Posted Date
July 30, 2024
Author
Federal Student Aid
Electronic Announcement ID
GENERAL-24-96
Subject
Update on Batch Corrections for Institutions via the Electronic Data Exchange, Flexibilities, and Additional Support for the 2024-25 FAFSA Cycle
This announcement provides an update on batch institutional corrections and flexibilities and support for the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle. We are grateful for your hard work and perseverance during this extraordinary year, which we acknowledge has been full of changes, difficulties, and delays. With this in mind, we are working to release updates on a timeline that allows us to balance quick and timely information with careful consideration of details and mitigations that may limit the impact on our partners.
Batch Institutional Corrections
The Department previously shared that batch institutional corrections via the Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) would be available by mid-August. Today, we are providing the update that unfortunately batch corrections functionality will be deferred until the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle. We know that this is not the news that you, our partners, were expecting and adds to the challenges your organizations have already been facing.
This decision is based on two main factors. First, due to the delayed delivery timeline, institutions would not be able to utilize batch corrections before they begin their fall semesters. Second, we are prioritizing the development of a well-tested, robust, and end-to-end launch of the 2025-26 form and need to ensure development resources are focused appropriately. We know this is also a priority for all our partners and students.
Since launching the FAFSA Partner Portal (FPP) earlier this month, over 2,800 institutions have successfully submitted individual corrections. In recognition of both the time sensitivity and extra administrative burden for institutions, the Department is making new support available to help institutions complete the FPP institutional corrections process.
We know this decision creates additional burdens for institutions that are already experiencing a heavy workload and increased demands during this extraordinary FAFSA processing cycle.
Today, the Department is announcing the availability of no-cost technical assistance to help institutions submit corrections via FPP. Institutions who wish to leverage third-party services for assistance may learn more about their eligibility and how to request support here. Please note that school requests will be approved based on need, servicers’ capacity, and availability of funds.
Some institutions whose request for support is approved will need to complete the process to update their Application to Participate (E-App) and initiate access to their FTI-SAIG mailbox. The Department will provide additional information on this process next week to help expedite participation by institutions.
Extending Flexibilities
The Department is also extending the following existing flexibilities:
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Extending suspensions on routine program reviews. As part of its oversight duties, the Department routinely conducts program reviews to confirm a college meets the Department’s requirements for institutional eligibility, financial responsibility, and administrative capability. The Department previously announced the suspension of all new program reviews through June 2024, except for those related to the most serious issues like suspected fraud or a severe breach of fiduciary duty. Institutions with an ongoing program review can also request extensions for responses to program reviews, reports, or requests for additional documentation. Today, we are announcing that this suspension will extend through September 2024.
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Providing additional flexibility on recertification. Institutions are currently required to routinely recertify eligibility for the Department’s federal student aid programs no later than 90 days before their Program Participation Agreement (PPA) expires. The Department also previously announced that it would waive that 90-day requirement for schools whose PPA expires in March, June, or September 2024, meaning these schools have until their expiration day to submit a recertification application. We are further waiving the 90-day requirement for schools whose PPA expires in December 2024.
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Extending the disbursem*nt reporting timeline. In recent years, institutions were required to report disbursem*nts no later than 15 calendar days after the institution makes a disbursem*nt. On May 10, 2024, the Department announced that institutions will not be required to report disbursem*nts made for the 2024-25 award year until 30 days after the date that school corrections become available, and on May 22, we further clarified that this flexibility extends until 30 days after batch corrections functionality. Given the deferral of batch corrections to the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle, and that schools may need additional time to process institutional corrections in FPP, institutions will not be required to report disbursem*nts made for the 2024-25 award year until November 30 or 15 calendar days after the disbursem*nt is made, whichever is later.
Contact Information
Any questions about this announcement should be sent through the Contact Customer Support form link in Federal Student Aid’s Help Center. When submitting a question, please enter your name, email address, IHE, topic, and question. When selecting a topic, please select “2024-25 FAFSA.”
Last Modified: 07/30/2024
