With the December 18th deadline now passed, FSA has provided a updated breakdown of the expanded features on its digital platforms for anyone who wants a detailed refresher. Read the full announcement of what to expect below.
POSTED DATE: December 21, 2023
AUTHOR: Federal Student Aid
ELECTRONIC ANNOUNCEMENT ID: GENERAL-23-120
SUBJECT: FSA Partner Connect – E-App and TPS Functionality Implemented; Reminders and Initial Next Steps for Users
As noted in a Dec. 18, 2023 Electronic Announcement, we expanded the features of FSA Partner Connect, the digital front door for all Federal Student Aid and partner engagement.
In this announcement, we provide information about changes users will see within FSA Partner Connect, including changes to the structure and functionality of the Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (E-App) and the Third-Party Servicer (TPS) Inquiry Form. We also provide reminders about some key actions that must be taken in FSA Partner Connect as well as resources available as users begin to use the new interface.
Section 1: E-App Now in FSA Partner Connect
As explained in earlier announcements, as of Dec. 18, 2023, users must now use FSA Partner Connect to complete the E-App and manage eligibility and oversight-related cases.
The eligcert.ed.gov website can no longer be used, and users going to the former URL will be redirected to FSA Partner Connect. Users should update any bookmarks for the former site to FSA Partner Connect as soon as possible. We will be updating our websites and documentation through regular update cycles, so users will continue to see former website references for some time. In the meantime, the redirect will be in place for at least six months.
Section 2: General FSA Partner Connect Updates
With this release, FSA Partner Connect users will see some new features in several areas of the website.
- Dashboard – The dashboard has been enhanced to include notifications about eligibility and oversight cases and color-coded notifications to alert users of actions that may need to be taken.
- Partner Profiles – Profiles for school third-party servicers have been added to FSA Partner Connect. Users can search for third-party servicers and view information for these servicers.
- Case Management – This new area allows users to view and manage Eligibility and Oversight case work. Users can see status messages about eligibility and oversight cases and track the progress of submitted applications and cases.
Section 3: Changes to E-App Functionality
A new version of the E-App is now available in FSA Partner Connect for partners to submit new applications for school eligibility, recertifications of school eligibility, and other program participation changes. FSA Partner Connect also provides access to an automated pre-eligibility application for new applicants.
An authenticated user can log in to FSA Partner Connect to access the E-App data for its organization. The user can navigate to “Title IV Program Eligibility” on the FSA Partner Connect top menu bar, select “Title IV Participation Application” from the dropdown menu, and then click on the “Get Started” button in the E-App section of the page. Tabs for the 13 E-App sections will appear on the left menu bar. Note: In future communications, we will provide additional information about the new structure of the E-App and some of the new questions. The first time a school user submits an E-App, regardless of the reason, answers to all the new questions and a review of the full application will be required. For the immediate need, schools should focus on FSA Partner Connect access and assignment of the E&O user roles.
Section 4: Changes to TPS Functionality
The Third-Party Servicer Inquiry Form is an Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved collection of information needed to validate third-party servicer information reported to the U.S. Department of Education (Department) by a school about any third-party servicer that administers one or more aspects of the administration of the Title IV, HEA programs on that school’s behalf. This form also collects additional information from third-party servicers required for effective oversight.
In the past, third-party servicers have submitted paper forms to the Department. Following this FSA Partner Connect implementation, however, entities or individuals that meet the Department’s definition of a third-party servicer must always complete and submit the Third-Party Servicer Inquiry Form electronically via FSA Partner Connect.
An authenticated user can log in to FSA Partner Connect to access the Third-Party Servicer Inquiry Form data for its organization. The user can navigate to “Title IV Program Eligibility” on the FSA Partner Connect top menu bar, select “Third-Party Servicers” from the dropdown menu, and then click on the “Get Started” button in the TPS Inquiry Form section of the page. Tabs for the 11 Third-Party Servicer Inquiry Form sections will appear on the left menu bar. Note: In future communications, we will provide additional information about the new structure of the TPS Inquiry Form and some of the new questions. The first time a TPS user submits a TPS Inquiry Form (or E-App on behalf of a school), regardless of the reason, answers to all the new questions and a review of the full application will be required. For the immediate need, TPS users should focus on FSA Partner Connect access and assignment of the E&O user roles. In addition, these users must work with their partner schools to ensure the proper relationship status is set up in FSA Partner Connect (more about this action is provided in Section 5).
Section 5: Reminders and Required Actions Before Using New Features
Below we remind organizations of key actions that must be taken now that the new E-App and TPS Inquiry Form have been implemented within FSA Partner Connect.
As explained in a Nov. 17, 2023 Electronic Announcement, to use the new features, users must have access to FSA Partner Connect. Users who need access to FSA Partner Connect must contact their organization’s Primary Administrator to complete that process. Note: As a reminder, if a Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) was listed on the Eligibility & Certification Approval Report (ECAR), but was not already an FSA Partner Connect user, we have initiated the account creation process. FAAs should have received (or will soon receive) an email to complete enrollment. We encourage FAAs to complete the enrollment steps as soon as possible.
To access and complete the E-App, users need Eligibility & Oversight (E&O) access assigned to their Partner Connect profile. This functionality is now available and must be added by an organization’s E&O Administrator (E&O Admin). E&O Admins do not need to access the E-App to add other E&O users and roles. Instead, E&O Admins can add specific E&O roles using the Account Access Management Center in FSA Partner Connect.
Post-Implementation School Action Needed to Establish TPS Relationship
A school whose third-party servicer prepares E-App submissions on its behalf must take an action in FSA Partner Connect to authorize the third-party servicer (and its users) the capability to complete eligibility and oversight work.
- The school’s E&O Administrator or Alternate E&O Administrator must complete this action within the Account Access Management Center – Eligibility and Oversight tab on FSA Partner Connect.
- This school-based action must occur even if the third-party servicer established its users in FSA Partner Connect and the appropriate Third-Party Servicer E&O user roles have been assigned to those users.
- Until the school completes this action, the third-party servicer will be unable to prepare an E-App submission for the school electronically via FSA Partner Connect.
Note: This action is specifically authorizing a third-party servicer to complete E-App submissions and other case work activity. The enrollment of users in FSA Partner Connect and assigning their ability to perform E&O work is still managed by each organization (i.e., school E&O Admins manage school users and TPS E&O Admins manage TPS users).
Section 5a: Reporting Actions that occurred during the Transition Period (Recertifications, Eligibility Updates, Changes in Ownership, and Prison Education Programs)
Some schools were impacted by the Nov. 25–Dec. 17, 2023, transition period in which the E-App was unavailable. Below, we provide schools with next steps for processing of applications for the following categories:
December 31 Recertification Cohort (i.e., schools that have Program Participation Agreements expiring on March 31, 2024):
- For schools that have Program Participation Agreements expiring on March 31, 2024.
- If a school submitted an E-App before Nov. 24, 2023, we will begin our review of it in FSA Partner Connect. Going forward, all activity related to the application will be completed in FSA Partner Connect.
- If a school started but did not submit its E-App before Nov. 24, 2023, the data was not saved or carried over to FSA Partner Connect. The school must re-start the E-App in FSA Partner Connect.
Eligibility Updates
- If a school submitted an E-App before Nov. 24, 2023, we will review it in FSA Partner Connect. Going forward, all activity related to the application will be completed in FSA Partner Connect.
- If a school started but did not submit an E-App before Nov. 24, 2023, the data was not saved or carried over to FSA Partner Connect. The school must re-start the E-App in FSA Partner Connect.
- If a school had an event impacting eligibility during the transition period and reported that event via email to its School Participation Division, it should now submit the required E-App in FSA Partner Connect.
Change In Ownership
In a Sept. 21, 2023 Electronic Announcement (GENERAL-23-77), we provided guidance for compliance with the 90-day advance notification for a change in ownership (CIO).
- During the transition period, 90-day reporting was to be made via email to the school’s School Participation Division. Changes reported via email can now be submitted via FSA Partner Connect; the changes should be reported in “Section O – Additional Information” of the E-App. Follow GENERAL-23-77 guidance for required documents. Going forward, 90-day reporting should only be completed via the E-App.
- During the transition period, 10-day required notifications were to be made via email to the school’s School Participation Division no later than 10 days after the CIO transaction occurred to maintain Title IV eligibility. The E-App for reported events must now be submitted via FSA Partner Connect. Going forward, 10-day notifications should be completed via the E-App.
Prison Education Programs
- If a school is considering eligibility for a Prison Education Program (PEP) or needs to report additional PEPs, as outlined in the June 30, 2023 Electronic Announcement (GENERAL-23-52), it must now provide that information via the E-App in FSA Partner Connect.
Training, Resources, and Questions
We understand the community will continue to have questions about the new E-App and other features. The community can find additional information in the following ways:
- E-App and Third-Party Service Inquiry Form Updates Area – This area on the Knowledge Center provides a consolidated location for ongoing information and updates about the new features.
- FSA Partner Connect FAQs – The FAQ page on the FSA Partner Connect Help Center has additional information about obtaining access to the site. We will continue to expand this page as additional questions are received.
- Training Opportunities – In a Dec. 4, 2023 Training Announcement, we provided details about a series of live webinars available for partners. In addition, other resources such as video tutorials and job aids are posted to the FSA Training Center (System Training/FSA Partner Connect Training/Partner).
- Questions – Partners can submit questions through the Contact Customer Support form in the FSA Partner Connect Help Center. To submit a question about this recent implementation, complete the form and select “Partner Connect Feedback” as the topic. Partners can also contact the FSA Partner and School Relations Center via phone at 1-800-848-0978 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time).