Training on Specific Functions
Live Internet Webinar—Software Developers Webinar May 2013
This instructor-led, online training session for software developers will provide operational updates on Federal Student Aid systems, including the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System, the Central Processing System (CPS), and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). We will also discuss updates to the eCampus-Based (eCB) System and changes to the 2014–2015 Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP). This training is intended for software developers that design software to support federal student aid processing.
We will present this information in a half-day session on Thursday, May 23, 2013, from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. (ET). An additional webinar for software developers is planned for August 2013. We will provide information about the additional training opportunity later this summer on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) website.
Advance registration is required for this training and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
PowerPoint slides will be available for trainees to download after they sign in to the webinar, and they will be able to ask questions using their computers during the webinar.
Webinar Recordings—2012 Fall Webinar Training Series
This series of four online, instructor-led sessions provided training on the Campus-Based programs, Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculations in clock-hour withdrawal situations, R2T4 calculations for modules, and clock-hour program requirements. Federal Student Aid staff presented this information in four 90-minute modules in October 2012. For a complete description of these webinars, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-12-21.
To view the recordings, handouts, and transcripts, go to our downloads page. No registration is required to view the sessions.
If you have questions about this training opportunity, please e-mail Greg Martin.
Training Recording—2012–2013 EDExpress Updates for Release 2.0
In addition to describing the Release 2.0 updates, which included changes to the Federal Pell Grant (Pell Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) modules, the brief, 25-minute session also provides a high-level overview of EDExpress and technical assistance contact information. The session is designed for financial aid administrators (FAAs) who have a basic understanding of the EDExpress software and who wish to learn more about Release 2.0.
No registration is required to view the recorded training session.
If you have questions about this training opportunity, please e-mail Bruce Honer.
Training Recording—Completing the FISAP
This recorded training session focuses on the Fiscal Operations Report for 2011–2012 and Application to Participate for 2013–2014 (FISAP). This FISAP is available on the eCampus-Based (eCB) Web site and must be submitted no later than October 1, 2012, by schools that participate in the Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program, and Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program. We will review the sections of the FISAP, identify changes made to the current FISAP, and discuss the most commonly made errors when completing the FISAP. The training is intended for individuals on the financial aid and business office staff who are responsible for completing the FISAP—especially those who are new to completing the FISAP.
View the PowerPoint slides and transcript. We recommend trainees download and print the PowerPoint slides before beginning the training. In addition, it will be helpful for trainees to have the current FISAP for reference during the training. You can get PDF versions of the current FISAP form and instructions on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site.
Note: No registration is required to view the recorded training session, nor do you need a recording key.
Webinar Recordings—Delinquency and Default Management Webinar Conference
This series of six recorded sessions will assist schools with understanding which borrowers are defaulting and why and how to use this important information to build an effective default prevention strategy. Federal Student Aid staff presented this information over two days in late April 2012. For a complete description of the sessions offered during the webinar conference, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-12-09.
Click on the title of each session below to view the recording:
Default Prevention—Everybody's Business
Identifying Default Risks & Developing a Plan—Working with the Default Prevention Team
Default Management—Working with the Federal Loan Servicers
Reports—NSLDS School Portfolio
You can view the transcripts for the recorded training session on the materials and recordings page.
To request the handouts for the recorded training sessions, e-mail DefaultPreventionAssistance@ed.gov.
Note: Neither registration nor a recording key is required to view the session.
Webinar Recording—Direct Loan Tools
This webinar is on Direct Loan (DL) Tools for Windows, a supplemental software product designed to assist schools with Direct Loan Program reconciliation. The session includes information that will be useful to both EDExpress and non-EDExpress software users and is intended for financial aid and business office staff with Direct Loan reconciliation responsibilities. Federal Student Aid staff presented this information in a one-hour session in mid-June 2012. For a complete description of the session, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-12-11.
This session was also offered in 2010 as part of the Direct Loan Webinar Training Suite. The session has now been updated and expanded to provide current information about Direct Loan Tools. As a reminder, we have updated several of the sessions from 2010 and recordings are available (refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-11-28). Additional Direct Loan webinars will be offered in the future to provide further updated information.
You can view the transcript and handout for the recorded training session on the materials and recordings page.
Note: Neither registration nor a recording key is required to view the session.
Webinar Recording—Direct Loan Reconciliation and Program Year Closeout: Start to Finish
This webinar recording provides an overview of the Direct Loan reconciliation and closeout processes. The emphasis is on Direct Loan reports, tools, and resources available to assist schools in reconciling and closing out in a timely manner. Federal Student Aid staff presented this information in a one-hour session in late April 2012. For a complete description of the session, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-12-08.
You can view the transcript and handout for the recorded training session on the materials and recordings page.
Note: Neither registration nor a recording key is required to view the session.
Webinar Recording—Business Officer Training Q & A
This webinar addressed recent questions raised by the financial aid community related to the business office and the administration of the Title IV programs, as well as provided an open question and answer period with policy staff. Federal Student Aid staff presented this information in a two-hour session in early March 2012. For a complete description of the session, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-12-05.
You can view the transcript and handout for the recorded training session on the materials and recordings page.
Note: Neither registration nor a recording key is required to view the session.
Training Recording—Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)
This 90-minute training session is intended for individuals in the financial aid office who are unfamiliar with the R2T4 requirements, or individuals who would like to learn more about performing the R2T4 calculation. The recorded training session
- reviews the regulatory requirements of the R2T4 calculation;
- provides guidance relevant to the most current R2T4 calculation, including a discussion of modules and requirements for schools that are required to take attendance; and
- includes a Participant's Guide and step-by-step walkthrough of a case study that reviews an R2T4 scenario and provides an opportunity to calculate a return of federal funds.
This training will not cover the R2T4 on the Web online application. The session has two parts. To view each part of the session, click on the links below.
Note: Neither registration nor a recording key is required to view the session.
Download and print the Participant's Guide.
Webinar Recordings—Direct Loan Primer and Reports
These two webinars, "Direct Loan Reports" and "Direct Loan Primer," are intended for financial aid office, business office, and technical support staff who are new to the Direct Loan Program and are involved in Direct Loan processing. Federal Student Aid staff presented this information in two 90-minute sessions during November 2011. For a complete description of these webinars, refer to Dear Colleague Letters ANN-11-25 and ANN-11-27.
Note: Information from these sessions was provided in 2010 as part of the Direct Loan Webinar Training Suite. These two sessions have now been updated and expanded to provide current information about Direct Loans. In the coming months we will offer additional Direct Loan webinars to further update the training series. For information about the availability of session recordings for the complete 2010 Direct Loan Webinar Training Suite, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-40. No registration is required to view the recorded training sessions.
View the "Direct Loan Reports" session.
View the "Direct Loan Primer" session.
View the transcript for each recorded training session.
EDExpress Online Training for 2011–2012 and Direct Loan Tools Online Training
These Web-based products teach users the basic skills needed to access and navigate the 2011–2012 EDExpress and EDconnect software and the Direct Loan (DL) Tools software.
Users should select the text-only version for either training and follow the instructions for the installation of the necessary files to engage in the training.
We look forward to your use of EDExpress Online Training for 2011–2012 and Direct Loan Tools Online Training. If you have questions about these Web-based training products, please e-mail Bruce Honer or Mark Gerhard.
Professional Judgment Session Two
This training session is intended for financial aid office personnel who are interested in learning more about the use of professional judgment in the administration of the Federal Student Aid Programs. The recorded training session:
- Reviews the statutory basis and rationale for professional judgment, as well as the scope of the authority to use professional judgment;
- Includes a Participant’s Guide that provides case studies covering the different types of professional judgment. Participants are guided through the case studies and presented with possible professional judgment determinations, as well as limitations; and
- Encourages participants to make a determination in accordance with their own school's professional judgment policy.
As a resource for future use, a reference and citation guide on the various types of professional judgment is also included in the Participant's Guide.
Note: A recording key is not required to view the session. An overview of professional judgment was provided in the Professional Judgment Session One training recording. We recommend you view Session One before viewing Session Two. For more information on Session One, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-17.
View and download the Participant's Guide and PowerPoint slides of the recorded training session.
FSA Assessments Training
Federal Student Aid has a comprehensive tool that schools can use to ensure Title IV compliance and program integrity. The FSA Assessments provide schools with a system of evaluating program compliance as well as opportunities to correct problems.
Please visit the FSA Assessment training page on the Quality Assurance web site. This page includes a link to podcasts that give you a quick overview of the assessments. You can also view an all-inclusive Assessment training located on this page, which includes a video, PowerPoint, and transcript.
Federal Student Aid has designed these management assessment modules in collaboration with financial aid professionals to help schools enhance their services. The modules contain links to applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions about how to use this useful tool, please visit our FAQ page.
This chart provides examples of specific compliance issues and recommends related assessments that your school may want to complete.
Webinar Recording—Default Prevention and Federal Student Loan Servicing Overview
This training is intended for financial aid office personnel, student success staff, and others interested in preventing student loan default. Federal Student Aid staff presented this information in a 90-minute session in November 2010. For a complete description of the session, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-38. No registration is required to view the recorded training session.
View the transcript and handout.
Interactive DL Reconciliation Training
This 70-minute training session is intended for financial aid and business office personnel who are responsible for reconciling and funding Direct Loans. The primary difference between this session and the recorded webinar on Direct Loan reconciliation, offered as part of the Direct Loan Webinar Training Suite below, is the interactive nature of this training. Participants will explore the process of monthly reconciliation using a participant's guide, which will be used as a reference throughout the training and is a valuable resource for future use.
Using the participant's guide, the recorded training session will review how to identify and avoid common cash and disbursement discrepancies, as well as highlight reports, tools, and resources that are available to assist schools with timely reconciliation. Participants will also work through a case study to further explore each step in the monthly Direct Loan reconciliation process. No registration is required to view the recorded training session.
Direct Loan Training Suite Webinar Recordings
These are the recorded versions of our online, instructor-led training sessions on the Direct Loan Program. This suite of webinars is intended for financial aid office, business office, and technical support staff who are involved in Direct Loan processing. No registration is required to view these sessions.
Federal Student Aid staff presented this information in six 90-minute sessions during June, July, August, and September 2010. For a complete description of these webinars, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-23.
- Direct Loan Reconciliation (This webinar is no longer available, please refer to the Interactive DL Reconciliation Training, above, and Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-41.)
Note: We announced the availability of this recording earlier in Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-37, which was posted to the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) website on October 26, 2010. - Direct Loan Processing in COD for New Participants (This webinar is under revision and is currently not available.)
- Direct Loan Programmatic Primer (This webinar was updated and replaced by the Direct Loan Primer, please refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-11-28.)
- Direct Loan Systems Primer (This webinar was updated and replaced by the Direct Loan Primer, please refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-11-28.)
- Direct Loan Tools (This webinar is under revision and is currently not available.)
- Direct Loan Reports (This webinar was updated; please refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-11-28.)
View the transcript and handout for each recorded training session.
Foreign School Direct Loan Training Webinar Recordings
These are the recorded versions of our instructor-led, online training series designed to assist foreign schools with the transition to the Direct Loan Program. The webinar series focuses on key aspects of awarding and reporting Direct Loans made at foreign schools and provides participants with a similar experience to the training workshops that were conducted at various international locations in June 2010.
Federal Student Aid staff presented this information during six two-hour webinar modules in August 2010. For complete descriptions of the sessions, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-30. No recording key is required to view these sessions; you can leave that field blank.
View the "Difference Between FFEL and Direct Loans and Determining Student Eligibility" session.
View the "Calculating Award Amounts" session.
Note: This recording contains a short delay (approximately 30 seconds) in the middle of the recording. Please continue to listen and the recording will resume. We apologize for the technical difficulty.
View the "Direct Loan Programmatic Primer" session.
View the "Originating Loans with the Direct Loan Tool and Using the COD System" session.
View the "Cash Management and Reconciliation" session.
View the "Return of Title IV Funds and Using NSLDS" session.
View the transcript and handout for each recorded training session.
Private Education Loan Disclosure Requirements Recorded Webinar
This is the recorded version of the training that Federal Student Aid staff presented in a 90-minute session in late August 2010. For a complete description of the session, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-31. This training is intended for financial aid office personnel interested in implementation of the changes and who want to ensure they are in compliance with the requirements. No recording key is required to view this session; you can leave that field blank.
View the transcript and handout for the recorded training session.
Direct Loan Webinar Recordings for Business Officers
These are the recorded versions of the webinars that were presented in March and April of 2010. They provide information on key aspects of Direct Loan participation, funding, and cash management. Each webinar is designed for business office staff at schools who are new to the Direct Loan Program and who will maintain, fund, and reconcile Direct Loans. For complete descriptions of the two sessions, refer to Dear Colleague Letter ANN-10-08. No recording key is required to view the training sessions; you can leave that field blank.
View the "Participation and Funding" session.
View the "Cash Management" session.
View the transcript and handout for each recorded training session.
Pell Grant Calculations for Clock-Hour Programs
This one-hour training session covers the concepts and terms specific to awarding Pell grants for clock-hour programs, including academic program eligibility, clock hour, academic year, award year, scheduled award, annual award, and cost of attendance. This session is intended for financial aid administrators at clock-hour institutions with a beginning to intermediate level of knowledge of Pell grant calculations using Formula 4. To learn more and access the training and accompanying materials, click on the button below.
NSLDS Aggregate Loan Calculation
This one-hour training is intended for individuals on the financial aid staff who have an intermediate level of knowledge regarding student eligibility and the NSLDS. To learn more and access the training and accompanying materials, click on the button below.
R2T4 on the Web
R2T4 on the Web is a non-year specific application developed to calculate the return of Title IV funds and is accessible through the FAA Main Menu of the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site. This 75-minute training session is intended for individuals on the financial aid staff who access R2T4 on the Web via FAA Access to CPS Online to perform or monitor R2T4 calculations. To learn more and access the training and accompanying materials click on the button below.
R2T4 Overview
This one-hour training session is intended for individuals on the financial aid staff who are novices at performing the R2T4 calculation or others who may need to know how to perform the R2T4 calculation that results from a student's withdrawal. To learn more and access the training and accompanying materials click on the button below.
COD Computer-Based Training (Downloadable PC software)
Self-paced training in eight sessions that will guide you through each area of the COD system. It simulates the COD web screens and functions. Explores the basic navigation and functions of the COD website and provides practice creating and retrieving information with feedback to help the learner. The program uses fictitious data for over 600 persons and 20 schools that offer a wide range of scenarios.
The program requires a Windows 98 or higher operating system with an ODBC driver for Microsoft Access 2000. Your screen resolution should be set to 1024 x 768 or higher.
FISAP Web-based Training
Self-paced training on the Web! Explains how to complete the annual Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) for campus-based program funds. Also covers what to watch for, how to determine appropriate funding requests, how to fill out and submit the FISAP on the Web, and what happens after it is submitted.