Dear SASFAA,
Though people were excited to hear
that I was back, the number one question I got was…how are the
boys. So, let’s talk about family (and maybe a little Title
IV).
Bartnicki Family:
Luke is going to high
school. Yeah!!! He made it. Though he
did get his first C this year, he surprised us on his CRCT state tests and
exceeded all categories but one. Amazing what he can do with a
little preparation and focus. Luke is a junior swim coach on the
neighborhood team and so far he has not injured any of our swimmers (including
his brothers). He was excited to get his first paycheck, but sad
when dad applied it towards college. I think it might pay for 1/10
of a credit or two days on a meal plan.
Adam was a little depressed with his
report card because he did not get a 100 in every subject and missed a question
or two on his CRCT state tests. Adam’s track season is coming to
an end but he has done well this year setting personal records in the 1500 and
3000. I will say that he tends to get real lazy in the summer (I
think because he has worked so hard during the school year) sleeping in, wearing
his bathrobe as long as he can and when asked to do anything he complains about
summer being his vacation time and that he should not have to
work. At first his response made me angry but then I realized I
liked his philosophy so I told my big boss (wife Christy) the same
thing. She was not amused and for wasting her time I got extra
chores (which I then made Adam do).
Ethan made it to 5th grade, and so far this summer has not injured himself
(though he tries really hard). He is finishing track season as
well and loves the summer swim team. Of course, I don’t know if he
likes swim team for the competition or the concession food, friends, late
nights, etc. He also turned 10 a few weeks ago and after much
crying, Christy allowed him to be officially 10. Ethan also had a
sleepover birthday party with six 10-year old boys. Everyone
survived – barely. Between the complaints, crying, fighting,
teasing, and I want to go home issues, I found myself wishing that I was doing a
federal update anywhere. In fact, if any state is wondering when
to set their spring conference dates for next year, I have the perfect dates
that will guarantee I can be there.
And now some FSA
guidance:
NSLDS Enrollment
Reporting
GEN-14-07 (http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN1407.html) highlights new changes in the NSLDS enrollment reporting process,
while also reminding schools of some key reporting requirements.
It is important to remember that all schools must have implemented the new
enrollment reporting processes and file layouts by October 1,
2014. This October date represents a three-month extension
from our previously announced deadline of July 1, 2014. Schools
that choose to wait to report using the new enrollment reporting file layouts
until after July 1,
2014 must, when they do begin reporting using the new enrollment
reporting file layouts, report program-level enrollment information retroactive
to July 1, 2014.
It is also very important to note that
beginning July 1,
2014, we will request enrollment information from schools every 60 days
and schools will be required to respond to those requests within 15 days
of the date that we send the electronic enrollment reporting roster to the
school or to its designated third-party servicer.
NSLDS will also begin capturing
program-level data in addition to campus-level data due to the new reporting
requirements required for the 150% subsidized Direct Loan
limitations. The program –level
record includes the program’s CIP Code and Credential Level, the program’s
published length and Title IV academic year, the student’s enrollment status in
the program, and other information related to the academic
program. Separate program-level records must be completed for each
academic program the student is or was enrolled at the school.
There will be a new enrollment status
code of “Q” for three-quarter-time enrollment.
In addition, we reminded schools that
NSLDS requires enrollment to be reported for a specific location (campus)
eight-digit OPEID. If the student changes his or her primary
location to one of the institution’s other campuses, the school will use the
NSLDS enrollment reporting process to provide the “move to” location of the
campus to which the student transferred. Enrollment should not be
certified at more than one campus location (multiple eight-digit OPEIDs), even
if that student has no primary location and is attending multiple locations of
the institution. In such instances, the school must choose a
primary location (campus) and report one enrollment status that includes the
student’s enrollment at all of the school’s campuses.
And finally, it is very important that
enrollment information of Title IV aid recipients who transfer to another
institution but who do not receive aid at the new institution be reported to
NSLDS like any other aid Title IV aid recipient. Failure to report
the enrollment of these students could, among other things, result in the
student (1) entering repayment on their loans when they should not, (2) not
being subject to loss of interest subsidy under the 150% limit when they should
because of continued enrollment, and (3) losing interest subsidy under the 150%
limit when they should not because the student completed the program.
If you have a third-party servicer, you may have to notify your
servicer which students need to be added to your roster.
Please note that we published a new
NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide. For more information, please see
the electronic announcement dated April 25, 2014.
Recognized Equivalent of a High School
Diploma
The Department recently published Dear Colleague Letter
GEN-14-06 which discusses important
information about new alternative State-authorized examinations, separate from a GED
test, that were released in January
2014.
A State
certificate received by a student after the student has passed a
State-authorized examination that the State recognizes as the equivalent of a
high school diploma is included as one of the recognized equivalents of a high
school diploma in 34 CFR 600.2. Two examples of State-authorized examinations,
in addition to the GED test, are the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) and
the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC). As of January 2014, some
States have either replaced the GED test with a different State-authorized
examination or offer students a choice of several State-authorized examinations
(e.g., a choice between the HiSET, TASC, GED test, or other State-authorized
examination). Like the GED test, a student who takes the HiSET, TASC, or other
State-authorized examination will receive official notification of a passing or
failing score that is used to determine if a State will issue a high school
equivalency certificate to a student.
Students should contact the State education authority where
they took or plan to take a State-authorized examination to determine which
examinations are approved by the State and the eligibility requirements for each
examination. For
information on contacting State education authorities, see the
following: http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_cd=DAE
Verification
For
those students selected for V4 or V5 that are unable to appear in person and
need to obtain a notarized Statement of Educational Purposes, please note that
currently the Department does not authorize the use of online
notary services as an alternative to traditional, in person notary services
(14/15 FSA HDBK, AVG, Chapter 4, page 89, sidebar).
Pell Grant LEU Dispute Portal
Authorized COD Web site users are now
able to create, view, and/or update a Pell Grant LEU dispute via the new Pell
LEU Dispute Portal on the COD Web site. Schools will no longer contact the COD
School Relations Center to initiate the dispute.
A “Create Pell LEU Dispute” button has
been added to the Pell LEU History page.
In addition, schools will be able to upload dispute
documents directly into COD, receive automated email communications from ED and
more easily view and search dispute information.
For
more information about the new COD Pell Grant LEU dispute portal, please see the
electronic announcement dated April 18, 2014.
2014 FSA Training Conference for Financial Aid
Professionals
I am pleased to announce that the 2014
FSA Training Conference will be held on December 2 –5 in
SASFAA’s backyard at the Georgia World Congress Center located in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Registration and lodging will be available within the
coming weeks. For further information regarding the upcoming 2014 FSA Training
Conference, please visit our website at http://fsaconferences.ed.gov.
Retirements
It seems that
every time I turn around someone is retiring (except me). I wanted
to point out a few regional retirements of folks you may have worked with over
the years: Lynette Davis (Institutional Review Specialist –
Atlanta); Patricia Gilbert (Institutional Review Specialist – Atlanta); Chuck
Engstrom (Director – Atlanta); and Tom Beckerle (Institutional Improvement
Specialist – Kansas City). We wish them well.
Until the next
new TIV rule, or one of my kids does something amazing (not necessarily in a
good way), I am…
Your neighborhood FED,
DAVE
David Bartnicki
Federal Training Officer
ED/FSA/Atlanta
