[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38784-38789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16034]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications, Reports, and Other Records for the 2011-2012 Award 
Year: Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Supplemental 
Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins 
Loan, Federal Pell Grant, etc.

AGENCY: Federal Student Aid, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Catalog Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.007

    Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program; 84.033 
Federal Work-Study Programs; 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program; 
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program; 84.268 William D. Ford Federal 
Direct Loan Program; 84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College 
and Higher Education Grant Program; 84.408 Iraq and Afghanistan Service 
Grant Program.

[[Page 38785]]

SUMMARY: The Secretary announces deadline dates for the receipt of 
documents and other information from institutions and applicants for 
the Federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, for the 2011-2012 award year. 
The Federal student aid programs include the Federal Supplemental 
Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), 
Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Pell Grant, William D. Ford Federal 
Direct Loan (Direct Loan), Teacher Education Assistance for College and 
Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service 
Grant programs.
    These programs, administered by the U.S. Department of Education 
(Department), provide financial assistance to students attending 
eligible postsecondary educational institutions to help them pay their 
educational costs.
    Deadline and Submission Dates: See Tables A, B, and C at the end of 
this notice.

Table A--Deadline Dates for Application Processing and Receipt of 
Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) or Student Aid 
Reports (SARs) by Institutions for the 2011-2012 Award Year

    Table A provides information and deadline dates for application 
processing, including receipt of the Free Application for Federal 
Student Aid (FAFSA) and corrections to and signatures for the FAFSA, 
receipt of ISIRs and SARs, and receipt of verification documents.
    The deadline date for the receipt of a FAFSA by the Department's 
Central Processing System is June 30, 2012, regardless of the method 
that the applicant uses to submit the FAFSA. The deadline date for the 
receipt of a signature page for the FAFSA (if required), corrections, 
changes of addresses or schools, or requests for a duplicate SAR is 
September 21, 2012. Verification documents must be received by the 
institution no later than the earlier of 120 days after the student's 
last date of enrollment or September 28, 2012. As a reminder, 
verification is not required for unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans and 
PLUS Loans, TEACH Grants, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.
    For all Federal student aid programs except Direct PLUS Loans made 
to parent borrowers, an ISIR or SAR with an official expected family 
contribution must be received by the institution no later than the 
earlier of the student's last date of enrollment for the 2011-2012 
award year or September 28, 2012. For Direct PLUS Loans made to parent 
borrowers, FAFSA information processed by the Secretary must be 
received by the institution no later than the earlier of the student's 
last date of enrollment for the 2011-2012 award year or September 28, 
2012. For purposes of only the Federal Pell Grant Program, a valid ISIR 
or a valid SAR for a student not meeting the conditions for a late 
disbursement must be received no later than the earlier of the 
student's last date of enrollment or September 28, 2012. A valid ISIR 
or valid SAR for a student meeting the conditions for a late 
disbursement under the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, FWS, Federal Perkins 
Loan or Direct Subsidized Loan programs must be received according to 
the deadline dates provided in Table A.
    In accordance with the regulations in 34 CFR 668.164(g)(4)(i), an 
institution may not make a late disbursement later than 180 days after 
the date of the institution's determination that the student withdrew, 
as provided in 34 CFR 668.22, or for a student who did not withdraw, 
180 days after the date the student otherwise became ineligible. Table 
A provides that an institution must receive a valid ISIR or valid SAR 
no later than 180 days after its determination of a student's 
withdrawal or, for a student who did not withdraw, 180 days after the 
date the student otherwise became ineligible, but not later than 
September 28, 2012.

Table B--Federal Pell Grant Program and Iraq and Afghanistan Service 
Grant Program Submission Dates for Disbursement Information by 
Institutions for the 2011-2012 Award Year

    Table B provides the earliest submission and deadline dates for 
institutions to submit Federal Pell Grant and Iraq and Afghanistan 
Service Grant disbursement records to the Department's Common 
Origination and Disbursement (COD) System and deadline dates for 
requests for administrative relief if the institution cannot meet the 
established deadline for specified reasons.
    In general, an institution must submit Federal Pell Grant or Iraq 
and Afghanistan Service Grant disbursement records no later than 30 
days after making a Federal Pell Grant or Iraq and Afghanistan Service 
Grant disbursement or becoming aware of the need to adjust a student's 
previously reported Federal Pell Grant or Iraq and Afghanistan Service 
Grant disbursement. In accordance with the regulations in 34 CFR 
668.164, we consider that Federal Pell Grant and Iraq and Afghanistan 
Service Grant funds are disbursed on the date that the institution: (a) 
Credits those funds to a student's account at the institution or (b) 
pays those funds to a student directly. We consider that Federal Pell 
Grant and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant funds are disbursed even 
if an institution uses its own funds in advance of receiving program 
funds from the Department. An institution's failure to submit 
disbursement records within the required 30-day timeframe may result in 
an audit or program review finding. In addition, the Secretary may 
initiate an adverse action, such as a fine or other penalty for such 
failure, in accordance with subpart G of part 668.

Table C--William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and 
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) 
Grant Program Submission Dates for Disbursement Information by 
Institutions for the 2011-2012 COD Processing Year

    Table C provides the earliest submission and deadline dates for 
institutions to submit Direct Loan and TEACH Grant disbursement records 
to the Department's COD System.
    In general, an institution must submit Direct Loan or TEACH Grant 
disbursement records no later than 30 days after making a Direct Loan 
or TEACH Grant disbursement or becoming aware of the need to adjust a 
student's previously reported Direct Loan or TEACH Grant disbursement. 
In accordance with the regulations in 34 CFR 668.164, we consider that 
Direct Loan and TEACH Grant funds are disbursed on the date that the 
institution: (a) Credits those funds to a student's account at the 
institution, or (b) pays those funds to a student directly. We consider 
that Direct Loan and TEACH Grant funds are disbursed even if an 
institution uses its own funds in advance of receiving program funds 
from the Department. An institution's failure to submit disbursement 
records within the required 30-day timeframe may result in an audit or 
program review finding. In addition, the Secretary may initiate an 
adverse action, such as a fine or other penalty for such failure.

Other Sources for Detailed Information

    We publish a detailed discussion of the Federal student aid 
application process in the following publications:
     2011-2012 Funding Education Beyond High School.
     2011-2012 Counselors and Mentors Handbook.
     2011-2012 ISIR Guide.

[[Page 38786]]

     2011-2012 Federal Student Aid Handbook.
    Additional information on the institutional reporting requirements 
for the Federal Pell Grant Program, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant 
Program, Direct Loan Program, and TEACH Grant Program is contained in 
the 2011-2012 COD Technical Reference.
    You may access these publications by selecting the ``Publications'' 
link at the Information for Financial Aid Professionals Web site at: 
www.ifap.ed.gov.
    Applicable Regulations: The following regulations apply:
    (1) Student Assistance General Provisions, 34 CFR part 668,
    (2) Federal Pell Grant Program, 34 CFR part 690,
    (3) William D. Ford Direct Loan Program, 34 CFR part 685, and
    (4) Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education 
Grant Program, 34 CFR part 686.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Foss, U.S. Department of 
Education, Federal Student Aid, 830 First Street, NE., Union Center 
Plaza, Room 114I1, Washington, DC 20202-5345. Telephone: (202) 377-
3681. Email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an 
accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact 
disc) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a, 1070a-1, 1070b-1070b-4, 
1070g, 1070h, 1087a-1087j, and 1087aa-1087ii; 42 U.S.C. 2751-2756b.

    Dated: June 26, 2012.
James W. Runcie,
Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.

   Table A--Deadline Dates for Application Processing and Receipt of Institutional Student Information Records
               (ISIRs) or Student Aid Reports (SARs) by Institutions for the 2011-2012 Award Year
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                                                                                          What is the deadline
           Who submits?                What is submitted?      Where is it submitted?       date for receipt?
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Student..........................  Free Application for       Electronically to the     June 30, 2012.\1\
                                    Federal Student Aid        Department's Central
                                    (FAFSA)--``FAFSA on the    Processing System (CPS).
                                    Web'' (original or
                                    renewal).
                                   Signature Page (if         To the address printed    September 21, 2012.
                                    required).                 on the signature page.
Student through an Institution...  An electronic FAFSA        Electronically to the     June 30, 2012.\1\
                                    (original or renewal).     Department's CPS.
Student..........................  A paper original FAFSA...  To the address printed    June 30, 2012.
                                                               on the FAFSA or
                                                               envelope provided with
                                                               the form.
Student..........................  Electronic corrections to  Electronically to the     September 21, 2012.\1\
                                    the FAFSA using            Department's CPS.
                                    ``Corrections on the
                                    Web''.
                                   Signature Page (if         To the address printed    September 21, 2012.
                                    required).                 on the signature page.
Student through an Institution...  Electronic corrections to  Electronically to the     September 21, 2012.\1\
                                    the FAFSA.                 Department's CPS.
Student..........................  Paper corrections to the   To the address printed    September 21, 2012.
                                    FAFSA using a SAR,         on the SAR.
                                    including change of
                                    mailing and email
                                    addresses or
                                    institutions.
Student..........................  Change of mailing and      To the Federal Student    September 21, 2012.
                                    email addresses, change    Aid Information Center
                                    of institutions, or        by calling 1-800-433-
                                    requests for a duplicate   3243.
                                    SAR.
Student..........................  SAR with an official       To the institution......  The earlier of:
                                    expected family                                     --the student's last
                                    contribution (EFC)                                   date of enrollment; or
                                    calculated by the                                   --September 28, 2012.\2\
                                    Department's CPS (except
                                    for Parent Direct PLUS).
Student through CPS..............  ISIR with an official EFC  To the institution from   The earlier of:
                                    calculated by the          the Department's CPS.    --the student's last
                                    Department's CPS (except                             date of enrollment; or
                                    for Parent Direct PLUS).                            --September 28, 2012.\2\
Student..........................  Valid SAR (Pell Grant      To the institution......  Except for a student
Student through CPS..............   Only).                    To the institution from    meeting the conditions
                                   Valid ISIR (Pell Grant      the Department's CPS.     for a late disbursement
                                    Only).                                               under 34 CFR
                                                                                         668.164(g), the earlier
                                                                                         of:
                                                                                        --the student's last
                                                                                         date of enrollment; or
                                                                                        --September 28, 2012.\2\

[[Page 38787]]

 
Student..........................  Valid SAR................  To the institution......  For a student receiving
Student through CPS..............  Valid ISIR...............  To the institution from    a late disbursement
                                                               the Department's CPS.     under 34 CFR
                                                                                         668.164(g)(4)(i), the
                                                                                         earlier of:
                                                                                        --180 days after the
                                                                                         date of the
                                                                                         institution's
                                                                                         determination that the
                                                                                         student withdrew or
                                                                                         otherwise became
                                                                                         ineligible; or
                                                                                        --September 28, 2012.\2\
Student..........................  Verification documents...  To the institution......  The earlier of: \3\
                                                                                           --120 days after the
                                                                                            student's last date
                                                                                            of enrollment; or
                                                                                           --September 28,
                                                                                            2012.\2\
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\1\ The deadline for electronic transactions is 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) on the deadline date. Transmissions
  must be completed and accepted before 12:00 midnight to meet the deadline. If transmissions are started before
  12:00 midnight but are not completed until after 12:00 midnight, those transmissions do not meet the deadline.
  In addition, any transmission submitted on or just prior to the deadline date that is rejected may not be
  reprocessed because the deadline will have passed by the time the user gets the information notifying him/her
  of the rejection.
\2\ The date the ISIR/SAR transaction was processed by CPS is considered to be the date the institution received
  the ISIR or SAR regardless of whether the institution has downloaded the ISIR from its SAIG mailbox or when
  the student submits the SAR to the institution.
\3\ Although the Secretary has set this deadline date for the submission of verification documents, if
  corrections are required, deadline dates for submission of paper or electronic corrections and, for a Federal
  Pell Grant and applicants selected for verification, the submission of a valid SAR or valid ISIR to the
  institution must still be met. An institution may establish an earlier deadline for the submission of
  verification documents for purposes of the campus-based programs and the Federal Direct Loan Program, but no
  later than this deadline date.


     Table B--Federal Pell Grant Program and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Program Submission Dates for
                      Disbursement Information by Institutions for the 2011-2012 Award Year
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                                                                                          What are the earliest
                                                                                              disbursement,
           Who submits?                What is submitted?      Where is it submitted?   submission, and deadline
                                                                                           dates  for receipt?
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Institutions.....................  At least one acceptable    For the Federal Pell      Earliest Disbursement
                                    disbursement record must   Grant Program only        Date: February 1, 2011.
                                    be submitted for each      using the Student Aid    Earliest Submission
                                    Federal Pell Grant         Internet Gateway          Dates:
                                    recipient and Iraq and     (SAIG); or, for the      An institution may
                                    Afghanistan Service        Federal Pell Grant        submit anticipated
                                    Grant recipient at the     Program or the Iraq and   disbursement
                                    institution.               Afghanistan Service       information as early as
                                                               Grant, to the Common      February 21, 2011.
                                                               Origination and          An institution may
                                                               Disbursement (COD)        submit actual
                                                               System using the COD      disbursement
                                                               Web site at:              information as early as
                                                               www.cod.ed.gov.           February 21, 2011, but
                                                                                         no earlier than:
                                                                                        (a) 7 calendar days
                                                                                         prior to the
                                                                                         disbursement date under
                                                                                         the advance payment
                                                                                         method;
                                                                                           (b) 7 calendar days
                                                                                            prior to the
                                                                                            disbursement date
                                                                                            under the Cash
                                                                                            Monitoring 1 payment method;
                                                                                            or
                                                                                           (c) The date of
                                                                                            disbursement under
                                                                                            the Reimbursement or
                                                                                            Cash Monitoring
                                                                                            2 payment
                                                                                            methods.
                                                                                        Deadline Submission
                                                                                         Dates:
                                                                                        Except as provided
                                                                                         below, an institution
                                                                                         is required to submit
                                                                                         disbursement
                                                                                         information no later
                                                                                         than the earlier of:
                                                                                           (a) 30 calendar days
                                                                                            after the
                                                                                            institution makes a
                                                                                            disbursement or
                                                                                            becomes aware of the
                                                                                            need to make an
                                                                                            adjustment to
                                                                                            previously reported
                                                                                            disbursement data;
                                                                                            or
                                                                                           (b) October 1,
                                                                                            2012.\1\
                                                                                        An institution may
                                                                                         submit disbursement
                                                                                         information after
                                                                                         October 1, 2012, only:
                                                                                           (a) for a downward
                                                                                            adjustment of a
                                                                                            previously reported
                                                                                            award or
                                                                                            disbursement;

[[Page 38788]]

 
                                                                                           (b) based upon a
                                                                                            program review or
                                                                                            initial audit
                                                                                            finding per 34 CFR
                                                                                            690.83;
                                                                                           (c) for reporting a
                                                                                            late disbursement
                                                                                            under 34 CFR
                                                                                            668.164(g); or
                                                                                           (d) for reporting
                                                                                            disbursements
                                                                                            previously blocked
                                                                                            as a result of
                                                                                            another institution
                                                                                            failing to post a
                                                                                            downward adjustment.
Institutions.....................  Request for                Via COD Web site at:      The earlier of:
                                    administrative relief      www.cod.ed.gov.          --a date designated by
                                    based on a natural                                   the Secretary after
                                    disaster or other                                    consultation with the
                                    unusual circumstances,                               institution; or
                                    or an administrative                                --February 1, 2013.
                                    error made by the
                                    Department.
Institutions.....................  Request for                Via COD Web site at:      The earlier of:
                                    administrative relief if   www.cod.ed.gov.          --30 days after the
                                    a student reenters the                               student reenrolls; or
                                    institution within 180                              --May 3, 2013.
                                    days after initially
                                    withdrawing and the
                                    institution is reporting
                                    a disbursement for the
                                    student within 30 days
                                    of the student's
                                    reenrollment but after
                                    October 1, 2012 \2\.
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\1\ The deadline for electronic transactions is 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on October 1, 2012. Transmissions must
  be completed and accepted before 12:00 midnight to meet the deadline. If transmissions are started before
  12:00 midnight but are not completed until after 12:00 midnight, those transmissions will not meet the
  deadline. In addition, any transmission submitted on or just prior to the deadline date that is rejected may
  not be reprocessed because the deadline will have passed by the time the user gets the information notifying
  him/her of the rejection.
\2\ Applies only to students enrolled in clock-hour and nonterm credit-hour educational programs.
Note: The COD System must accept origination data for a student from an institution before it accepts
  disbursement information from the institution for that student. Institutions may submit origination and
  disbursement data for a student in the same transmission. However, if the origination data is rejected, the
  disbursement data is rejected.


 Table C--William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and Teacher Education Assistance for College
and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program Submission Dates for Disbursement Information by Institutions for the
                                        2011-2012 COD Processing Year \1\
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                                                                                          What are the earliest
           Who submits?                What is submitted?      Where is it submitted?    submission and deadline
                                                                                           dates for receipt?
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Institutions.....................  At least one acceptable    To the Student Aid        Earliest Disbursement
                                    disbursement record must   Internet Gateway (SAIG)   Date: June 21, 2008.
                                    be submitted for each      or to the Common         Earliest Submission
                                    Direct Loan and TEACH      Origination and           Dates:
                                    Grant recipient at the     Disbursement (COD)       An institution may
                                    institution.               System using the COD      submit anticipated
                                                               Web site at:              disbursement
                                                               www.cod.ed.gov.           information as early as
                                                                                         February 21, 2011.
                                                                                        An institution may
                                                                                         submit actual
                                                                                         disbursement
                                                                                         information as early as
                                                                                         February 21, 2011, but
                                                                                         no earlier than:
                                                                                           (a) 7 calendar days
                                                                                            prior to the
                                                                                            disbursement date
                                                                                            under the advance
                                                                                            payment method;
                                                                                           (b) 7 calendar days
                                                                                            prior to the
                                                                                            disbursement date
                                                                                            under the Cash
                                                                                            Monitoring 1 payment method;
                                                                                            or
                                                                                           (c) The date of
                                                                                            disbursement under
                                                                                            the Reimbursement or
                                                                                            Cash Monitoring
                                                                                            2 payment
                                                                                            methods.
                                                                                        Deadline Submission
                                                                                         Dates:

[[Page 38789]]

 
                                                                                           An institution is
                                                                                            required to submit
                                                                                            disbursement
                                                                                            information no later
                                                                                            than 30 calendar
                                                                                            days after the
                                                                                            institution makes a
                                                                                            disbursement or
                                                                                            becomes aware of the
                                                                                            need to make an
                                                                                            adjustment to
                                                                                            previously reported
                                                                                            disbursement data.
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\1\ A COD Processing Year is a period of time in which institutions are permitted to submit Direct Loan and
  TEACH Grant records to the COD System that are related to a given award year. For a Direct Loan, the period of
  time includes loans that have a loan period covering any day in the 2011-2012 award year. For a TEACH Grant,
  the period of time includes an award for a payment period that includes any day in the 2011-2012 award year.
Note: The COD System must accept origination data for a student from an institution before it accepts
  disbursement information from the institution for that student. Institutions may submit origination and
  disbursement data for a student in the same transmission. However, if the origination data is rejected, the
  disbursement data is rejected.

[FR Doc. 2012-16034 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P