Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 2013-2014 Federal Student Aid Application, 67345-67348 [2012-27449]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2012 / Notices
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval; they
will also become a matter of public
record.
Dated: November 5, 2012.
Valerie Green,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2012–27349 Filed 11–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Final Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR)
for the Clearwater Program
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Department of the Army.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) in conjunction with
the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles
County (Sanitation Districts) has
completed a Final Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the
Clearwater Program. The Clearwater
Program is a comprehensive planning
effort undertaken by the Sanitation
Districts for the Joint Outfall System, a
regional wastewater management
system serving approximately 4.8
million people in 73 cities and
unincorporated areas in Los Angeles
County. A major component of the
Clearwater Program is the evaluation of
alternatives for construction of a new
ocean outfall and rehabilitation of the
existing ocean outfalls. Both activities
would entail discharge of dredged and
fill material in waters of the United
States, work in navigable waters of the
United States, and the transport of
dredged material for ocean disposal.
These activities would require
authorization from the Corps pursuant
to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act,
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors
Act, and Section 103 of the Marine
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
Act, respectively. The Draft EIS/EIR was
circulated for a 57-day review period
from February 13, 2012 through April
10, 2012. The Corps and the Sanitation
Districts reviewed and provided
responses to 19 agency comments and
33 public comments in preparing the
Final EIS/EIR.
The Final EIS/EIR, including a Draft
404(b)(1) alternatives analysis, is
available for a 31-day review period
from November 9, 2012 through
December 10, 2012. The document is
accessible via the World-Wide Web at
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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www.ClearwaterProgram.org.
Alternatively, printed copies are
available at the following locations:
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles
County, 1955 Workman Mill Road,
Whittier, California; Carson Regional
Library, 151 East Carson Street, Carson,
California; Los Angeles Public Library,
San Pedro Branch, 931 South Gaffey
Street, San Pedro, California; and Los
Angeles Public Library, Wilmington
Branch, 1300 North Avalon Boulevard.,
Wilmington, California. Written
comments will be accepted until the
close of public review on December 10,
2012.
For Additional Information Contact:
Questions or comments concerning the
Final EIS/EIR should be directed to Dr.
Aaron O. Allen, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Los Angeles District,
Regulatory Division, Ventura Field
Office, 2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite
110, Ventura, CA 93001, (805) 585–
2148.
Dated: October 29, 2012.
David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Division, Corps of
Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2012–27448 Filed 11–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2012–ICCD–0050]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
2013–2014 Federal Student Aid
Application
Department of Education (ED),
Federal Student Aid (FSA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a
revision of an existing information
collection.
SUMMARY:
Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
December 10, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in
response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov by selecting
Docket ID number ED–2012–ICCD–0050
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
or hand delivery. Please note that
comments submitted by fax or email
and those submitted after the comment
period will not be accepted. Written
requests for information or comments
DATES:
PO 00000
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67345
submitted by postal mail or delivery
should be addressed to the Director of
the Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room
2E117, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Electronically mail
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please do not
send comments here.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: 2013–2014 Federal
Student Aid Application.
OMB Control Number: 1845–0001.
Type of Review: Revision of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals or households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 46,099,008.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 25,959,853.
Abstract: Section 483 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA), mandates that the Secretary of
Education ‘‘* * *shall produce,
distribute, and process free of charge
common financial reporting forms as
described in this subsection to be used
for application and reapplication to
determine the need and eligibility of a
student for financial assistance* * *’’.
The determination of need and
eligibility are for the following Title IV,
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2012 / Notices
HEA, federal student financial
assistance programs: The Federal Pell
Grant Program; the Campus-Based
programs (Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant
(FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS),
and the Federal Perkins Loan Program);
the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
Program; the Teacher Education
Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant; and the Iraq
and Afghanistan Service Grant.
Federal Student Aid, an office of the
U.S. Department of Education (hereafter
‘‘the Department’’), subsequently
developed an application process to
collect and process the data necessary to
determine a student’s eligibility to
receive Title IV, HEA program
assistance. The application process
involves an applicant’s submission of
the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA). After submission of the
FAFSA, an applicant receives a Student
Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary
of the data they submitted on the
FAFSA. The applicant reviews the SAR,
and, if necessary, will make corrections
or updates to their submitted FAFSA.
The Department seeks OMB approval
of all application components as a
single ‘‘collection of information’’. The
aggregate burden will be accounted for
under OMB Control Number 1845–0001.
The specific application components,
descriptions and submission methods
for each are listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1—FEDERAL STUDENT AID APPLICATION COMPONENTS
Component
Description
Submission method
Initial Submission of FAFSA
FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) ....
Online FAFSA that offers applicants a customized experience. ..........................
FOTW—Renewal .....................
FOTW—EZ ...............................
Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously completed the FAFSA.
Online FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the Simplified Needs Test (SNT)
or Automatic Zero (Auto Zero) needs analysis formulas.
Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously completed the FAFSA and
who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
The Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) representatives assist applicants by filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW.
FOTW—EZ Renewal ...............
FAFSA on the Phone (FOTP) ..
FOTP—EZ ................................
FAA Access ..............................
FAA Access—Renewal ............
FAA Access—EZ .....................
FAA Access—EZ Renewal ......
Electronic Other .......................
PDF FAFSA or Paper FAFSA
FSAIC representatives assist applicants who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero
needs analysis formulas by filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW.
Online tool that a financial aid administrator (FAA) utilizes to submit a FAFSA
Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a Renewal FAFSA..
Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a FAFSA for applicants who qualify
for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a FAFSA for applicants who have
previously completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero
needs analysis formulas.
This is a submission done by a FAA, on behalf of the applicant, using the
Electronic Data Exchange (EDE).
The paper version of the FAFSA printed by the Department for applicants who
are unable to access the Internet or the online PDF FAFSA for applicants
who can access the Internet but are unable to complete the form using
FOTW.
Submitted by the applicant
via www.fafsa.gov.
Submitted through
www.fafsa.gov for applicants who call 1–800–4–
FED–AID.
Submitted through
www.faaacess.ed.gov by a
FAA on behalf of an applicant.
The FAA may be using their
mainframe computer or
software to facilitate the
EDE process.
Mailed by the applicant.
Correcting Submitted FAFSA Information and Reviewing FAFSA Information
FOTW—Corrections .................
Electronic Other—Corrections
FAA Access—Corrections ........
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Paper SAR—This is a SAR
and an option for corrections.
Any applicant who has a Federal Student Aid PIN (FSA PIN)—regardless of
how they originally applied—may make corrections using FOTW Corrections.
With the applicant’s permission, corrections can be made by a FAA using the
EDE.
The full paper summary that is mailed to paper applicants who did not provide
an e-mail address and to applicants whose records were rejected due to critical errors during processing. Applicants can write corrections directly on the
paper SAR and mail for processing.
An institution can use FAA Access to correct the FAFSA ...................................
Internal Department Corrections.
The Department will submit an applicant’s record for system-generated corrections.
FSAIC Corrections ...................
Any applicant, with their Data Release Number (DRN), can change the postsecondary institutions listed on their FAFSA or change their address by calling FSAIC.
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Submitted by the applicant
via www.fafsa.gov.
The FAA may be using their
mainframe computer or
software to facilitate the
EDE process.
Mailed by the applicant.
Submitted through
www.faaacess.ed.gov by a
FAA on behalf of an applicant.
There is no burden to the applicants under this correction type as these are system-based corrections.
These changes are made directly in the CPS system
by a FSAIC representative.
67347
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2012 / Notices
TABLE 1—FEDERAL STUDENT AID APPLICATION COMPONENTS—Continued
Component
Description
SAR Electronic (eSAR) ............
The eSAR is an online version of the SAR that is available on FOTW to all applicants with a PIN. Notifications for the eSAR are sent to students who applied electronically or by paper and provided an e-mail address. These notifications are sent by e-mail and include a secure hyperlink that takes the user
to the FOTW site.
This is the condensed paper SAR that is mailed to applicants who applied
electronically but did not provide an e-mail address and do not meet the criteria for a full paper SAR.
SAR Acknowledgment .............
This information collection also
documents an estimate of the annual
public burden as it relates to the
application process for federal student
aid. The Applicant Burden Model
(ABM), measures applicant burden
through an assessment of the activities
each applicant conducts in conjunction
with other applicant characteristics and
in terms of burden, the average
applicant’s experience. Key
determinants of the ABM include:
D The total number of applicants that
will potentially apply for federal
student aid;
D How the applicant chooses to
complete and submit the FAFSA (e.g.,
by paper or electronically via FOTW);
D How the applicant chooses to
submit any corrections and/or updates
(e.g., the paper SAR or electronically via
FOTW Corrections);
D The type of SAR document the
applicant receives (eSAR, SAR
acknowledgment, or paper SAR);
D The formula applied to determine
the applicant’s expected family
contribution (EFC) (full need analysis
formula, Simplified Needs Test or
Automatic Zero); and
D The average amount of time
involved in preparing to complete the
application.
The ABM is largely driven by the
number of potential applicants for the
Submission method
application cycle. The total application
projection for 2013–2014 is based upon
two factors—estimates of the total
enrollment in all degree-granting
institutions and the percentage change
in FAFSA submissions for the last
completed or almost completed
application cycle. The ABM is also
based on the application options
available to students and parents. The
Department accounts for each
application component based on web
trending tools, survey information, and
other Department data sources.
For 2013–2014, the Department is
reporting a net burden reduction of
3,398,000 hours. The reduction is a
reflection of the effects of simplifying
FAFSA on the Web, which is utilized by
the majority of applicants who apply for
aid. Simplification of the application is
demonstrated by (1) the average
completion times for initial submissions
and; (2) fewer corrections being made to
the application.
The projected average completion
times for initial submissions has
decreased by 11 minutes for 2013–14. In
data reported in the 2012–2013
supporting statement, first-time filers
using FOTW would take approximately
1.30 hours (78 minutes) to submit an
application. The data from 2011–12
indicate that the same user would be
able to submit their application in 1.12
Cannot be submitted for
processing.
hours (67 minutes), reducing their
burden by .18 hours (11 minutes).
Corrections are also projected to
decrease by 760,696 responses for 2013–
14. Fewer corrections mean that more
comprehensive and accurate data was
captured in the initial submission of the
application. Updated completion times
were calculated for each component and
have been used to estimate the burden,
excluding the change in the applicant
volume. The results demonstrate that
the burden for all applicants would
have decreased by almost 13 percent or
3,758,702 hours, if the application
volume had remained constant.
If the Department had not simplified
the application process, thus reducing
the time required to complete the
FAFSA, the new burden estimates
would only need to account for the
change in applicants. The 1.43%
increase in applicants would result in
an increase in burden of 347,945 hours.
Accounting for both the increase in
total applicants and the decrease in
individual applicant burden, the net
change is an overall decrease of almost
12 percent or 3,398,000 hours. The
following Table shows the net burden
change and total cost for applicants. The
change in total annual responses is also
listed in the Table. Total annual
responses include the original FAFSA
submission and corrections.
TABLE 2—NET BURDEN CHANGE
2012–2013
2013–2014
Change
% Change
Burden disposition
Accounting for change in applicant burden and change in applicants.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Total Applicants .....................
Total Applicant Burden ..........
24,705,864
29,357,853
25,053,809
25,959,853
+347,945
¥3,398,000
+1.41
¥11.6
Total Annual Responses .......
Cost for All Applicants ...........
46,447,024
$234,804.24
46,099,007
$190,224.76
¥348,017
$44,579.48
¥.75
¥18.99
The Department takes pride in the
continued efforts to simplify the FAFSA
submission process and the continued
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decrease in burden associated with the
application process, even as the
Department serves more students each
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Net decrease in burden.
The 1.41% increase in applicants is offset
by the results of the simplification
changes implemented by the Department. This has resulted in an overall decrease in burden of 11.57% or 3,397,545
hours.
year. The results confirm the significant
improvements that have been made to
the application process. The Department
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67348
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 218 / Friday, November 9, 2012 / Notices
believes that these changes will lead to
more students completing the FAFSA
and will assist more students with their
pursuit of postsecondary education
through access to Title IV, HEA program
assistance.
Dated: November 5, 2012.
Darrin A. King,
Director, Information Collection Clearance
Division, Privacy, Information and Records
Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2012–27449 Filed 11–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records—Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) Center Case
Tracking System
Office of Management (OM),
Alternative Dispute Resolution Center,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of altered systems of
records.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5
U.S.C. 552a (Privacy Act), the
Department of Education (Department)
publishes this notice proposing to revise
the system of records entitled
‘‘Grievances Filed Informally Through
the Informal Dispute Resolution Center’’
(IDR Center) (18–05–12), including
revising the title to ‘‘Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) Center Case Tracking
System.’’
DATES: Submit your comments on this
proposed altered system of records on or
before December 10, 2012.
The Department has filed a report
describing the altered system of records
covered by this notice with the Chair of
the Senate Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs, the
Chair of the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, and
the Administrator of the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) on November 6, 2012. This
altered system of records will become
effective on the later date of: (1) The
expiration of the 40-day period for OMB
review on December 17, 2012, unless
OMB waives 10 days of the 40-day
review period for compelling reasons
shown by the Department; or (2)
December 10, 2012, unless the systems
of records needs to be changed as a
result of public comment or OMB
review.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Address all comments about
the ADR Center Case Tracking system of
records to Debra A. Bennett, Director,
ADDRESSES:
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Alternative Dispute Resolution Center,
Office of Management, U.S. Department
of Education, Capitol Place Building, 80
F Street NW., Room 408C/Mail Stop
4000, Washington, DC 20001–1528. If
you prefer to send comments through
the Internet, use the following address:
comments@ed.gov.
You must include the term ‘‘ADR
Center System of Records’’ in the
subject line of your electronic message.
During and after the comment period,
you may inspect all public comments
about this notice at the U.S. Department
of Education in room 410–F, 80 F Street
NW., Room 410C/Mail Stop 4000,
Washington, DC 20001–1528, between
the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Eastern time, Monday through Friday of
each week except Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With
Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record
On request we will provide an
appropriate accommodation or auxiliary
aid to an individual with a disability
who needs assistance to review the
comments or other documents in the
public rulemaking record for this notice.
If you want to schedule an appointment
for this type of accommodation or
auxiliary aid, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Debra A. Bennett, Director, Alternative
Dispute Resolution Center, Office of
Management, U.S. Department of
Education, Capitol Place Building, 80 F
Street NW., Room 408C/Mail Stop 4000,
Washington, DC 20001–1528.
Telephone number: 202–401–0693. If
you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD), or text telephone
(TTY), you may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The ADR Center Case Tracking
System is a web-based J2EE application
that is platform independent and
captures all information relating to
Alternative Dispute Resolution case
processing. It tracks, manages, and
reports on all data, events, and
procedures related to pre-grievances
(administrative and negotiated), preEqual Employment Opportunity (EEO)
complaints, formal EEO complaints, and
other workplace issues. The ADR Center
Case Tracking System provides a
reporting module that collects data for
tracking, managing, and reporting
purposes, including, but not limited to,
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management reports, statistical analysis,
and case status reports.
The ADR Center Case Tracking
System will be a standalone system of
records that will no longer be located in
the OM, Office of Hearings and Appeals,
but instead will be located in the OM,
Alternative Dispute Resolution Center.
These records will be maintained, not
only in paper files in filing cabinets, but
will now also be maintained
electronically on a computerized
tracking system, as well as in an email
system. They will now be maintained
electronically to improve efficiency and
functionality, particularly with regard to
tracking. The ADR Center Case Tracking
System will collect the same data as
previously collected on current and
former non-bargaining unit employees
of the Department and applicants.
The Department published the
original system of records on June 4,
1999, in the Federal Register. (64 FR
30106, 30137–30139). This notice adds
the category of individuals whose
records are maintained to include
current and former bargaining-unit
employees of the Department. It also
revises the purpose for which the
information is used in the system of
records to indicate that it will be used:
(1) To track, manage, and report on all
data, events, and procedures related to
pre-grievances (administrative or
negotiated); (2) to track, manage, and
report on all data, events, and
procedures related to pre-Equal EEO
complaints referred to the ADR Center
for alternative dispute resolution; (3) to
track, manage, and report on all data,
events, and procedures related to formal
EEO complaints referred to the ADR
Center for alternative dispute resolution;
(4) to track, manage, and report on all
data, events, and procedures related to
Department employees filing any
workplace issue; (5) to collect, analyze,
and report data pertinent to the
particular claim being asserted to
include some Personally Identifiable
Information (PII) for periodic reports
and analysis; (6) to maintain a record of
the data provided by employees
requesting assistance; (7) to act as a
source for information necessary to
fulfill OM, Equal Employment
Opportunity Services’ alternative
dispute resolution reporting
requirements; and (8) to enable
complaint resolution partners to review
and analyze the data of their formal
grievance/complaint population. In
addition, the authority for maintenance
of the ADR Center Case Tracking system
of records has been updated to include
applicable sources of authority.
In addition, the Department proposes
to revise the routine uses. We propose
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67345-67348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27449]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED-2012-ICCD-0050]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; 2013-2014 Federal Student Aid Application
AGENCY: Department of Education (ED), Federal Student Aid (FSA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a revision of an existing
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 10, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
https://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2012-ICCD-
0050 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please
note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after
the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for
information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be
addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ,
Room 2E117, Washington, DC 20202-4537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Electronically mail
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please do not send comments here.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with
an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing
collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact
of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in
the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The
Department of Education is especially interested in public comment
addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to
the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden
accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the
Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents,
including through the use of information technology. Please note that
written comments received in response to this notice will be considered
public records.
Title of Collection: 2013-2014 Federal Student Aid Application.
OMB Control Number: 1845-0001.
Type of Review: Revision of an existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 46,099,008.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 25,959,853.
Abstract: Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (HEA), mandates that the Secretary of Education ``* * *shall
produce, distribute, and process free of charge common financial
reporting forms as described in this subsection to be used for
application and reapplication to determine the need and eligibility of
a student for financial assistance* * *''.
The determination of need and eligibility are for the following
Title IV,
[[Page 67346]]
HEA, federal student financial assistance programs: The Federal Pell
Grant Program; the Campus-Based programs (Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), and
the Federal Perkins Loan Program); the William D. Ford Federal Direct
Loan Program; the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant; and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.
Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education
(hereafter ``the Department''), subsequently developed an application
process to collect and process the data necessary to determine a
student's eligibility to receive Title IV, HEA program assistance. The
application process involves an applicant's submission of the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After submission of the
FAFSA, an applicant receives a Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a
summary of the data they submitted on the FAFSA. The applicant reviews
the SAR, and, if necessary, will make corrections or updates to their
submitted FAFSA.
The Department seeks OMB approval of all application components as
a single ``collection of information''. The aggregate burden will be
accounted for under OMB Control Number 1845-0001. The specific
application components, descriptions and submission methods for each
are listed in Table 1.
Table 1--Federal Student Aid Application Components
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component Description Submission method
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Submission of FAFSA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAFSA on the Web (FOTW).............. Online FAFSA that offers applicants a customized Submitted by the
experience.. applicant via
www.fafsa.gov.
FOTW--Renewal........................ Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously
completed the FAFSA.
FOTW--EZ............................. Online FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the
Simplified Needs Test (SNT) or Automatic Zero
(Auto Zero) needs analysis formulas.
FOTW--EZ Renewal..................... Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously
completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT
or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
FAFSA on the Phone (FOTP)............ The Federal Student Aid Information Center Submitted through
(FSAIC) representatives assist applicants by www.fafsa.gov for
filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW. applicants who call 1-
800-4-FED-AID.
FOTP--EZ............................. FSAIC representatives assist applicants who
qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis
formulas by filing the FAFSA on their behalf
through FOTW.
FAA Access........................... Online tool that a financial aid administrator Submitted through
(FAA) utilizes to submit a FAFSA. www.faaacess.ed.gov by
a FAA on behalf of an
applicant.
FAA Access--Renewal.................. Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a
Renewal FAFSA..
FAA Access--EZ....................... Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a
FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the SNT or
Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
FAA Access--EZ Renewal............... Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a
FAFSA for applicants who have previously
completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT
or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
Electronic Other..................... This is a submission done by a FAA, on behalf of The FAA may be using
the applicant, using the Electronic Data their mainframe
Exchange (EDE). computer or software
to facilitate the EDE
process.
PDF FAFSA or Paper FAFSA............. The paper version of the FAFSA printed by the Mailed by the
Department for applicants who are unable to applicant.
access the Internet or the online PDF FAFSA for
applicants who can access the Internet but are
unable to complete the form using FOTW.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Correcting Submitted FAFSA Information and Reviewing FAFSA Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOTW--Corrections.................... Any applicant who has a Federal Student Aid PIN Submitted by the
(FSA PIN)--regardless of how they originally applicant via
applied--may make corrections using FOTW www.fafsa.gov.
Corrections.
Electronic Other--Corrections........ With the applicant's permission, corrections can The FAA may be using
be made by a FAA using the EDE. their mainframe
computer or software
to facilitate the EDE
process.
Paper SAR--This is a SAR and an The full paper summary that is mailed to paper Mailed by the
option for corrections. applicants who did not provide an e-mail applicant.
address and to applicants whose records were
rejected due to critical errors during
processing. Applicants can write corrections
directly on the paper SAR and mail for
processing.
FAA Access--Corrections.............. An institution can use FAA Access to correct the Submitted through
FAFSA. www.faaacess.ed.gov by
a FAA on behalf of an
applicant.
Internal Department Corrections...... The Department will submit an applicant's record There is no burden to
for system-generated corrections. the applicants under
this correction type
as these are system-
based corrections.
FSAIC Corrections.................... Any applicant, with their Data Release Number These changes are made
(DRN), can change the postsecondary directly in the CPS
institutions listed on their FAFSA or change system by a FSAIC
their address by calling FSAIC. representative.
[[Page 67347]]
SAR Electronic (eSAR)................ The eSAR is an online version of the SAR that is Cannot be submitted for
available on FOTW to all applicants with a PIN. processing.
Notifications for the eSAR are sent to students
who applied electronically or by paper and
provided an e-mail address. These notifications
are sent by e-mail and include a secure
hyperlink that takes the user to the FOTW site.
SAR Acknowledgment................... This is the condensed paper SAR that is mailed
to applicants who applied electronically but
did not provide an e-mail address and do not
meet the criteria for a full paper SAR.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This information collection also documents an estimate of the
annual public burden as it relates to the application process for
federal student aid. The Applicant Burden Model (ABM), measures
applicant burden through an assessment of the activities each applicant
conducts in conjunction with other applicant characteristics and in
terms of burden, the average applicant's experience. Key determinants
of the ABM include:
[ssquf] The total number of applicants that will potentially apply
for federal student aid;
[ssquf] How the applicant chooses to complete and submit the FAFSA
(e.g., by paper or electronically via FOTW);
[ssquf] How the applicant chooses to submit any corrections and/or
updates (e.g., the paper SAR or electronically via FOTW Corrections);
[ssquf] The type of SAR document the applicant receives (eSAR, SAR
acknowledgment, or paper SAR);
[ssquf] The formula applied to determine the applicant's expected
family contribution (EFC) (full need analysis formula, Simplified Needs
Test or Automatic Zero); and
[ssquf] The average amount of time involved in preparing to
complete the application.
The ABM is largely driven by the number of potential applicants for
the application cycle. The total application projection for 2013-2014
is based upon two factors--estimates of the total enrollment in all
degree-granting institutions and the percentage change in FAFSA
submissions for the last completed or almost completed application
cycle. The ABM is also based on the application options available to
students and parents. The Department accounts for each application
component based on web trending tools, survey information, and other
Department data sources.
For 2013-2014, the Department is reporting a net burden reduction
of 3,398,000 hours. The reduction is a reflection of the effects of
simplifying FAFSA on the Web, which is utilized by the majority of
applicants who apply for aid. Simplification of the application is
demonstrated by (1) the average completion times for initial
submissions and; (2) fewer corrections being made to the application.
The projected average completion times for initial submissions has
decreased by 11 minutes for 2013-14. In data reported in the 2012-2013
supporting statement, first-time filers using FOTW would take
approximately 1.30 hours (78 minutes) to submit an application. The
data from 2011-12 indicate that the same user would be able to submit
their application in 1.12 hours (67 minutes), reducing their burden by
.18 hours (11 minutes).
Corrections are also projected to decrease by 760,696 responses for
2013-14. Fewer corrections mean that more comprehensive and accurate
data was captured in the initial submission of the application. Updated
completion times were calculated for each component and have been used
to estimate the burden, excluding the change in the applicant volume.
The results demonstrate that the burden for all applicants would have
decreased by almost 13 percent or 3,758,702 hours, if the application
volume had remained constant.
If the Department had not simplified the application process, thus
reducing the time required to complete the FAFSA, the new burden
estimates would only need to account for the change in applicants. The
1.43% increase in applicants would result in an increase in burden of
347,945 hours.
Accounting for both the increase in total applicants and the
decrease in individual applicant burden, the net change is an overall
decrease of almost 12 percent or 3,398,000 hours. The following Table
shows the net burden change and total cost for applicants. The change
in total annual responses is also listed in the Table. Total annual
responses include the original FAFSA submission and corrections.
Table 2--Net Burden Change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burden
2012-2013 2013-2014 Change % Change disposition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.............. Accounting for change in applicant burden and change in
applicants.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total Applicants.............. 24,705,864 25,053,809 +347,945 +1.41 Net decrease in
burden.
Total Applicant Burden........ 29,357,853 25,959,853 -3,398,000 -11.6 The 1.41%
increase in
applicants is
offset by the
results of the
simplification
changes
implemented by
the Department.
This has
resulted in an
overall
decrease in
burden of
11.57% or
3,397,545
hours.
Total Annual Responses........ 46,447,024 46,099,007 -348,017 -.75
Cost for All Applicants....... $234,804.24 $190,224.76 $44,579.48 -18.99
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department takes pride in the continued efforts to simplify the
FAFSA submission process and the continued decrease in burden
associated with the application process, even as the Department serves
more students each year. The results confirm the significant
improvements that have been made to the application process. The
Department
[[Page 67348]]
believes that these changes will lead to more students completing the
FAFSA and will assist more students with their pursuit of postsecondary
education through access to Title IV, HEA program assistance.
Dated: November 5, 2012.
Darrin A. King,
Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy,
Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-27449 Filed 11-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
