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Setting Up Self-Service Awarding Options

To set up self-service awarding options, use the Self Service Options component (SS_FA_INSTALL).

This section discusses how to set up self-service awarding.

Page Name

Definition Name

Navigation

Usage

Awarding Options

SS_FA_INSTALL2

select Set Up SACR, then select Common Definitions, then select Self Service, then select Financial Aid, then select Self Service Options, then select Awarding Options

Define filter options for self-service awarding access criteria. Set up processing options and Consumer and Entrance Interview URLs. Also, define the authentication method and number of required references for the Perkins eMPN.

This section discusses how to define access criteria, the different processing options, and the site-definable URLs for self-service awarding.

Access the Awarding Options page (select (Set Up SACR, then select Common Definitions, then select Self Service, then select Financial Aid, then select Self Service Options, then select Awarding Options).

Image: Awarding Options page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Awarding Options page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Awarding Options page

Self Service Award Processing

One way to control when a student gains access to the self-service awarding page is through the use of filtering. If you do not select the check box, then the system does not consider it as part of the access criteria.

Access Criteria

When setting a value for an access criteria, select an operator of either equal to or not equal.

Field or Control

Definition
FA Application Status (Financial Aid application status)

Select to allow self-service awarding access based on the student having an active financial aid application.

Field or Control

Definition
Value

Select Active, Canceled, or Restricted.
Processing Status

Select to allow self-service awarding access based on the student's processing status.
Value

Select Applied, Completed, No App Rcd,Package, or Review.
FED Verification Process (federal verification process)

Select to allow self-service awarding access based on the student's federal verification status.
Value

Select Complete, Not Reqd, Pending, or Required.
INST Verification Process

Select to allow self-service awarding access based on the student's institutional verification status.
Value

Select Complete or Incomplete.
Satisfactory Academic Progress

Select to allow self-service awarding access based on the student having met your institution's criteria for satisfactory academic progress.
Value

Select Meets SAP, Not Meet, Probation, or Undetrmine.
Award Notification Complete

Select to allow self-service awarding access based on whether a financial-aid award notification letter has been generated for the student.
Category

Select an option:

Appeal: FA Appeals

Award: Financial Aid Award Notification

SAT: Satisfactory Academic Progress Letters

SCHLRS: Scholarship Communications

VERF: Verification Processing

Field or Control

Definition
Context

Select a type of communication. The system uses the same criteria when generating the FAN letter.
Letter

Select a type of communication. The system uses the same criteria when generating the FAN letter.

Note: You use these criteria options in conjunction with the Use Filter award access option on the Packaging Status Summary page.

Field or Control

Definition
Processing Option

This option controls whether students' decisions regarding their awards are processed in real time or in batch. If you select the default value of Batch, the system loads the current award package from the real tables to a staging table. It saves the student's activity to the staging table when the student submits an award acknowledgment. The system sets the student's transaction to Pending Update and records the current date and time. When you run the batch process, the system selects all transactions with a Pending Update status for processing. For each student selected, as long as the financial aid package has not been revised since the student submitted the award acknowledgment, the system checks each award in the student's package for any changes. It evaluates changed awards to ensure that award amounts and disbursement balances are correct and reductions do not fall below minimum amounts. The system processes all other awards in passive mode. After the batch validation process has finished and if no errors were found, the system posts the data to the student's real award tables in the database.

If you select Real time, the system loads the current award package from the real award tables to a staging table. It saves the student's activity to the staging table when the student submits an award acknowledgment. The system evaluates the award activity and the resulting changes as it does in batch mode. The process verifies the Accept or Decline amount, and for award reductions, recalculates the scheduled disbursements. When all of the awards in the student's package are processed and if no errors were found, the system posts the data to the student's real award tables in the database.

Note: Unlike administrative packaging for which the packaging routine performs extensive edits to ensure the validity of an award, in self-service the system processes awards in passive mode and does not perform any federal edits or evaluate the student for eligibility or need criteria. The system performs a subset of edits on any award that is being reduced. Also, the system adjusts an award that has been reduced below minimum amounts established for the system.
Consumer Information URL

If you complete this field, the system displays a link in self-service awarding. If you leave this field blank, the system does not display a link. Enter your institution's student information site. This site may reflect awarding rights and responsibilities such as statement of educational purpose, truth-in-lending content, or other financial aid information.
Entrance Interview URL

Enter your institution's entrance and exit interview site to display a link in self-service awarding. If you leave this blank, the system does not display a link. If you use Self Service Loan Counseling and enter entrance and exit interview URLs on the Loan Counseling page, leave this field blank, or both URLs appear.

External Award Reporting

Field or Control

Definition
Access from Award Inquiry

Select to display a link on the students' Award Inquiry Self Service pages.
Access from Accept/Decline

Select to display a link on the students' Accept Award and Decline Award Self Service pages.
Alternate Text for Reporting

Enter instructions to the student that varies from the default text.
Alternate Text for List View

Enter instructions to the student that varies from the default text.