Using FM Simulation
You can simulate different Federal Methodology (FM) need analysis scenarios before submitting ISIR Corrections. The FM Simulation process retrieves information from the ISIR Correction pages and Federal Extension page. You can create or change existing federal extension data or global policy option data in simulation depending on your processing requirements.
Note: This topic relates to using FM Simulation for the 2024-2025 and future Aid Years. For information about FM Simulation for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 Aid Years see Using FM Simulation for the 2023-2024 and 2022-2023 Aid Years.
This section provides an overview of the steps for the simulation process and discusses how to:
Work with student income and assets.
Override global policy options at the student level.
Work with student information.
Work with parent income and assets.
Work with parent information.
Work with assumption overrides.
Note: For the 2023-2024 and prior Aid Years, the result of both the Federal Methodology (FM) and Institutional Methodology (IM) calculations for the amount of money that a student and his family are expected to contribute is referred to as Expected Family Contribution (EFC); FM EFC and IM EFC.
For the 2024-2025 and future Aid Years, FM calculation result is referred to as the Student Aid Index (SAI); replacing the FM EFC.
Use the FM Simulation process to select records with an ISIR to simulate SAI/EFC calculations. Then commit changes to ISIR tables when complete.
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Click the Get Federal Data button on the page you are using to populate the FM Simulation tables with the latest ISIR information. This is important because data from a prior session might remain in the table.
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Modify fields to affect the SAI/EFC calculation, invoke overrides, or both.
You can also override global policy options at the student level, by clicking the Fed Ext button from any page in this component. Unless an extension record already exists in ISIR, the default values that you defined in the Local Global Options page display on the Federal Extension page when you select a Rule Set.
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When you complete your changes, click the Calc NAC (calculate need analysis calculation) button. The system displays the results of the SAI/EFC after a successful completion of FM Simulation.
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Repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed. To refresh the worksheet, repeat Step 1.
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Click the Use Simulated Data button to use the calculated data for need analysis.
If you confirm that you want to perform the operation, the system inserts a new row in all of the ISIR Tables and any field that was changed is processed as follows:
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Sent to the Audit Table for history.
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Included in the ISIR Correction process.
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Used to recalculate need.
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Note: You cannot apply changes to any student whose ISIR is rejected.
Note: The navigation paths for the pages listed in the following page introduction table are for aid year 20nn-20nn. Oracle supports access for three active aid years.
|
Page Name |
Definition Name |
Navigation |
Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Student Information |
INAS_SIM_CS1 |
|
View or update fields from ISIR Corrections to perform an SAI calculation with the FM NAC. |
|
Spouse Information |
INAS_SIM_CS2 |
|
View or update fields from ISIR Corrections to perform an SAI calculation with the FM NAC. |
|
Simulation Federal Extension |
INAS_SIM_FEDEX_Snn |
Click the FM link on the Student Income/Assets page. |
Override the global policy options at the student level. |
|
Parent Information |
INAS_SIM_CS3 |
|
View or update fields from ISIR Corrections to perform an SAI calculation with the FM NAC. |
|
Parent Spouse/Partner |
INAS_SIM_CS4 |
|
View or update fields from ISIR Corrections to perform an SAI calculation with the FM NAC. |
|
Transaction Detail |
INAS_SIM_CS5 |
|
View or update fields from ISIR Corrections to perform an SAI calculation with the FM NAC. Set Dependency Override and Correction Status. |
|
SAI and Flags |
INAS_SIM_CS6 |
|
View SAI calculation results. |
These common elements appear on the FM Simulation pages:
|
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Get Federal Data |
Click this button to copy the student's latest ISIR data from the Federal Extension record to this page. |
|
Calc SAI (calculate student aid index) |
Click this button to invoke a Remote Function Call of the FM NAC. |
|
Use Simulated Data |
Click this button to move the simulated data into production. |
|
Federal Extension |
Click this link to access the Simulation Federal Extension page and make changes to an existing extension or override the Global Policy Options at the student level. |
|
Need Summary |
Click this link to view a student's need summary. Need summary information reflects only current values. New data that you have calculated is not reflected on Need Summary pages until you click the Use Simulated Data button. |
|
SAI |
Displays the 9-month SAI/EFC. When you click the Get Fed Data button, the system populates the ISIR Primary SAI on record and updates the Primary SAI when the FM NAC is called. |
Access the Student Income/Assets page ().
ISIR edits are not used in the simulation pages. Changes used shouldn't conflict with data in ISIR corrections.
|
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Grade Level |
Select from: First Year Graduate or Professional Other Undergraduate Second Year |
Field Name Abbreviations and Explanations
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
Access the Simulation Federal Extension page (click the FM link on the Student Income/Assets page).
Access the Overrides page ().
Transaction Indicators
|
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Dependency Override Indicator |
Values include:
|
|
CFH Indicator (child of fallen heroes indicator) |
Values include:
|
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Incarcerated Applicant Flag |
Values include:
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Professional Judgment |
Values include:
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IASG Indicator (Iraq Afghanistan student grant indicator) |
Values include:
|