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Outdated ‘Green Screen’ mainframe transactions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: sghelp@pheaa.org (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