EFC Adjustments for Periods   |                                    |
| of Enrollment Less than 9       |                                    |
| Months**                        |                                    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| ***Type of Student***           | ***Calculation***                  |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Dependent Students              | -   Student Contribution (SC): SC  |
|                                 |     from Available Income (AI)     |
|                                 |     prorated based on actual       |
|                                 |     number of months of            |
|                                 |     enrollment, then added to      |
|                                 |     student's asset contribution.  |
|                                 |                                    |
|                                 | -   Parent Contribution (PC): No   |
|                                 |     change to the way Parent       |
|                                 |     Contribution is calculated.    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Independent Students (includes  | EFC prorated based on actual       |
| independent students with and   | number of months of enrollment.    |
| without dependents other than a |                                    |
| spouse)                         |                                    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| **EFC Adjustments for Periods   |                                    |
| of Enrollment Greater than 9    |                                    |
| Months**                        |                                    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| ***Type of Student***           | ***Calculation***                  |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Dependent Students              | -   SC: No adjustment to Student   |
|                                 |     Contribution; leave at 9-month |
|                                 |     amount.                        |
|                                 |                                    |
|                                 | -   PC: No change to the way       |
|                                 |     Parent Contribution is         |
|                                 |     calculated.                    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Independent Students (includes  | -   No adjustment to Student       |
| independent students with and   |     Contribution; leave at 9-month |
| without dependents other than a |     amount.                        |
| spouse)                         |                                    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+

## RENEWAL fafsa 

The format of the 2000-2001 Renewal Application remains unchanged. We
added, reworded, and reordered certain questions to correspond with
changes to the 2000-2001 FAFSA (see FAFSA section of this letter for
data element changes). Copies of the Renewal FAFSA and instructions are
available on IFAP.

Like last year, the Renewal FAFSA instructions advise students that they
can request a PIN (formerly EAC) to access and file their 2000-2001
Renewal FAFSA on the Web. As explained in 2000-2001 Action Letter #1,
posted to IFAP in June 1999, and 2000-2001 Action Letter #4, posted to
IFAP in September 1999, as part of the Renewal Application Process
certain students will automatically receive PIN mailers instead of paper
Renewal FAFSAs. Please refer to these Action Letters for complete
details on the Renewal Application Process.

## PIN WEB SITE AND NEW PIN rEGISTRATION SYSTEM

The term Electronic Access Code (EAC) is being renamed PIN. All new PINs
that are issued will be four digits in length instead of the old
6-character EACs; however, students who already have 6-character EACs
can continue to use them to access all of our web products.

The PIN provides access to personal information in various student
financial aid systems over the Internet. For some applications, it also
serves as an electronic signature. For the 2000-2001 cycle, students can
use their PIN to:

-   Electronically sign their FAFSA on the Web application. Parents who
    have PINs will also be able to electronically sign their children's
    FAFSA on the Web application.

-   Electronically sign their FAFSA Express application by going to the
    FAFSA on the Web web site
    ([www.fafsa.ed.gov](http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)). Parents with PINs
    can also electronically sign their children's FAFSA Express
    application by going to this web site.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Access, complete, and electronically sign their Renewal FAFSA on the
    Web application. Parents with PINs can also electronically sign
    their children's Renewal FAFSA on the Web application.

-   Make corrections to applicant data over the Internet. Students can
    use their PIN to electronically sign their corrections. For
    dependent students, parents with PINs can electronically sign when
    changes are made to parent data.

-   View the status and results of all processed FAFSAs.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   View a history of their federal student aid contained in the
    National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Access expanded Direct Loan account functionality, including
    interactive exit counseling and repayment plan selection.
    Individuals with PINs can also change payment due dates, access
    interactive repayment calculators and deferment and forbearance
    functionality, and change their address, view expanded account
    history, and apply for electronic debit accounts.

-   View their student accounts, if the student's school participates in
    the Access America for Students (AAFS) pilot project.

### PINs and 2000-2001 FAFSA Filers

###  

We will send a PIN mailer to all 2000-2001 financial aid applicants who:

-   successfully passed the SSN match with SSA (in other words, those
    applicants with an SSA Match Flag = 4, meaning first and last name,
    SSN, and date of birth all match SSA's records);

-   provided a complete mailing address;

-   signed their FAFSA; and

-   have not already received a PIN as part of the Renewal Application
    Process.

Students who do not meet these conditions will not receive a PIN mailer.

***Who Can Get a PIN Now?***

Until the new PIN Registration function is put into production in Spring
2000, only those individuals who already have records in the PIN
database, and whose address is the same as the address in the PIN
database, are eligible to receive PINs. The PIN database contains
records for:

-   students who were eligible to file a Renewal FAFSA for the 1989-99,
    1999-2000, or 2000-2001 school year;

-   students and parents participating in the Access America for
    Students pilot;

-   borrowers identified by the Direct Loan Servicing system to receive
    a PIN to participate in Exit counseling.

When the PIN Registration function becomes operational this coming
Spring, individuals not currently in the PIN database will also be able
to request and receive a PIN. In addition, users will be able to update
their addresses in the PIN database using the PIN Registration function.

### New PIN Registration System

Beginning in Spring 2000, we will implement a PIN Registration function
on the web. PIN Registration will allow anyone to register for and
receive a PIN. The PIN Registration process will be located on the PIN
Web site, [www.pin.ed.gov](http://www.pin.ed.gov/). The existing EAC Web
site, [www.eac.ed.gov](http://www.eac.ed.gov/), will point to the new
PIN address.

***Who Can use the PIN Registration Function?***

When it becomes operational, anyone who wants a PIN can register for one
using the PIN Registration Function. This includes:

-   Postsecondary school students

-   High School students

-   Parents

-   Former students

***How Can Individuals Register for a PIN?***

An individual who does not have a PIN can register for one by selecting
the PIN Registration link from the PIN home page
([www.pin.ed.gov](http://www.pin.ed.gov/)).

Individuals registering for a PIN must provide the following
information:

-   Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Social Security Number

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Date of Birth

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Full Address (Street Address, City, State, Zip Code)

In addition, PIN applicants must print and sign a PIN Registration
signature page and mail it to the Multiple Data Entry (MDE) processor
before a PIN will be generated and mailed. The MDE must receive the
signature page within 30 days of the date the PIN request is made. If
the signature page is not received within 30 days we will cancel the
electronic request and not generate and mail a PIN.

***How Will We Verify PIN Registration Information?***

Once we receive a signed signature page, we will verify the information
provided on the PIN Registration request by performing a match with the
Social Security Administration. This match will work like the current
SSN match we perform with the SSA for financial aid applicants. Only
those applicants whose personal identifiers match SSA's records will
receive a PIN (in other words, only those applicants whose first and
last name, SSN, and Date of Birth all match SSA's records, will receive
PINs). We are performing this match in order to authenticate that the
person is who they say they are.

> ***Why Might We Not Fulfill a PIN Registration Request?***
>
> There are three reasons why we will not send a PIN to someone who
> requests one. We will not send a PIN if:

(1) A complete mailing address was not provided;

(2) We do not receive a PIN Registration signature page within 30 days
    of the date of the PIN request; and/or

(3) Not all of the personal identifiers (SSN, first and last name, and
    date of birth) are confirmed by SSA.

> In the latter two cases, the CPS will mail a letter to the address on
> the PIN registration request stating the reason why the request could
> not be fulfilled. In order for a PIN to be issued, the user must
> either:

-   make a new PIN registration request and submit a signature page
    within 30 days of the request, or

-   correct their SSN, first or last name, or date of birth with the
    SSA. Once SSA's records have been updated, the user may make a new
    PIN registration request.

#### *Requesting a New PIN and Updating Addresses*

When operational, individuals with PINs can request a new PIN if they
believe that their PIN has been compromised. In addition, individuals
can use the PIN Registration web site to update their addresses.

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| # PIN Web Site Schedule           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| ***Date***                        | ***Event***                       |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| October 27, 1999                  | PIN name change becomes           |
|                                   | effective.                        |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | Students already in the PIN       |
|                                   | database -- eligible 1998-99 and  |
|                                   | 1999-2000 renewal applicants,     |
|                                   | students and parents              |
|                                   | participating in the Access       |
|                                   | America for Students pilot, and   |
|                                   | borrowers identified by the       |
|                                   | Direct Loan Servicing System --   |
|                                   | can request PINs.                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| November 22, 1999                 | New eligible 2000-2001 Renewal    |
|                                   | Applicants can request PINs.      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Spring 2000                       | PIN Registration System becomes   |
|                                   | operational.                      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

## WEB APPLICATIONS 

ED continues to offer a customer service line (1-800-801-0576) that
applicants can call to check on the status of their electronic
applications and receive assistance with hardware, software, and data
transmission problems. The TTY number is 1-800-730-8913.

#### Schedule for Web Products

Both FAFSA on the Web and Renewal FAFSA on the Web will be available to
students beginning January 3, 2000.

### 

### Web Enhancements 

We are continually looking for new ways to make applying for financial
aid over the Internet easier and more convenient for students and their
families. To encourage students to apply over the Internet, we have made
the following enhancements to our 2000-2001 web products.

-   Beginning in January 2000, all FAFSA filers (paper and electronic)
    can use our on-line application status checking feature, which
    enables applicants to verify that their application data was
    transmitted successfully, and was received and processed by the CPS.
    This feature will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from
    the FAFSA on the Web web site. There is also a direct link to the
    Application Status Check on the confirmation page that is generated
    after an applicant transmits data through FAFSA on the Web, Renewal
    FAFSA on the Web, and Corrections on the Web.

-   **New Electronic Signature Process.** Beginning in January 2000,
    students and parents with PINs can submit electronic signatures from
    our FAFSA on the Web web site for FAFSA on the Web, Renewal FAFSA on
    the Web, and FAFSA Express applications, and for Corrections on the
    Web (a new web product which is discussed later in this Action
    Letter).

***How will the new electronic signature process work?***

When applicants have completed their application or correction data,
they will be given the option to print a signature page, not print a
signature page and sign a rejected SAR instead, or sign electronically.
Once a signature option has been specified, applicants can
electronically transmit their FAFSA data.

Once FAFSA data has been transmitted, the applicant will receive a Web
confirmation page. The confirmation page will contain a link that
applicants and parents with PINs can click on to access the electronic
signature web site. Applicants can also electronically sign at a later
time by clicking on the link to the electronic signature web site on the
FAFSA on the Web index page. (Please note that if electronic signatures
are not provided within 14 days we will generate a rejected SAR for the
student.)

Applicants who elect to sign electronically will be prompted to provide
certain information on the FAFSA on the Web site before their electronic
signature will be processed. Further, the data they must provide will be
somewhat different depending on the type of application submitted and
whether the student is dependent or independent. Dependent students and
their parents can submit their electronic signatures at the same time or
at different times.

To sign electronically, students and parents must provide certain
personal identifiers on the electronic signature page. Once the
identifiers have been provided, we will immediately authenticate the
individual on our PIN database. When authenticated, we will ask the
individual if he or she is signing as the student or the student's
parent, and we will ask what type of financial aid application was
submitted.

The following is the type of data students and parents will be required
to provide in order to electronically sign the FAFSA:

+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| **Electronic Signatures**   |                                        |
+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| ***Type of Web              | ***Required Information***             |
| Application***              |                                        |
+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| FAFSA on the Web            | All students (dependent and            |
|                             | independent) who wish to sign          |
|                             | electronically must provide the        |
|                             | student's:                             |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   SSN                                |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Name ID                            |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Date of birth                      |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   PIN                                |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   If authenticated, the student will |
|                             |     be asked to indicate, using a drop |
|                             |     down box, what type of application |
|                             |     was submitted.                     |
+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
|                             | Parents of dependent students who wish |
|                             | to sign electronically must provide:   |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's SSN                       |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's Name ID                   |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's date of birth             |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's PIN                       |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | ```{=html}                             |
|                             | <!-- -->                               |
|                             | ```                                    |
|                             | -   If authenticated, the parent will  |
|                             |     also have to provide:              |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | ```{=html}                             |
|                             | <!-- -->                               |
|                             | ```                                    |
|                             | -   Student's SSN                      |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Student's Name ID                  |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Student's date of birth            |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | ```{=html}                             |
|                             | <!-- -->                               |
|                             | ```                                    |
|                             | -   Type of application submitted      |
+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Renewal FAFSA on the Web    | Because the student uses his or her    |
|                             | PIN to access these types of           |
| *And*                       | applications, no separate student      |
|                             | signature data is required.            |
| Corrections on the Web      |                                        |
+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
|                             | Parents of dependent students who wish |
|                             | to sign electronically must provide:   |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's SSN                       |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's Name ID                   |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's date of birth             |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Parent's PIN                       |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | ```{=html}                             |
|                             | <!-- -->                               |
|                             | ```                                    |
|                             | -   If authenticated, the parent will  |
|                             |     also have to provide:              |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | ```{=html}                             |
|                             | <!-- -->                               |
|                             | ```                                    |
|                             | -   Student's SSN                      |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Student's Name ID                  |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Student's date of birth            |
|                             |                                        |
|                             | -   Type of application submitted      |
+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+

-   **Enhancements to the Current Paper Signature Page Process.** The
    current signature page process for our 1999-2000 web products will
    also be in place for 2000-2001, but we have added additional
    flexibility to make the process easier for students and parents.

Currently, when submitting a web application, if the student indicates
that he or she has an available printer, the CPS will hold the
applicant's record for 14 calendar days while awaiting the receipt of
the student's signature page. If a valid signature page is not received
from the student within 14 days, the CPS will print a rejected SAR
(Reject 16) that the student (and the parent of a dependent student)
must sign and return to the FAFSA processor.

If the applicant indicates that a printer is not available at the time
he or she transmits applicant data, the CPS will immediately print and
send a Reject 16 SAR to the student requesting the needed signatures.
Once all signatures are received by the FAFSA processor, and assuming
the application has not been rejected for some other reason, the CPS
will calculate the student's EFC and produce a SAR and ISIR for the
student.

We have made the following enhancements to the signature page process
for 2000-2001:

-   The CPS will accept and process either a signed signature page or a
    signed SAR. In 2000-2001, we will accept and process the signatures
    on whichever document we receive first.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Students for whom we are awaiting a signed signature page can call
    FAFSA on the Web Customer Service and request that their record be
    released from the hold file. A rejected SAR will immediately be
    produced and mailed to the applicant.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **Browser Options**. As of July 1999, when using one of our web
    products, applicants will be able to use higher-version browsers
    than those we have certified in our testing. Students will receive a
    warning message that the browser they are using has not yet been
    tested and certified by ED. Previously, applicants using browsers
    that had not yet been tested and certified were prevented from using
    our web applications. For those who are interested, the FAFSA on the
    Web web site includes a list of browsers that we have certified.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **Edits**. We will continue to include all of the CPS edits in our
    web products. These built-in edits have been very successful in
    helping applicants detect and correct errors before transmitting
    data to the CPS and have significantly reduced the number of
    applications rejected by the CPS.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **Deleted Edit.** Based on changes made by Reauthorization, we had
    to delete an override edit offered during the 1999-2000 application
    processing year. In 2000-2001, to prevent parents from being
    included in the number in college question, dependent students will
    no longer be able to override the household size and number in
    college edits when using our web products.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **Better Instructions.** We have improved the instructions for our
    web products to help applicants properly print, submit their
    applications, and close their browser sessions once they have
    successfully transmitted their application data.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **New Application Screens.** Our web products will have a new look
    in 2000-2001.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **Banner Ad**. We will continue to offer banner ads for schools to
    use to link their web sites to FAFSA on the Web and Renewal FAFSA on
    the Web. A banner is a section of a Web page that contains a graphic
    and a link to an associated Web site. Using this banner, schools can
    cut and paste a link to their Web site that links directly to FAFSA
    and Renewal FAFSA on the Web
    ([http://www.fafsa.ed.gov](http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)). The IFAP Web
    site ([http://www.ifap.ed.gov](http://www.ifap.ed.gov/)) provides
    instructions on how to copy and paste the banner ad to your Web
    site. Look in the "FAFSAs and Renewal FAFSAs" section of IFAP for
    more information.

### FAFSA on the Web

In 2000-2001, we will offer two different versions of FAFSA on the Web:

-   **Interview Format.** We will continue to offer the interview
    format. In the interview format only a few questions appear on the
    screen at a time, questions are placed in logical groupings, and
    extensive skip logic is used.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **Form-based Format.** Beginning in 2000-2001, we will offer a new
    form-based version of FAFSA on the Web. The financial aid community,
    and students and parents, have told us that some applicants prefer
    to first complete a paper FAFSA and then use the completed paper
    FAFSA when entering their data electronically on FAFSA on the Web.
    Therefore, we have developed a form-based version of FAFSA on the
    Web that resembles the paper FAFSA. The form-based version of FAFSA
    on the Web also has data editing, help text, and skip logic.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   **New Worksheets.** In 2000-2001, our Web products will include two
    new worksheets.

(1) ***Pre-Application Worksheet***. We added a pre-application
    worksheet to our Web products that applicants can print out and use
    to collect financial information before attempting to complete their
    FAFSA online. The pre-application worksheet can be printed either in
    PDF format or from the student's web browser. A copy of this new
    worksheet is included as Enclosure E of this Action Letter.

(2) ***Question #28 Worksheet***. We added both an interactive and
    printable worksheet to our Web application products that students
    can use to figure out the appropriate response to the drug
    conviction question (question 28). A copy of the Question 28
    Worksheet is included as Enclosure F of this Action Letter.

-   **FAFSA on the Web Promotional Kit.** We are actively trying to
    promote FAFSA on the Web to high school counselors and to other
    organizations that have frequent contact with high school seniors
    and college students. In November, we will distribute FAFSA on the
    Web Tool Kits to high schools, postsecondary schools, state
    agencies, libraries, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), and TRIO
    Centers.

> The Tool Kit will include a sample FAFSA on the Web brochure, two
> posters, a one-page flyer with tips on using the Internet to apply for
> financial aid, and a CD-ROM. The CD-ROM includes a FAFSA on the Web
> self-paced tutorial and a FAFSA on the Web prototype that can be used
> at Financial Aid Nights to demonstrate FAFSA on the Web without being
> connected to the Internet. The CD-ROM also includes a banner ad that
> you can cut and paste to your web site and a FAFSA on the Web screen
> saver.
>
> Additional copies of the brochure and posters can be ordered by
> calling 1-800-433-3243 or our TTY number, 1-800-730-8913.

### Renewal FAFSA on the Web

The procedures for reapplying for financial aid using Renewal FAFSA on
the Web are similar to last year's. Most students who meet certain
eligibility criteria will automatically receive a 2000-2001 Renewal
FAFSA in the mail, either from their school or from ED. The instruction
booklet for the paper 2000-2001 Renewal FAFSA tells students that they
can submit their Renewal FAFSA over the Internet. See 2000-2001 Action
Letters #1 and #4 for details about the Renewal Application process.

Like last year, students will need a PIN to access their 2000-2001
Renewal FASFA on the Web. Students who do not already have one may
request a PIN from the PIN web page
([www.pin.ed.gov](http://www.pin.ed.gov/)) beginning November 22, 1999
(see the early section of this Action Letter titled "Who Can Request a
PIN Now?" for details about who can request a PIN now). Students who
requested and obtained an EAC as part of the 1998-99 or 1999-2000
Renewal Application process can use that same code as their PIN to
access their 2000-2001 Renewal FAFSA on the Web. Renewal applicants who
do not already have a PIN, or do not remember their EAC from last year,
can request one by going to the PIN web page.

When requesting a PIN, students must reside at the same address
currently in the CPS database. A PIN will be mailed in a secure envelope
to that address. The PIN mailer should arrive within 7 to 10 days from
the date of the request. With a PIN, students can access their 2000-2001
Renewal FAFSA on the Web, complete the application on-line, and
electronically transmit the information to the CPS. The PIN acts as the
student's signature so only the parents of dependent students need to
supply a signature using one of the signature processes described
earlier in this letter.

### Corrections on the Web

Using their PINs, students can go to the Web, retrieve their application
data, and submit changes to their applicant records over the Internet.
We call this new feature Corrections on the Web. We're introducing
Corrections on the Web in two phases.

**Phase I.** Phase I of Corrections on the Web was implemented on
September 22, 1999 and is effective for the 1999-2000 application
processing year. In Phase I, students can access their applicant records
to change only their first and last names, address, phone number, and
any of their housing and school codes.

To gain access to their records, students must go to the FAFSA on the
Web web site ([www.fafsa.ed.gov](http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)) and click on
the "Make Corrections" link. To access their applicant record, students
must enter their SSN, Name ID (first two letters of their last name),
date of birth, and PIN.

> Students can select a specific transaction to correct or they can use
> the default code of 99 to select their most recent transaction.

**Phase II.** Phase II of Corrections on the Web will be implemented in
March 2000 for the 2000-2001 application processing year and beyond. In
Phase II, students can change all data elements on their SAR except
their SSN and date of birth. SSN and date of birth cannot be changed
because they are identifying elements that, along with the student's
PIN, are used to authenticate the user.

> Students must go to the FAFSA on the Web site and enter their SSN,
> Name ID (first two letters of their last name), date of birth, PIN,
> and transaction number to gain access to their record.

+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| **Corrections on the Web          |                                  |
| Signature Requirements**          |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Phase I                           | -   No student signature         |
|                                   |     required because the PIN     |
|                                   |     used to access Corrections   |
|                                   |     on the Web serves as the     |
|                                   |     student's electronic         |
|                                   |     signature.                   |
|                                   |                                  |
|                                   | -   No parent signature required |
|                                   |     because no parent data is    |
|                                   |     being changed.               |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Phase II                          | -   No student signature         |
|                                   |     required because the PIN     |
|                                   |     used to access Corrections   |
|                                   |     on the Web serves as the     |
|                                   |     student's electronic         |
|                                   |     signature.                   |
|                                   |                                  |
|                                   | -   Parent signature required    |
|                                   |     only when parent data in     |
|                                   |     Step Four of the application |
|                                   |     is changed.                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+

## FAFSA Express

We will continue to offer FAFSA Express in 2000-2001; however, because
the number of applicants who use this product continues to decline this
may be its last year. We changed FAFSA Express to correspond to changes
made to the paper FAFSA. In addition, all of the signature options
available to web filers described earlier in this letter are also
available to students and parents using FAFSA Express to apply for
financial aid.

#### Schedule for FAFSA Express

> Beginning January 3, 2000, students can download FAFSA Express from
> the FAFSA on the Web site
> (http://[www.fafsa.ed.gov](http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)). Those who
> prefer the software on diskettes can call FAFSA on the Web/FAFSA
> Express Customer Service at 1-800-801-0576/TTY 1-800-511-5806
> beginning on January 3, 2000.

## STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR) AND INSTITUTIONAL STUDENT INFORMATION RECORD (ISIR) 

***Draft Record Layout.*** A draft ISIR record layout was posted to IFAP
in July 1999 and an updated record layout will be available in November
1999. To get to the ISIR record layout, go to the IFAP home page and
click on the Bookshelf icon. Select EDE Technical References or SAR/ISIR
Reference Materials and then Select "By 2000-2001 Award Year."

***Draft Documents**.* Copies of the 2000-2001 SAR, SAR Information
Acknowledgement, and SAR instructions are on IFAP and are included with
this letter as Enclosure E. Draft 2000-2001 SAR, ISIR, and SAR
Information Acknowledgement comments were posted to IFAP in October 1999
and are included with this Action Letter as Enclosure D.

**Changes to the SAR and ISIR**

We made minimal changes to the 2000-2001 SAR and ISIR. These changes are
listed below.

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| #### Chan                         |                                   |
| ges to the 2000-2001 SAR and ISIR |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| ***What We Changed?***            | ***Why?***                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| SARs will be printed on 8-1/2 by  | To match the color of the FAFSA.  |
| 11-inch pink paper. The Xerox     |                                   |
| number for the paper is 6900.     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| We revised the order and wording  | To correspond with changes to the |
| of questions on the SAR and ISIR. | FAFSA.                            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| SAR "C" Codes and match comments  | By including SAR "C"codes and     |
| will be provided on all rejected  | match comments on rejected SARs   |
| 2000-2001 SARs and ISIRs.         | and ISIRs schools can immediately |
|                                   | begin to resolve student          |
|                                   | eligibility problems rather than  |
|                                   | having to wait until the student  |
|                                   | receives a valid SAR.             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| A *Question 28 Worksheet* will be | The worksheet is intended to help |
| included with SARs for all        | students figure out how to answer |
| applicants who answered the drug  | question 28 if they left it       |
| conviction question with a "3"    | blank, and to help students who   |
| (meaning their eligibility for    | answered the question with a "3"  |
| the entire 2000-2001 award year   | confirm that that is the correct  |
| is affected by a prior drug       | response. The worksheet also      |
| conviction) or who left the       | provides information about what   |
| question blank.                   | an acceptable drug rehab program  |
|                                   | is.                               |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | This worksheet is available as    |
|                                   | Enclosure F.                      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| We combined the Verification      | To simplify the verification      |
| Transaction and Verification      | information provided to schools   |
| Tracking flags into a single      | on SARs and ISIRs.                |
| Verification Flag on SARs and     |                                   |
| ISIRs to indicate whether a       |                                   |
| student was selected for          |                                   |
| verification.                     |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| The new Verification Flag values  |                                   |
| are as follows:                   |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| N = Not selected for verification |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Y = Selected for verification on  |                                   |
| this transaction                  |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| \* = Not selected for             |                                   |
| verification on this transaction, |                                   |
| but selected for verification on  |                                   |
| a later/higher transaction        |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| We revised SAR/ISIR comment 6 to  | To ensure that students receive   |
| remind students to keep their     | all ED mailings, such as Renewal  |
| address with CPS current          | FAFSAs and PIN mailers.           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| We relabeled "FAA EFC Adjustment" | So that the name more accurately  |
| to "FAA Adjustment."              | reflects the purpose of this      |
|                                   | item.                             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

#### Changes to the NSLDS Financial Aid History Page 

We made a relatively few changes to the NSLDS History Page. These
changes are listed below.

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **NSLDS Financial Aid History     |                                   |
| Page Changes**                    |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| ***What?***                       | ***Why?***                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| We restored the "Unsubsidized     | FAAs told us they found this      |
| Loan Amount" information to the   | information helpful so we put it  |
| FFELP/Direct Loans section of the | back (it was deleted from the     |
| NSLDS History Page.               | NSLDS History Page in 1999-2000,  |
|                                   | when we added a "Combined Loans"  |
| We will continue to provide the   | field).                           |
| "Combined Loans" field.           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| We deleted the "Perkins First     | The Higher Education Amendments   |
| Disbursement Prior to 10/1/92"    | of 1998 made it unnecessary to    |
| and "NSLDS Perkins Expanded       | continue to collect this          |
| Lending Option Flag" fields from  | information.                      |
| the Perkins Loans section of the  |                                   |
| History Page.                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| We added an "Award Amount" field  | This field was added to make it   |
| to the Pell Payment section of    | easier for schools, in the new    |
| the History Page.                 | RFMS environment, to calculate    |
|                                   | remaining Pell eligibility for    |
|                                   | mid-year transfer students.       |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

**Post-Screening Reason code**. We added a Post-screening reason code to
the NSLDS Financial Aid History Page. This code should make it easier
for schools to determine why a post-screened ISIR for a student was
received. The codes can be interpreted as follows:

  --------------- -------------------------------------------------------
  **Reason Code** **Reason for Post-screening Results**

  **1**           Student went into default on a loan that was not in
                  default when prescreened.

  **2**           Student owes a newly reported overpayment since
                  prescreening.

  **3**           Student was in default at time of prescreening, but is
                  no longer in default.

  **4**           Student had overpayment at time of prescreening, but no
                  longer owes an overpayment.

  **5**           Other.
  --------------- -------------------------------------------------------

**Other Changes**

***Phone Number Changes.*** Beginning in 2000-2001, students can change
their phone number by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center
(FSAIC), 1-800-4FED-AID. Students already can change items such as
address, and housing and school codes by calling this number.

***SAR Address Change/School Change/Duplicate SAR Request Form
Discontinued.*** Because students now have numerous ways to change their
address or school codes, or order a duplicate SAR, we have eliminated
the SAR Address Change/Duplicate SAR Request form. Students can change
data or order a duplicate SAR by:

-   calling the Federal Student Information Center at 1-800-4FED-AID,

-   sending a letter to the Federal Student Aid Programs, P.O. Box 7021,
    Lawrence, KS 66044-7021,

-   making a correction to their SAR,

-   using Corrections on the Web, or

-   working with their school to make corrections using EDExpress.

**Federal School Codes**

In June 1999, the Department mailed a letter to institution's asking
them to review and, if necessary, update their contact name, address,
and Federal School Code. Updates were due back to the Department by July
14, 1999. A Federal School Code List will be published in November 1999
and mailed to postsecondary institutions, high schools, and libraries.
Schools can also search for a specific school's Federal School Code on
the FAFSA on the Web site
([http://www.fafsa.ed.gov](http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)), or on one of ED's
other Web sites ([http://www.ed.gov](http://www.ed.gov/) or
[http://ifap.ed.gov](http://ifap.ed.gov/)).

.

#### Special Instructions for Pacific Islanders

To be eligible to receive Title IV funds, students must provide a valid
SSN on their FAFSA. As in previous years, an exception to this
requirement is made for students from the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
Students from these areas who do not have SSNs may apply for Title IV
aid, but they must send their FAFSAs to the following address for
special handling:

> Federal Student Aid Programs
>
> P.O. Box 4003
>
> Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-8603

Institutions should try to collect as many completed FAFSAs as possible
for these types of students and send them together to the above address.
When received, the applications will be assigned an identification
number and submitted to the CPS for regular processing. These applicants
are exempt from the SSN match with SSA. Although Pacific Island
applicants who do not have an SSN are not able to use FAFSA Express,
FAFSA on the Web, Renewal FAFSA on the Web, or Corrections on the Web,
institutions can transmit application data for these students
electronically using EDExpress.

#### Verification Worksheets

The 2000-2001 Dependent and Independent Verification Worksheets are
included with this letter as Enclosure G.

## EDExpress

EDExpress has been fully tested and is Year 2000 compliant. In addition,
we have made several improvements to the 2000-2001 EDExpress software.
We also made changes to the software to conform with changes to the
FAFSA and ISIR, and as a result of Reauthorization. Major changes are
highlighted below.

**SFA Software Download**

Beginning with the 6.0 release, all EDExpress software must be
downloaded from our new SFAdownload web site:

[www.SFAdownload.ed.gov](http://www.SFAdownload.ed.gov/)

This web site will enable users to download software, software service
releases (patches), and software documentation. Rather than having to
ship software and subsequent service releases, schools and other
partners will be able to download the tools they need on demand.

SFAdownload is free to all users and no subscription is required. The
SFAdownload web site will be in full production in December 1999 and
will result in faster distribution.

An Action Letter describing SFAdownload will be posted on IFAP in
December 1999. Watch for more news about this exciting new product.

#### Changes to EDExpress Software 

We made the following changes in the EDExpress software:

+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| **2000-2001 |                                                        |
| EDExpress   |                                                        |
| Changes**   |                                                        |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| *           | ***Change to Module***                                 |
| **Module*** |                                                        |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| #### G      | ***User Logon Dropdown List.*** Users will be able to  |
| lobal -- ED | select their User ID from a dropdown list, which is a  |
| Express 6.0 | compilation of all users' ID's created under the       |
|             | Security User setup.                                   |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***List of Predefined Queries.*** We added a list of   |
|             | predefined queries to the online help. This printable  |
|             | list will help users decide if they want to modify     |
|             | predefined queries or create additional queries.       |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Award and Document Tracking Letters.*** Schools     |
|             | will be able to modify the current hard-coded text in  |
|             | their Award Letters and Document Tracking Letters to   |
|             | make the text more specific to their institutions.     |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Print***. Schools will be able to print by batch ID |
|             | without having to type the entire batch ID number.     |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| ##          | ***Active Transaction*.** When opening a record on the |
| ## Applicat | SAR/ISIR or ISIR review tab, you can select to display |
| ions -- EDE | either the "active" transaction or the highest         |
| xpress 6.0  | transaction using the Process Activate Transaction     |
|             | feature.                                               |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***New Optional Import Feature.*** EDExpress will      |
|             | offer a new import feature that alerts FAAs when       |
|             | another transaction is received for a student who      |
|             | already has an "active" transaction.                   |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Saving Partially Completed Records.*** When         |
|             | creating FAFSA records, schools will be able to save a |
|             | partially completed record. In addition, schools will  |
|             | be able to print a list of incomplete FAFSA records so |
|             | that they can complete them at a later time. In        |
|             | 1999-2000, users were required to complete the entire  |
|             | FAFSA and resolve all edits before they could save.    |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***New Message Class.*** We added a new message class  |
|             | so that schools can send in student and parent         |
|             | signature flags for applicants who used FAFSA on the   |
|             | Web or FAFSA Express, but who did not send in a        |
|             | signature page or use their PIN to electronically sign |
|             | their application. This new message class allows       |
|             | schools to send student and parent signatures to CPS   |
|             | while the application is still in the hold file.       |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Pell Eligibility Flag**.* The Pell Eligibility Flag |
|             | will be set to Y for graduate students with            |
|             | Pell-eligible EFCs who indicate on their FAFSAs that   |
|             | they are enrolled in a teaching credential program.    |
|             | EDExpress assumes these students are eligible for Pell |
|             | Grants unless the FAA submits a correction to CPS.     |
|             | (This also occurs in the 1999-2000 EDExpress           |
|             | software.)                                             |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Transmit number***. We deleted the Permanent        |
|             | Address Change Date transmit number.                   |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| **Packaging | ***Award and Document Tracking Letters.*** Schools     |
| --          | will be able to modify the current hard-coded text in  |
| EDExpress   | their Award Letters and Document Tracking Letters to   |
| 6.0**       | make the text more specific to their institutions.     |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Remaining Need**.* Schools will be able to award    |
|             | financial aid (except Pell Grant, outside resources,   |
|             | and subsidized, unsubsidized, and PLUS loans) by       |
|             | setting parameters based on ranges of remaining need.  |
|             | FAAs can set parameters using fund priority levels,    |
|             | unmet need ranges, and award amounts. As the software  |
|             | is packaging, funds will be passed through in the      |
|             | assigned priority order and awarded in the amounts     |
|             | associated with that level of remaining need. After    |
|             | each fund is added, the student's remaining need will  |
|             | be recalculated and packaging will proceed to the next |
|             | fund in the priority order specified by the school.    |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| **Direct    | ***Booked Disbursement Notification:*** Schools will   |
| Loan --     | receive notification through a Booked Disbursement     |
| EDExpress   | (record type L) or a Booked Adjusted Disbursement      |
| 6.1**       | (record type M) from the Loan Origination Center (LOC) |
|             | that provides the booked date of an actual             |
|             | disbursement or an actual adjusted disbursement. These |
|             | Disbursement Records indicate that the disbursement or |
|             | adjusted disbursement reached Loan Servicing.          |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Anticipated Completion Date:*** The Anticipated     |
|             | Completion Date (ACD) will no longer be a field entry  |
|             | in EDExpress and the requirement to submit the ACD on  |
|             | the Loan Origination Record has been eliminated.       |
|             | Instead, the LOC will calculate the ACD based on the   |
|             | loan period, the student's grade level, and the        |
|             | school's program length. Changes to the ACD are made   |
|             | through the Student Status Confirmation Report (SSCR)  |
|             | process only.                                          |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Disbursements.*** Schools will be able to make up   |
|             | to 20 anticipated and 20 actual disbursements for      |
|             | subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans. This       |
|             | change provides the flexibility to increase a loan     |
|             | amount during the academic year and to add additional  |
|             | disbursements, if necessary.                           |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Disclosure Statements:*** Schools will be able to   |
|             | print Disclosure Statements for subsidized and         |
|             | unsubsidized Stafford loans with 12 or fewer           |
|             | anticipated disbursements. A Disclosure Statement      |
|             | Print Indicator is used to notify the LOC whether the  |
|             | school or the LOC printed the Disclosure Statement.    |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Experimental School Field.*** We changed the name   |
|             | of the Experimental School field to "Special School."  |
|             | This field will allow both experimental sites and      |
|             | schools with low cohort default rates to make a single |
|             | disbursement of a loan.                                |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Multi-Year Functionality:*** We implemented         |
|             | multi-year functionality for the Master Promissory     |
|             | Note (MPN) for schools that are eligible to use        |
|             | multi-year functionality according to Direct Loan      |
|             | regulations. With this change, borrowers attending     |
|             | schools that are eligible for multi-year functionality |
|             | are required to have only one open MPN on file at the  |
|             | LOC for all subsidized and unsubsidized loans          |
|             | disbursed for the 2000-2001 academic year and beyond.  |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Servicing Refund Process.*** We added a new         |
|             | Disbursement Activity type of "P" to notify you when   |
|             | Loan Servicing has received a refund from a borrower   |
|             | on a current-year loan. This record is to inform you   |
|             | that the student has additional loan eligibility for   |
|             | the current year.                                      |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| #### Pell   | ***Export***. A global file format has been added to   |
| Grant -- ED | the Pell module so that users can export EDExpress     |
| Express 6.2 | data to external systems.                              |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***File Formats.*** Schools will be able to use file   |
|             | formats in the Pell module just like they do in the    |
|             | other EDExpress modules.                               |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Cents***. Schools can use cents in their Pell       |
|             | origination records.                                   |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
|             | ***Alternate Pell Grant**.* The software will be able  |
|             | to calculate a Pell Grant award using the alternate    |
|             | Pell Award Schedule for students with low assessed     |
|             | tuition.                                               |
+-------------+--------------------------------------------------------+

#### Schedule for EDExpress

EDExpress software will be available from our SFA Download web site on
the following dates:

+-----------------+---------------------------------+------------------+
| **Version**     | **Modules Included**            | **Date of        |
|                 |                                 | Release**        |
+-----------------+---------------------------------+------------------+
| V. 6.0          | Global                          | December 1999    |
|                 |                                 |                  |
|                 | Application Processing          |                  |
|                 |                                 |                  |
|                 | Packaging                       |                  |
+-----------------+---------------------------------+------------------+
| V. 6.1          | Direct Loan                     | March 2000       |
+-----------------+---------------------------------+------------------+
| V 6.2           | Pell Grant                      | April 2000       |
+-----------------+---------------------------------+------------------+

## 

## References

#### Customer Service 

-   CPS Customer Support, 1-800-330-5947 or e-mail cps@ncs.com.
    Representatives are available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. -- 7 p.m.
    Central Time.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   FAFSA on the Web and FAFSA Express Customer Service, 1-800-801-0576,
    TTY: 1-800-730-8913, or email <fafsa_admin@ncs.com>. Representatives
    are available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. -- 10 p.m. Central Time.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Federal Student Aid Information Center, 1-800-4-FED-AID
    (1-800-433-3243). Representatives are available Monday-Friday, 8
    a.m. -- 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   SFATECH is a new e-mail list serve maintained by the Department to
    address technical questions and issues about ED's SFA systems and
    software. For more information, see
    <http://www.ed.gov/sfatech/listserv.html>

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Student Financial Assistance (SFA) Customer Support (for Title IV
    program questions, application processing questions, and for
    assistance contacting other ED staff), 1-800-433-7327 or e-mail
    <csb@ed.gov>. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9
    a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

#### Documents

Review the following documents in the IFAP Web site\'s Bookshelf for
more information about the changes to the Application Processing System
during the 2000-2001 processing year.

-   Action Letter \# 1, June 1999, Changes to the Application Process

-   Action Letter \# 4, September 1999, Instructions for Submitting
    Renewal Application Data Requests

-   Action Letter #5, November 1999, Information about the Student Aid
    Internet Gateway and the new SFA Download Web site

-   *EDE Technical Reference*, available November 1999

-   *A Guide to SARs and ISIRs*, available November 1999

-   Higher Education Amendments of 1998

#### Web Sites

For more information, look on-line:

-   Electronic Access Conference web site,
    [http://edeworkshop.walcoff.com](http://edeworkshop.walcoff.com/)

-   PIN web site, [http://www.pin.ed.gov](http://www.eac.gov/),
    available November 1999 (students can access this site through the
    old EAC web site at
    [http://www.eac.ed.gov](http://www.eac.ed.gov/)).

-   FAFSA Express web site,
    [http://www.fafsa.ed.gov](http://www.ed.gov/offices/ope/express.html)

-   FAFSA on the Web site (includes FAFSA on the Web, Renewal FAFSA on
    the Web, and Corrections on the Web),
    [http://www.fafsa.ed.gov](http://www.FAFSA.ed.gov/)

-   IFAP web site, [http://www.ifap.ed.gov](http://www.ifap.ed.gov/).
    Click "Bookshelf."

-   SFA Technical Support web site, <http://www.ed.gov/sfatech>

-   SFATECH e-mail listserve,
    [http://www.ed.gov/sfatech/listserv.html]{.underline}

-   Completing the FAFSA, <http://www.ed.gov/prog.info/SFA/FAFSA>

-   SFA Download web site,
    [http://www.SFAdownload.ed.gov](http://www.SFAdownload.ed.gov/)

## Glossary

Below lists common acronyms used throughout this action letter.

+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| #### AAFS | Access America For Students                              |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **AGI**   | Adjusted Gross Income                                    |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **ARN**   | Alien Registration Number                                |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **CPS**   | Central Processing System                                |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **CT**    | Central Time                                             |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **DLSS**  | Direct Loan Servicing System                             |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **EAC**   | Electronic Access Codes (now called PINs) or Electronic  |
|           | Access Conference                                        |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **ED**    | U.S. Department of Education                             |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **EDE**   | Electronic Data Exchange                                 |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **EFC**   | Expected Family Contribution                             |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **FAA**   | Financial Aid Administrator                              |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **FAFSA** | Free Application for Federal Student Aid                 |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **FAQ**   | Frequently Asked Questions                               |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **FFELP** | Federal Family Education Loan Program                    |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **FISAP** | Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate  |
|           | in the Federal Campus-based Programs                     |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **IFAP**  | Information for Financial Aid Professionals              |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **INS**   | Immigration & Naturalization Service                     |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **IRA**   | Individual Retirement Account                            |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **IRS**   | Internal Revenue Service                                 |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **ISIR**  | Institutional Student Information Record                 |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **LOC**   | Loan Origination Center                                  |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **MDE**   | Multiple Data Entry                                      |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **MPN**   | Master Promissory Note                                   |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **NSLDS** | National Student Loan Data System                        |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **RAD**   | Renewal Application Data                                 |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **SAR**   | Student Aid Report                                       |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **SFA**   | Student Financial Assistance                             |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **SSA**   | Social Security Administration                           |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **SSCR**  | Student Status Confirmation Report                       |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **SSN**   | Social Security Number                                   |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| **VA**    | Veterans Affairs                                         |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+