The Partner InterfacePennsylvania State Grant Program
Today’s Agenda
High level overview of the State Grant Partner Interface project
Phases 1 to 3
Resources and Technical Assistance
Web-based product
Focused on:
Postsecondary school users
Student data
What is the Partner Interface?
Mainframe ‘Green Screens’
No O/C WebConnect for student-related State Grant Program transactions
Phased Approach
Current Systems Partner Interface
Multiple points of input Single point of input in School Portal
Outdated ‘Green Screen’ mainframe transactions
Modern web-based tool
Inefficient for both school and PHEAA users
Increased processing efficiencies
New features cumbersome to implement
Easier to maintain and implement changes
System Comparison
Single Input Point– School Portal ‘Alec’
Phase I – Initial Launch – February 28
First step in replacement of student-focused transactions
State Grant Program
View records
Make updates to individual students
Features – Viewing Data
Mainframe FG59
13 page student record
Difficult to locate information
Cryptic labels
Features – Viewing Data
Partner Interface
More ‘real estate’
Familiar functions
Logically ordered
Features – Viewing Data –More Real Estate
Text Explanations
Instead of Codes
Text Explanations
Instead of ‘F1’ Help Keys
Features – Viewing Data –More Real Estate
Features – Viewing Data –More Real Estate
Item # References
Text Explanations
Features – Viewing DataFamiliar Functions
Links and Buttons
Features – Viewing DataFamiliar Functions
Mainframe FG0B Eligibility Summary (History)
Difficult to navigate
Cryptic labels
Features – Viewing DataFamiliar Functions
Scrolling Navigation
Text descriptions
Tabbed Format within Student Record
Features – Viewing DataLogically Ordered
Features – Viewing DataLogically Ordered
Incomplete data
Eligibility data
Features – Viewing DataLogically Ordered
Features – Viewing DataLogically Ordered
Year and Period
Text Descriptions
Student Record•Demographics•School Enrollment Data•Credit Information
• Award Adjustment
• Cost Override
• Cancellation or Reinstatement
Features – Single Update
Additional capabilities
Multiple types of change at one time
Max 10 records One type of change
Features – Single UpdateMainframe Limitations – FG5Y/FG3B
Features – Single UpdateStudent Record Section
Multiple types of change at one time
Features – Single UpdateCancel-Reinstate Section
Not Enrolled GraduatedAcademic Progress
Features – Single UpdateCost Override and Award Adjustments
Features – Single UpdateMainframe Limitations – FG11
Special Requests ‘Just in case’
Are to be used as a LAST RESORT
Features – Single Update
Features – New Requirement2013-14
Term enrolled Credits: Online vs. Classroom Credits
Features – Single UpdateInternal School Comments
To be relabeled ‘School Notes’ this Summer
Phase II – April Release
Provides easy access to PageCenter reports
Increases capacity for updates
Provides recent update lists
Foundation for future filtering
Phase II – April ReleaseEasy Access to Reports
Easy navigation to PageCenter Reports
Allows for up to 100 records at one time
4 Basic Steps:
1. Create a Queue – Name and Select Settings
2. Add Students to Your Mass Update Queue
3. Choose the Updates for your Queue
4. Review/Save/Process Your Mass Update Queue
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Step 1
Update OR Cancel/Reinstate
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Step 2
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Step 2
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Step 3-Update Type
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Step 3-Cancel/Reinstate
Type
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Step 4
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
Step 4 – 2 places that you can Export to Excel:
1.BEFORE you process
2. Results AFTER you process
Phase II – April ReleaseCreate Mass Update Queue
IMPORTANT!!
Once you exit, Export ability is lost
Queues cannot be ‘reused’ as part of Phase II
Phase II – April ReleaseRecent Update Dashboard- Lists
Link to Student Listing
View individual records
Add to mass update queue
Link to Student Listing
Phase III – June Release
Produce lists on entire population of State Grant applicants
Filter lists, for example:
Validation
Eligibility (‘Award’) Date
Save queues for reuse
Enhanced exporting to Excel or Text File
Other?
Resources
pheaa.org/training
navigation tutorials (no audio)
pre-recorded webinar
user guide and print materials
phase I – available now
phase II – coming soon!
Contact State Grant and Special Programs staff:
Email: [email protected] (an email reserved for financial aid administrators only)
1-800-443-0646, option 4 – to discuss transmissions
1-800-443-0646, option 3, option 1 (a private number reserved for the use of financial aid administrators only)
Resources