A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program Assessment System.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

18-12-05

System name:
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program Assessment System.

Security classification:
None.

System location:

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
This system contains records on individuals who apply for fellowships and receive admission to a GAANN project.

Categories of records in the system:
This system contains information including the individual's name, Social Security number, gender, ethnicity, field of study, source of student's GAANN Fellowship, amount of stipend per year of student's GAANN Fellowship, amount of institutional contribution to tuition per year of student's GAANN Fellowship, amount of support the student received after the GAANN Fellowship, year and term the student entered institution's graduate program, current education status, current employment status, how the fellow's financial need was determined, whether Title IV financial need analysis was used, whether amount of student's financial need is known, cost of education, and financial need.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
20 U.S.C. 1135C (1993).

Purpose(s):
This system is used to provide performance data about the GAANN Fellowship Program for the Department's use in responding to the requirements of the GPRA. In addition, information obtained from the system of records may also be used for the general purpose of administering the GAANN Fellowship Program.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses:
The Department of Education (the Department) may disclose information contained in a record in this system of records under the routine uses listed in this system of records without the consent of the individual if the disclosure is compatible with the purposes for which the record was collected. These disclosures may be made on a case-by-case basis or, if the Department has complied with the computer matching requirements of the Privacy Act, under a computer matching agreement.

1. Disclosure for Use by Other Law Enforcement Agencies. The Department may disclose information to any Federal, State, local, or foreign agency or other public authority responsible for enforcing, investigating, or prosecuting violations of administrative, civil, or criminal law or regulation if that information is relevant to any enforcement, regulatory, investigative, or prosecutive responsibility within the receiving entity's jurisdiction.
2. Enforcement Disclosure. In the event that information in this system of records indicates, either on its face or in connection with other information, a violation or potential violation of any applicable statute, regulation, or order of a competent authority, the Department may disclose the relevant records to the appropriate agency, whether foreign, Federal, State, Tribal, or local, charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting that violation or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute, executive order, rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto.
3. Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Disclosures.
   1. Introduction. In the event that one of the parties listed below is involved in litigation or ADR, or has an interest in litigation ADR, the Department may disclose certain records to the parties described in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this routine use under the conditions specified in those paragraphs:
      1. The Department, or any component of the Department; or
      2. Any Department employee in his or her official capacity; or
      3. Any Department employee in his or her individual capacity if the Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to provide or arrange for representation for the employee;
      4. Any Department employee in his or her individual capacity where the agency has agreed to represent the employee; or
      5. The United States where the Department determines that the litigation is likely to affect the Department or any of its components.
   2. Disclosure to the DOJ. If the Department determines that disclosure of certain records to the DOJ is relevant and necessary to litigation or ADR, the Department may disclose those records as a routine use to the DOJ.
   3. Administrative Disclosures. If the Department determines that disclosure of certain records to an adjudicative body before which the Department is authorized to appear, an individual or entity designated by the Department or otherwise empowered to resolve or mediate disputes is relevant and necessary to the administrative litigation, the Department may disclose those records as a routine use to the adjudicative body, individual, or entity.
   4. Parties, counsels, representatives and witnesses. If the Department determines that disclosure of certain records to a party, counsel, representative or witness in an administrative proceeding is relevant and necessary to the litigation, the Department may disclose those records as a routine use to the party, counsel, representative or witness.
4. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advice Disclosure. The Department may disclose records to the Department of Justice and the Office of Management and Budget if the Department concludes that disclosure is desirable or necessary in determining whether particular records are required to be disclosed under the FOIA.

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:
Disclosure pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 (a)(b)(12).The Department may disclose to a consumer reporting agency information regarding any Federal claim which is determined to be valid and overdue as follows: (1) The name, address, taxpayer identification number and other information necessary to establish the identity of the individual responsible for the claim; (2) the amount, status, and history of the claim; and (3) the program under which the claim arose. The Department may disclose the information specified in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) (12) after completing the procedures contained in subsection 31 U.S.C. 3711(f). A consumer reporting agency to which these disclosures may be made is defined at 31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3).

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system:

Storage:
Information in this system is maintained in an electronic centralized database on a computer server. Information extracted from the system will be maintained on access-controlled personal computers and in physical file folders.

Retrievability:
Records in this system can be retrieved by name and Social Security number.

Safeguards:
The computer system employed by the Department offers a high degree of resistance to tampering and circumvention. This security system limits data access to Department and contract staff on a "need to know" basis, and controls individual users' ability to access and alter records within the system. All users of this system of records are given a unique user ID with personal identifiers. All interactions by individual users with the system are recorded.

Retention and disposal:
Records on successful applications are destroyed five years after final payment from the Department to the institution, or after completion of audit-related activities or litigation, whichever is later.

System manager(s) and address:

Notification procedure:
If you wish to determine whether a record exists regarding you in this system of records, you should provide the system manager with your name, Social Security number or nine-digit identification number. Your request must meet the requirement of the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity.

Record access procedures:
If you wish to gain access to a record in this system of records, you should contact the system manager and provide information as described in the Notification Procedures. Requests for access to a record should reasonably specify the particular record content being sought. Your request must meet the requirements of the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity.

Contesting record procedures:
If you wish to contest information contained in a record in this system of records, you should contact the system manager. Your request may be made either in writing or in person, and should specify: (1) The system of records from which the record is to be retrieved; (2) the particular record you are seeking to amend; (3) whether you are seeking a deletion, an addition, or a substitution; and (4) the reason(s) for the requested change(s). You should include any appropriate documentation supporting the requested change(s). Your request must meet the requirements of the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.7, including proof of identity.

Record source categories:
Information contained in this system is obtained from the institutions the fellows attend.

System exempted from certain provisions of the act:
None.