1. How do I process new award year updates?
  2. Test Packaging and Awarding

Test Packaging and Awarding

Make sure you’re testing in a test environment.

  • Simulate the end-to-end process of awarding and disbursing funds for students. Make sure that both Title IV funds and nonfederal funds are tested. Confirm that your new Cost of Attendance (COA), fund configurations and awarding and disbursing criteria are enforced for the new award year.

  • Test scenarios using student records that span different program degree/career levels, program modalities, enrollment statuses, and periods that cross over between award years. Do this to make sure awards are calculated and processed accurately.

  • Verify the student experience in the student self service portal, ensuring students can view their college financing plan, review aid offers, and accept or decline their funds seamlessly for the new award year.

  • Test the financial aid advisor's experience in the administrative interface and student self service portal, focusing on leveraging reports and ability to review QC holds and adjust funding as needed for new award year records.

  • Test and confirm that any integrations that use packaging, awarding, and disbursing data function as intended and accurately send data to downstream or partner systems.

  • Use test cases that verify the files generated for integration with the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system align with the COD Technical Reference.