Department of Education

Computer keyboard with eyeglasses, padlock, pen, and paper.

Details released about new federal portal for reporting foreign gifts and contracts

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education this month released more information about enhancements to the new foreign gifts and contracts reporting portal. According to a December 3 Electronic Announcement, the new reporting portal will include a tailored, efficient, and institution-specific reporting process while maintaining compliance with Section 117. Based on feedback from nine institutions of […]

Details released about new federal portal for reporting foreign gifts and contracts Read More »

FAFSA handwritten in a note. Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Students completing the FAFSA to be notified about colleges with lower earnings

Newsroom, Department of Education, FAFSA resources / By

By Marlene Seeklander Students completing the FAFSA now have additional information when deciding which college they may want to attend. In a December 8 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced the implementation of a new lower earnings indicator as part of the FAFSA. This indicator—effective December 7, 2025, and only applicable to first-year undergraduate students—provides

Students completing the FAFSA to be notified about colleges with lower earnings Read More »

Computer keyboard with FAFSA button

FAFSA field adjustment resolves issue of reporting an address within the U.S. territories

Newsroom, Department of Education, FAFSA resources / By

By Marlene Seeklander FAFSA users who previously encountered an issue when attempting to report their address within the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, should no longer encounter an issue. In a December 4 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced that on December 7 an update to adjust some users’ state and country  code information was

FAFSA field adjustment resolves issue of reporting an address within the U.S. territories Read More »

Portion of computer keyboard with the word "Webinar" in white on one of the black keys.

Using the new Section 117 Reporting Portal training webinar

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander Colleges that need to report foreign gifts and contracts will want to make note of an upcoming training webinar. In a December 5 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced that they are offering a training webinar, “Using the New Section 117 Reporting Portal” for schools required to report foreign gifts and contracts.

Using the new Section 117 Reporting Portal training webinar Read More »

Female sitting at desk working on laptop computer.

Department of Education to debut new portal for institutional reporting of foreign gifts and contracts

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander With a deadline looming, higher education officials will need to get skilled on using a new portal for reporting foreign gifts and contracts. On January 2, 2026, the Department of Education (ED) will launch a new Section 117 reporting portal, in which they said they “have attempted to incorporate many comments provided by

Department of Education to debut new portal for institutional reporting of foreign gifts and contracts Read More »

Man working on laptop computer at a desk.

New COD Common Record XML Schema Version 5.0d now available

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander Schools will want to make note that a new version of the COD Common Record Extensible Markup Language (XML) Schema 5.0d is now available. In a November 25 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education stated that in spring 2026, they will implement Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) functionality that will support the processing

New COD Common Record XML Schema Version 5.0d now available Read More »

Picture of a building on a college campus

Enhancements coming to the E-App in FSA Partner Connect

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals will soon see updates to the Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs, also known as the E-App. In a November 26 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education outlined the updates that will be implemented on December 7, 2025 and are designed to improve the

Enhancements coming to the E-App in FSA Partner Connect Read More »

Portion of computer keyboard with the word "Webinar" in white on one of the black keys.

Federal Student Aid reschedules Charges and Credit Balances webinar

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals will soon have the opportunity to watch the cash management webinar – Charges and Credit Balances. In an update to an earlier Electronic Announcement, FSA announced that the Charges and Credit Balances webinar has been rescheduled and will be held on Wednesday, December 10, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. (Eastern). No registration

Federal Student Aid reschedules Charges and Credit Balances webinar Read More »

Woman Writing on a Notebook Beside Teacup and Tablet Computer

2026-2027 FAFSA information to be verified and acceptable documentation

Newsroom, Department of Education, FAFSA resources / By

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals can now plan for the upcoming FAFSA verification season with the latest guidance from the Department of Education. In a November 26 Dear Colleague Letter, the Department of Education details the changes in verification for 2026-27 and provides suggested text for schools to use in requesting additional documentation from students.

2026-2027 FAFSA information to be verified and acceptable documentation Read More »

2025 Thanksgiving holiday hours for Federal Student Aid and Mapping Your Future

Newsroom, Department of Education / By

By Marlene Seeklander Hopefully, you will be enjoying Thanksgiving day and not working, but if you do need to work, you should know that some Federal Student Aid offices are taking a break or will have modified hours. Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced that their offices and contact centers will be closed on Thursday, November 27, in observance

2025 Thanksgiving holiday hours for Federal Student Aid and Mapping Your Future Read More »

Scroll to Top