FSA Partner Connect – E-App and TPS Functionality Implemented; Reminders and Initial Next Steps for Users (2024)

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.

With this release, FSA Partner Connect users will see some new features in several areas of the website.

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.

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).

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.

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:

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).