[ctcLinkfinaidsupport] FA Weeklyish Bulletin 10/11/2024

Fri Oct 11 13:13:25 PDT 2024

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A Financial Aid Focus
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Did You Know . . . ?

  *   Pell COD Files / Message Class - The Pell files craa and crpg are two different message classes used in ctcLink/COD.  Though both message classes work for the Pell program, there are differences in the files:
     *   The crpg file is a Program Specific, Non-Award Year Specific file.  This means only Pell records will be in this file, and they could contain data from more than one aid year.
     *   The craa file is a Non-Program Specific, Award Year Specific file. This means that programs other than Pell can be in the file, i.e. Direct Loans, but the data is aid year specific.
     *   Is there a preferred file to use for the Pell program?  If you can, please use crpg files for Pell outbound/inbound information.  Switching to the usage of crpg files instead of craa files helps FA Support when troubleshooting file errors in the file servers.  If you have been using craa files, you can just make the switch to crpg next time you outbound.

Reminder . . .

  *   Known Issues QRG - A reminder that we are still updating the FAFSA Simplification 2024-2025 Known Issues in ctcLink QRG<https://ctclinkreferencecenter.ctclink.us/searches?text=known+issues&commit=Search>. Please check back with this document at least once a week.  New bug findings are being added to it as we find them.  This document contains the issue at hand, potential workarounds, and timelines expected to resolve the issues.

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Upcoming Financial Aid Learning Opportunities
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Calendar invites with web ex log in information already sent out to the ctcLinkfinaidsupport list serv.

Session:  Aid Year Rollover Prep
When:  Thursday, 10/24/2024, 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Audience:  Financial Aid staff responsible for preparing for 2025/2026 Aid Year Rollover
Presenters:  Connie Burrow, Senior Functional Analyst (Financial Aid)
Session Description:

  *   Join us in a Fin Aid Work Session on how to prepare for AYRO.  Your attendance is important as potential decisions or later needed decisions may be required. This work session will include the review docs and checklist processes.

Session:  Advanced Fin Aid Training:  Pell & Loan Message Log Review
When:  Tuesday, 11/05/2024, 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Audience:  Financial Aid staff responsible for Pell & Direct Loan processing and troubleshooting
Presenters:  Kelly Forsberg, FA Functional Trainer
Objectives:

  *   Understand how to download the Message Log detail
  *   Understand how to search in the Message Log detail
  *   Understand how to determine what needs further review in the MDLA and Manage Pell Payment pages

Session:  Intermediate Fin Aid Training:  Multiple Record Report (MRR) Process Refresher
When:  Tuesday, 11/19/2024, 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Audience:  New Financial Aid Staff (and current staff needing a refresher) who are responsible for managing Pell payment
Presenters:  Kelly Forsberg, FA Functional Trainer
Objectives:

  *   Understand and work the steps in the Pell MRR Process
     *   Upload/Download Files
     *   Import Federal Data Files
     *   Import Pell Phase-In Data
     *   Run Pell MRR Batch Report

Action Required:  Prior to the session, please ensure you are receiving the PGMR message class file in your SAIG mailbox (EdConnect).  You may have to contact COD to request this file type if you do not already see this file in your inbox.  You should be getting these files in your SAIG mailbox as POP (Pell Over-Payment) students are identified in your Pell Processing.

Session:  PLUS Loan Processing Refresher
When:  Tuesday, 12/3/2024, 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Audience:  New Financial Aid Staff (and current staff needing a refresher) who are responsible for processing PLUS loans in ctcLink
Presenters:  Kelly Forsberg, FA Functional Trainer
Objectives:

  *   Understand awarding the PLUS Loan
     *   performing a credit check
     *   brief discussion about using loan request form vs. PLUS Loan application on studentaid.gov
  *   Understand how to establish the Parent Record in ctcLink
  *   Understand how to establish a student parent relationship
  *   Understand how to link the parent record to the PLUS Loan record
  *   Understand how to work with PLUS-denied students by awarding addt'l unsub

Session:  Advanced Fin Aid Training:  Processing Negative Disbursement Files
When:  Tuesday, 12/10/2024, 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Audience:  Financial Aid staff responsible for Pell processing and troubleshooting Presenters:  Kelly Forsberg, FA Functional Trainer
Objectives:

  *   Understand what crnd Negative Disbursement files are
  *   Understand why these files appear in your EdConnect queue
  *   Understand how to reduce the occurrence of these files from appearing in your EdConnect queue
  *   Understand how to review and read the Manage Pell Payment page when these files are loaded
  *   Understand how to process Negative Disbursement (crnd) files in ctcLink

Didn't receive the calendar invite and you want to be included on these email updates/calendar invites?  Subscribe to the ctcLinkfinaidsupport list serv<https://lists.ctc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ctclinkfinaidsupport_lists.ctc.edu>.
Also, as a reminder, you can go to the SBCTC Calendar<https://www.sbctc.edu/calendar> (filter by Calendar ctcLink Learning Opportunities > Financial Aid) to get the information and block out your own calendar for this time.

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Team Updates
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FA Support Team

  *   The FA Support Team is currently preparing for the Aid Year Rollover Prep Work Session, working tickets and planning/testing for the next PUM image.

Training Team

  *   Updates to Canvas Training courses and QRGs are ongoing and will be worked up to include screen updates from the 24/25 FAFSA Simplification.  Announcements will be made in Canvas when as the courses are completed.  This work is expected through December.  Updates to Business Processing Guides will be made as time and resources allows.

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Guide Updates
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Pell Processing Business Processing Guide

  *   Updates to the Pell Processing Business Processing Guide<https://ctclinkreferencecenter.ctclink.us/m/92436/l/798577-pell-processing-business-process-guide> have been made to include a process for Pell Negative Disbursements.  An overview and the steps are on or around pg. 40 - 45.  There is a training on this new process in December.  See the above Learning Opportunities section for more information.

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Just 'Cuz
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Next week we celebrate Financial Aid Day!  October 16, 2024 (Wednesday), we celebrate everyone's contributions to the Financial Aid profession!  All the thanks to you, in our Financial Aid community, for all your hard work, dedication and just all-around AMAZINGNESS for helping Washington's Community College students attain their college and career goals!

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TGIF,

FA Support & Training

[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]
Kelly Forsberg
ctcLink Functional Trainer | Financial Aid
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
kforsberg at sbctc.edu<mailto:kforsberg at sbctc.edu> * o: 360-704-1066
sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> * Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> * Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

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