Unusual Enrollment History UEH Presented by: Alyssa Dobson, Director of Financial Aid Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Unusual Enrollment History March 8, 2013 Dear Colleague Letter GEN-13-09 Outlines UEH Defines ISIR Data Items Describes what unusual enrollment is Looking in our current FSA handbook, UEH is mentioned in volume 1, chapter 3, page 1-46. And there is information regarding postscreened ISIRs in the January 2013 NSLDS newsletter

Unusual Enrollment History What is unusual? un·u·su·al – Not usual, common, or ordinary

Unusual Enrollment History ISIR Data Item #440 Possible values for data item #440 are N 2 3 Values 2 and 3 will generate a C-Flag Values for comment codes are 359 – associated with data UEH flag 2 360 – associated with UEH flag 3

Unusual Enrollment History What does data item #440 look like? We all use different FAMS, here is how the flag appears in CPS:

Unusual Enrollment History

Unusual Enrollment History Comment code 359 states: Your school may request additional information to determine your eligibility for federal student aid Present with UEH Flag value = 2 Comment code 360 states: Based upon data provided by the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), your school will request additional information to determine your eligibility for federal student aid and before disbursement of funds can be made. Present with UEH Flag value = 3

Unusual Enrollment History Must address all C-Flags No aid can be received by the student until the c-flag is cleared for that aid year UEH Flag 2 or 3 produce a C-Flag A different process is required by each flag If a student is identified with a UEH flag in consecutive years, you must follow up with each year separately

Unusual Enrollment History First, identify which UEH flag is causing the c-flag Follow steps for the appropriate UEH flag UEH Flag 2 Review enrollment for the past 3 award years Review financial aid records for the past 3 award years Determine if the student received a Pell grant at your institution If yes, no additional follow up is needed. Be sure to document the review that occurred and your finding for clearing the c-flag If no Pell received at your school, or you suspect misuse, then use the steps for UEH flag 3

Unusual Enrollment History UEH Flag 3 Review the school history on NSLDS for the past three academic years Review the Pell usage for the past three academic years Obtain academic records for all of schools attended during this time frame Determine if the student earned credit while also using Pell for EVERY institution attended during this time Review each award year independently

Unusual Enrollment History UEH Flag 3 Continued If academic credit was earned at every institution for each appropriate award year, no further action in needed Retain all documentation as the reason for clearing the c-flag If academic credit was not earned at one or more of the attended institutions (including your own) You must obtain documentation from the student that explains why academic credit was not earned

Unusual Enrollment History 2 specific criteria the student information must meet: Student must document a reason for not earning credits You must be able to determine that the student did not enroll just to receive their refund

Unusual Enrollment History UEH Flag 3 Continued Ultimately, you should approve or deny continued aid eligibility by determining if the documentation provided by the student can clear the c-flag Always retain all documentation in the file

Unusual Enrollment History The Fun Part UEH Flags can change  A student can change from an N to a 2 to a 3 and vice versa A change only results from a change in their Pell history NLDS postscreening reason code 24 will be used to alert us on the postscreened ISIR If the UEH flag changes from an N to a 2 or 3, this will be the first c-flag indication

Unusual Enrollment History Can do versus must do You can require an academic plan if you wish to clear the c-flag with expectations Similar to SAP academic plans You can counsel these students regarding LEU limits You can refer these students to use academic resources at your institution You MUST allow the student to appeal your decision if deny eligibility You MUST provide information on how to regain eligibility

Unusual Enrollment History An appeal process Similar to SAP process Student must be given the opportunity to ask questions or appeal your decision Information on the appeal process should be given to them at the time that you determine that they will be ineligible for aid

Unusual Enrollment History Regaining aid Separate from the appeal process Must outline what is required Completion of academic credit will probably be a factor

Unusual Enrollment History We have learned ISIR Data Item #440 UEH Flags N, 2, 3 Comment Codes 359, 360 C-Flags for UEH (and how they change) Steps for the review process Denying Eligibility Must allow for appeal and questions Regaining aid

Unusual Enrollment History