Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records, 56026-56037 [2022-19890]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 13, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56026-56037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19890]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket ID ED-2022-FSA-0073]


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of a new system of records and of the rescindment of two 
systems of records.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended 
(Privacy Act), the U.S. Department of Education (Department) publishes 
this notice of a new system of records entitled ``Aid Awareness and 
Application Processing'' (18-11-21) and of the rescindment of the 
system of records notices entitled ``Federal Student Aid Application 
File'' (18-11-01) and ''Customer Engagement Management System (CEMS)'' 
(18-11-11). The Aid Awareness and Application Processing system of 
records consolidates the Federal Student Aid Application File and CEMS 
system of records notices to create a new system of records notice that 
combines customer information necessary for the Department to process 
customer applications for Federal student financial program assistance 
under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA); 
to perform the duties and responsibilities of the Federal Student Aid 
(FSA) Ombudsman; and, separately, to provide Federal student loan 
repayment relief including under the borrower defense to repayment 
regulations. The Department's will use the new Digital and Customer 
Care (DCC) information technology (IT) system to accomplish these 
functions and duties. The Department will also use DCC IT to make 
customers aware of aid program opportunities and updates under title IV 
of the HEA via digital communication channels and establishes the 
StudentAid.gov website as the front end for assisting customers with 
all their Federal student financial aid needs throughout the student 
aid lifecycle.

DATES: Submit your comments on this new system of records notice and 
rescindment of two system of records notices on or before October 13, 
2022.
    This new system of records notice will become applicable on 
September 13, 2022, unless it needs to be changed as a result of public 
comment, except for the routine uses. The routine uses that are 
outlined in the section entitled ``ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED 
IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH 
USES,'' will become applicable on October 13, 2022, unless they need to 
be changed as a result of public comment. The Department will publish 
any changes to the new system of records notice or routine uses 
resulting from public comment.
    This notice of the rescindment of two system of records notices 
will become applicable September 13, 2022, unless it needs to be 
changed as a result of public comment. The Department will publish any 
changes to the notice of the rescindment of two system of records 
notice that result from public comment.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at regulations.gov. However, if you require an accommodation or 
cannot otherwise submit your comments via regulations.gov, please 
contact the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. The Department will not accept comments submitted by fax or by 
email, or comments submitted after the comment period closes. To ensure 
that the Department does not receive duplicate copies, please submit 
your comments only once. In addition, please include the Docket ID at 
the top of your comments.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov to 
submit your comments electronically. Information on using 
Regulations.gov, including

[[Page 56027]]

instructions for accessing agency documents, submitting comments, and 
viewing the docket, is available on the site under the ``help'' tab.

    Privacy Note: The Department's policy is to make all comments 
received from members of the public available for public viewing in 
their entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
www.regulations.gov. Therefore, commenters should be careful to 
include in their comments only information that they wish to make 
publicly available.

    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 aid, please contact the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Coghlan, Central Processing 
System (CPS)--System Manager, Student Experience and Aid Delivery, 
Federal Student Aid (FSA), U.S. Department of Education (Department), 
Union Center Plaza (UCP), 830 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20202-
5454. Telephone: (202) 377-3205. Email: [email protected].
    Bonnie Latreille, Ombudsman/Director, Ombudsman Group, Federal 
Student Aid (FSA), U.S. Department of Education (Department), Union 
Center Plaza (UCP), 830 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20202-5454. 
Telephone: (202) 377-3726. Email: [email protected].
    Pardu Ponnapalli, Digital and Customer Care (DCC) Information 
System Owner, Technology Directorate, Federal Student Aid (FSA), U.S. 
Department of Education (Department), Union Center Plaza (UCP), 830 
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20202-5454. Telephone: (240) 382-5825. 
Email: [email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Privacy Act, the 
Department proposes to establish a new system of records notice 
entitled, ``Aid Awareness and Application Processing.'' This new system 
of records combines records that previously were maintained in the 
``Federal Student Aid Application File'' (18-11-01) and ''Customer 
Engagement Management System (CEMS)'' (18-11-11) systems of records and 
the Department's new Digital and Customer Care (DCC) information 
technology (IT) system to consolidate the Department's functions that 
require personally identifiable information (PII) from customers for 
purposes of, among other things, the following: processing 
applications, and determining eligibility and benefits, for Federal 
student financial program assistance under title IV of the HEA; and 
providing information and updates about aid program opportunities under 
title IV of the HEA via digital communication channels.
    This new system of records uses the Department's DCC IT system, 
which contains a digital platform that provides a unified digital 
access point, through the StudentAid.gov website, to assist aid 
applicants and recipients (also referred to herein as ``customers'') 
with information about the Federal student financial assistance 
programs authorized by title IV of the HEA, and application processing 
throughout the student aid lifecycle. This single unified website 
consolidates the content and services previously provided across the 
following Department customer sites: StudentLoans.gov, FSAID.ed.gov, 
NSLDS.ed.gov, BorrowerDischarge.ed.gov, and FAFSA.gov. The DCC IT 
system contains a digital marketing and communications platform that 
sends digital communications to customers for various purposes which 
include informing them of title IV, HEA aid marketing campaigns and 
sending them transactional communications (such as confirmation emails 
when a user completes an action). The DCC IT system also contains a 
customer care platform that uses customer information to provide a 
complete customer view to customer service representatives and the FSA 
Ombudsman to facilitate improved customer service and better case 
solution outcomes.
    The Department proposes to rescind the system of records notice 
entitled ``Federal Student Aid Application File'' (18-11-01). The 
records in the Federal Student Aid Application File system of records 
contain information provided by applicants for title IV, HEA program 
assistance, which is collected from the Free Application for Federal 
Student Aid (FAFSA[supreg]), for purposes that include, but are not 
limited to: assisting with the determination, correction, processing, 
tracking, and reporting of program eligibility and benefits for Federal 
student financial assistance programs authorized by title IV of the 
HEA; making a loan or grant; and verifying the identity of the 
applicant, and the parent(s) of a dependent applicant, and the accuracy 
of the information in the system. The Department is rescinding the 
Federal Student Aid Application File system of records notice because 
the records previously covered by that system are now covered by the 
Aid Awareness and Application Processing system of records notice.
    The Department proposes to rescind the system of records notice 
entitled ''Customer Engagement Management System (CEMS)'' (18-11-11). 
The records in the CEMS system of records contain information that is 
used for purposes related to the duties and responsibilities of the FSA 
Ombudsman; and, separately, to perform the duties and responsibilities 
of the Department under the Department's borrower defense to repayment 
regulations. The purposes of the CEMS system of records include, but 
are not limited to: verifying the identities of individuals; recording 
complaints and comments; tracking individual cases, including 
complaints, borrower defense submissions, general inquiries, and chat 
sessions, through final resolution; and receiving, reviewing, 
evaluating, and processing requests for relief under the borrower 
defense to repayment regulations. The Department is rescinding the CEMS 
system of records notice because the records previously covered by that 
system are now covered by the Aid Awareness and Application Processing 
system of records notice.
    Accessible Format: On request to either of the program contact 
persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFROMATION CONTACT, individuals with 
disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format. The 
Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that 
may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, 
an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other 
accessible format.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this 
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published 
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit

[[Page 56028]]

your search to documents published by the Department.

Richard Cordray,
Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Chief Operating 
Officer, Federal Student Aid (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Education 
(Department) publishes a new system of records notice entitled ``Aid 
Awareness and Application Processing'' (18-11-21):

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    Aid Awareness and Application Processing (18-11-21).

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    U.S. Department of Education, 830 First Street NE, Washington, DC 
20202.
    Lee's Summit Federal Records Center, National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA), 200 Space Center Drive, Lee's Summit, MO 6464-
1182. This is where paper applications are stored.
    General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) Image and Data 
Capture (IDC) Center, 1084 South Laurel Road, Building 1, London, KY 
40744. The IDC scans paper financial aid documents and correspondence, 
key-enters the data, and electronically transmits the data and related 
images to the Central Processing System (CPS) for processing.
    Next Generation Data Center (NGDC), 250 Burlington Drive, 
Clarksville, VA 23927. NGDC hosts the infrastructure that supports CPS 
applications including backend application processing.
    CPS Print Facility, 327 Columbia Pike, Rensselaer, NY 12144. This 
facility handles print operations.
    Salesforce Government Cloud, 415 Mission Street, 3rd Floor, San 
Francisco, CA 94105. The system is accessible via the internet to 
different categories of users, including Department personnel, 
customers, and designated agents of the Department at any location 
where they have internet access. This site is the location where 
customer interactions with contact center support via all inbound and 
outbound channels (phone, email, chat, webform, email, customer 
satisfaction survey, fax, physical mail, and controlled correspondence) 
and customer-provided feedback (complaints, suspicious activities, 
positive feedback, and dispute cases) are tracked and worked by 
contractors and the Department. This site also contains workflow 
management for processing tasks including, but not limited to: credit 
appeals, borrower defense to repayment, commingled Social Security 
numbers (SSNs), and archived document retrieval in the Common 
Origination and Disbursement (COD) System, and the Free Application for 
Federal Student Aid[supreg] (FAFSA) special correction application 
process. This site stores customer-provided documentation to support 
the interactions and processing tasks, as needed. This site will also 
be used by the Department for determining employer eligibility to 
support Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and Office of Inspector 
General (OIG) fraud referrals.
    Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud (East/West), 410 Terry Avenue, 
North Seattle, WA 98109-5210. The Digital and Customer Care (DCC) 
information technology (IT) system is hosted at this location. This 
site is the location where the Shado (Dynamo) application collects, 
processes, stores, and makes available user activity events from across 
the DCC IT system to provide a complete view of the customer to the 
Department and its contractors. This site is also the location where 
the Adobe Marketing Campaign application delivers strategic and real-
time personalized email and short message service (SMS) communications.
    Contact Center Fulfillment Center (Senture facility), 4255 W. 
Highway 90, Monticello, KY 42633. This facility handles mail 
fulfillment and imaging operations.
    The following ten listings are the locations of the Aid Awareness 
and Application Processing Customer Contact Centers:
    Jacksonville Contact Center, One Imeson Park Boulevard, 
Jacksonville, FL 32118;
    Knoxville, TN Servicing Center, 120 N. Seven Oaks Drive, Knoxville, 
TN 37922;
    1600 Osgood Street, Suite 2-120, North Andover, MA 01845;
    11499 Chester Road, Suite 101, Sharonville, OH 45246;
    100 Domain Drive, Suite 200, Exeter, NH 03833;
    221 N Kansas Street, Suite 700, El Paso, TX 79901;
    4255 W. Highway 90, Monticello, KY 42633;
    555 Vandiver Drive, Columbia, MO 65202;
    633 Spirit Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63005; and
    820 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
    CPS--System Manager, Student Experience and Aid Delivery, FSA, U.S. 
Department of Education, Union Center Plaza (UCP), 830 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20202-5454.
    Ombudsman, FSA, U.S. Department of Education, UCP, 830 First Street 
NE, Washington, DC 20202-5454.
    DCC--Information System Owner, Technology Directorate, Federal 
Student Aid (FSA), U.S. Department of Education (Department), Union 
Center Plaza (UCP), 830 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20202-5454.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 
U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); 20 U.S.C. 1018(f) and 1087e(h); and the Higher 
Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (20 U.S.C. 
1098bb) (including any waivers or modifications that the Secretary of 
Education deems necessary to make to any statutory or regulatory 
provision applicable to the Federal student financial assistance 
programs under title IV of the HEA to achieve specific purposes listed 
in the section in connection with a war, other military operation, or a 
national emergency). The collection of SSNs of individuals, and parents 
of dependent students, who apply for or receive Federal student 
financial assistance under programs authorized by title IV of the HEA 
is also authorized by 31 U.S.C. 7701 and Executive Order 9397, as 
amended by Executive Order 13478 (November 18, 2008).

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
    The information contained in this system is maintained for the 
following purposes related to applying for Federal student financial 
assistance and administering title IV, HEA programs:
    (Note: Different parts of the HEA use the terms ``discharge'', 
``cancellation'' or ``forgiveness'' to describe when a borrower's loan 
amount is reduced in whole or in part by the Department. To reduce 
complexity, this system of records notice uses the term ``discharge'' 
to include all three terms (``discharge'', ``cancellation'' and 
``forgiveness''), including but not limited to discharges of student 
loans made pursuant to specific benefit programs. At times, the system 
of records notice may refer by name to a specific benefit program, such 
as the ``Public Service Loan Forgiveness'' program; such specific 
references are not intended to exclude any such program benefits from 
more general references to loan discharges.)
    (1) Assisting with the determination, correction, processing, 
tracking, and reporting of program eligibility and benefits for the 
Federal student financial assistance programs authorized by title

[[Page 56029]]

IV of the HEA, including, but not limited to, discharge of eligible 
loans under title IV, HEA programs;
    (2) Making a loan or grant;
    (3) Verifying the identity of the applicant for Federal financial 
assistance under title IV of the HEA, the spouse of a married 
applicant, and the parent(s) of a dependent applicant, and the accuracy 
of the information in this system;
    (4) Reporting the results of the need analysis and Federal Pell 
Grant eligibility determination to applicants, institutions of higher 
education (IHEs), third-party servicers, State agencies designated by 
the applicant, and Departmental and investigative components;
    (5) Reporting the results of duly authorized matching programs 
between the Department and other Federal, State, or local agencies to 
applicants, IHEs, third-party servicers, State agencies designated by 
the applicant, and Departmental and investigative components where the 
Department is required by law to do so or where it would be essential 
to the conduct of the matching program to report, such as for the 
imposition of criminal, civil, or administrative sanctions;
    (6) Enforcing the terms and conditions of a title IV, HEA loan or 
grant;
    (7) Servicing and collecting a delinquent title IV, HEA loan or 
grant;
    (8) Initiating enforcement action against individuals, IHEs, or 
other entities involved in program fraud, abuse, or noncompliance;
    (9) Locating a debtor or recipient of a grant overpayment;
    (10) Maintaining a record of the data supplied by those requesting 
title IV, HEA program assistance;
    (11) Ensuring compliance with and enforcing title IV, HEA 
programmatic requirements and various consumer protection laws;
    (12) Acting as a repository and source for information necessary to 
fulfill the requirements of title IV of the HEA;
    (13) Evaluating title IV, HEA program effectiveness;
    (14) Enabling IHEs and State grant agencies designated by the 
applicant to review and analyze the financial aid data of their 
applicant population;
    (15) Enabling IHEs and State grant agencies to assist applicants 
with the completion of the application for the Federal student 
financial assistance programs authorized by title IV of the HEA;
    (16) Assisting State agencies, eligible IHEs, and other entities 
that award aid to students and that are designated by the Secretary 
with making eligibility determinations for the award of aid and with 
administering these awards; and
    (17) Promoting and encouraging application for title IV, HEA 
program assistance, State assistance, and aid awarded by eligible IHEs 
or by other entities designated by the Secretary.
    The information contained in this system is also maintained for the 
following purposes related to managing customer engagement:
    (1) Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the FSA 
Ombudsman, including investigating and resolving complaints, inquiries, 
and requests for assistance, updating borrower account records, 
correcting errors, analyzing complaint trends, and making appropriate 
recommendations pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 1018(f);
    (2) Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Department 
to provide Federal student loan repayment relief under Federal law;
    (3) Verifying the identity of FSA customers;
    (4) Recording complaints, suspicious activities, positive feedback, 
and comments as provided by customer interactions with contact center 
support via inbound and outbound channels (phone, chat, webform, email, 
customer satisfaction survey, fax, physical mail, social media 
platforms, digital engagement platforms, and controlled 
correspondence);
    (5) Tracking individual cases, including complaints, borrower 
defense submissions, general inquiries, and chat sessions, through 
final resolution, reporting trends, and analyzing the data to recommend 
improvements in Federal student financial assistance programs;
    (6) Assisting in the informal resolution of disputes submitted by 
aid applicants or aid recipients about issues related to title IV, HEA 
program assistance;
    (7) Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Department 
under the borrower defense to repayment regulations at 34 CFR 685.206, 
including receiving, reviewing, evaluating, and processing requests for 
relief under the borrower defense to repayment regulations; and
    (8) Initiating proceedings, where appropriate, to require IHEs to 
pay the Department the amounts of the loans on which borrower defense 
discharges have been granted.
    The information contained in this system is also maintained for the 
following purposes related to assisting aid applicants and recipients 
with Federal student financial assistance programs authorized by title 
IV of the HEA, and managing customer relationships for marketing and 
improving customer service:
    (1) Determining employer qualification for borrowers to receive 
discharge under the PSLF Program;
    (2) Collecting, processing, storing, and making available user 
activity events and user-submitted documentation from across the DCC IT 
system to provide a complete view of the customer to the Department and 
its contractors;
    (3) Sending aid applicants and aid recipients strategic and real-
time, personalized communications via email, and SMS ``text messages'' 
via mobile phone communications to inform them of title IV, HEA aid 
marketing campaigns (such as encouraging completion of their FAFSA), 
and sending transactional communication to customers (such as 
confirmation emails when a user completes an action);
    (4) Measuring customer satisfaction and analyzing results; and
    (5) Promoting and encouraging the repayment of title IV, HEA 
program loans in a timely manner.
    The information in this system is also maintained for the following 
purposes relating to the Department's administration and oversight of 
title IV, HEA programs:
    (1) To support the investigation of possible fraud and abuse and to 
detect and prevent fraud and abuse in the title IV, HEA Federal grant 
and loan programs;
    (2) To support compliance with title IV, HEA statutory and 
regulatory requirements;
    (3) To provide an aid recipient's financial aid history, including 
information about the recipient's title IV, HEA loan defaults, title 
IV, HEA aid receipt, and title IV, HEA grant program overpayments;
    (4) To facilitate receiving and correcting application data, 
processing Federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and reporting Federal 
Perkins Loan Program expenditures to the Department's processing and 
reporting systems;
    (5) To support pre-claims/supplemental pre-claims assistance;
    (6) To assist in locating holders of title IV, HEA loan(s);
    (7) To assist in assessing the administration of title IV, HEA 
program funds by guaranty agencies, lenders and loan holders, IHEs, and 
third-party servicers;
    (8) To initiate or support a limitation, suspension, or termination 
action, an emergency action, or a debarment or suspension action;
    (9) To inform the parent(s) of a dependent applicant of information

[[Page 56030]]

about the parent(s) in an application for title IV, HEA funds;
    (10) To disclose to the parent(s) of a dependent applicant applying 
for a PLUS loan (to be used on behalf of a student), to identify the 
student as the correct beneficiary of the PLUS loan funds, and to allow 
the processing of the PLUS loan application and promissory note;
    (11) To expedite the student application process;
    (12) To enable an applicant, at the applicant's written request, to 
obtain information from other Federal agencies' records;
    (13) To identify, prevent, reduce, and recoup improper payments, 
prevent fraud, and conduct at-risk campaigns, including protecting 
customers from Third-Party Debt Relief firms;
    (14) To help Federal, State, Tribal, and local government entities 
exercise their supervisory and administrative powers (including, but 
not limited to licensure, examination, discipline, regulation, or 
oversight of educational institutions, Department contractors, guaranty 
agencies, lenders and loan holders, and third-party servicers) or to 
respond to individual aid applicant or recipient complaints submitted 
regarding the practices or processes of the Department and/or the 
Department's contractors, or to update information or correct errors 
contained in Department records regarding the aid applicant's or 
recipient's title IV, HEA program funds;
    (15) To provide eligible applicants for title IV, HEA aid, and when 
necessary, the spouse or parents of an applicant, with information 
about certain Federal means-tested benefits and services for which they 
may qualify;
    (16) To collect, track, and process Office of Inspector General 
(OIG) fraud referrals;
    (17) To support research, analysis, and development of educational 
policies in relation to title IV, HEA student aid programs; and
    (18) To conduct testing, analysis, or take other administrative 
actions needed to prepare for or execute programs under title IV of the 
HEA.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    This system maintains records on individuals who are, were, or may 
be participants in any of the Federal student financial assistance 
programs under title IV of the HEA who request assistance, directly or 
through a designated third party, from the Department.
    In addition, this system maintains records on individuals who are 
students in attendance at a secondary school, as defined under 20 
U.S.C. 7801(45), for which State grant agencies and other eligible 
requesting entities such as secondary schools, local educational 
agencies (LEAs), Tribal agencies, or other designated entities that 
have an established relationship with the student pursuant to the terms 
and conditions of the Student Aid internet Gateway (SAIG) Participation 
Agreement for State grant agencies, submit information (e.g., name, 
date of birth (DOB), and zip code) to the Department in order for the 
Department to provide such entities with the student's FAFSA filing 
status information to promote and encourage the student to apply for 
title IV, HEA program assistance, State assistance, and aid awarded by 
IHEs or by other entities designated by the Secretary, as currently 
permitted by Section 483(a)(3)(E) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)(3)(E)).
    This system also maintains records on student and parent applicants 
(and their authorized third parties) who apply for Federal student 
financial assistance under one of the programs authorized under title 
IV of the HEA, including, but not limited to the: (1) Federal Pell 
Grant Program; (2) Federal Perkins Loans Program; (3) Academic 
Competitiveness Grant (ACG) Program; (4) National Science and 
Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grant Program; (5) 
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) 
Grant Program; (6) Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) Program; 
(7) Direct Loan Program, which includes Federal Direct Stafford/Ford 
Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loans, Federal Direct 
PLUS Loans, and Federal Direct Consolidation Loans; (8) Federal Family 
Education Loan (FFEL) Program; and (9) Federal Insured Student Loan 
(FISL) Program.
    Also, this system contains records on individuals who are the 
parent(s) of a dependent applicant, or the spouse of a married 
applicant.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    This system maintains records that contain the following 
information:
    (1) Information provided by applicants for title IV, HEA program 
assistance on an incomplete or completed FAFSA, including, but not 
limited to, the applicant's name, address, SSN, DOB, telephone number, 
driver's license number, email address, citizenship status, marital 
status, legal residence, status as a veteran, educational status, and 
Federal tax information and financial information;
    (2) Information provided about the parent(s) of a dependent 
applicant, including, but not limited to, the parent's highest level of 
schooling completed, marital status, SSN, last name and first initial, 
DOB, email address, number of people in the household supported by the 
parent, and income and asset information;
    (3) Information on spousal income and assets, for an applicant who 
is married;
    (4) Information provided by IHEs on behalf of student and parent 
applicants, including, but not limited to, verification results, 
dependency overrides, and resolution of comment codes or reject codes;
    (5) Information on applicants' expected family contributions 
(EFCs), Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), and Student 
Aid Report (SAR). The system determines an applicant's EFC. The EFC is 
used by IHEs to determine the student's eligibility for Federal and 
institutional program assistance, by State grant agencies to determine 
the student's eligibility for State grants, and by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs for tribal assistance. The Department notifies the applicant of 
the results of his or her application via the SAR. The Department 
provides the IHEs identified on the applicant's FAFSA with the ISIR, 
which indicates whether there are discrepant or insufficient 
information, school adjustments, or CPS assumptions that affect 
processing of the FAFSA. Other information in the system includes, but 
is not limited to: Secondary EFC (an EFC that is calculated from the 
full EFC formula and is printed in the financial aid administrator's 
(FAA) Information section of the ISIR), dependency status, Federal Pell 
Grant eligibility, duplicate SSN (an indicator that is set to alert 
ISIR recipients that two applications were processed with the same 
SSN), selection for verification, Simplified Needs Test (SNT) or 
Automatic Zero EFC (used for extremely low family income), CPS 
processing comments, reject codes (explanation for applicant's FAFSA 
not computing EFC), assumptions made with regard to the student's 
information due to incomplete or inconsistent FAFSA information, FAA 
adjustments including dependency status overrides, and CPS record 
processing information (application receipt date, transaction number, 
transaction process date, SAR Serial Number, Compute Number, Data 
Release Number (DRN), a four-digit number assigned to each 
application), National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) match 
results, a bar code, and transaction source);

[[Page 56031]]

    (6) Information that identifies aid applicant or aid recipient 
complaints, positive feedback, reports of suspicious activity, requests 
for assistance, requests for borrower defense relief, requests for PSLF 
reconsideration, or other inquiries. Such information includes, but is 
not limited to: written documentation of an aid applicant or aid 
recipient's complaint, request for assistance, request for relief under 
the borrower defense regulations, case tracking number, case appeal 
identifier, or other comment or inquiry; and information pertaining to 
the aid recipient's or the aid recipient's parent's student financial 
assistance program account(s) under title IV of the HEA, such as the 
aid recipient and the aid recipient's parent's name and Federal Student 
Aid ID (FSA ID). Information may include the name, address, and phone 
numbers of the aid recipient's counsel or representative, IHE(s), 
lender(s), secondary holder(s) or lender(s), guaranty agency(ies), 
servicer(s), and private collection agency(ies), if applicable, and may 
contain other loan-level information;
    (7) Information provided and generated through customer 
interactions with contact center support via inbound and outbound 
channels (phone, chat, webform, email, customer satisfaction survey, 
fax, physical mail, social media platforms, digital engagement 
platforms, and controlled correspondence). Information includes, but is 
not limited to: chat transcripts, email communications, audio 
recordings of customer calls, and screen recordings of contact center 
support desktop during customer interactions;
    (8) Loan discharge eligibility and verification information for use 
in determining whether a title IV, HEA debt/loan qualifies for 
discharge;
    (9) Aid recipient's employer information to determine employer 
qualification for borrowers to receive discharge under PSLF; OIG fraud 
referral information; and customer support interactions including 
phone, chat, webform, email, fax, physical mail, and controlled 
correspondence;
    (10) Information for collecting, processing, and storing user 
activity events from across the DCC IT system: campaign details, 
delivery details, email/SMS sent timestamp, transaction ID, Federal 
Account Number (FAN) ID, activity details, activity date, pages/URL 
accessed, user IP address, user-submitted materials, and user request 
details;
    (11) Information needed to aid in the delivery of strategic and 
real-time communication to customers, including, but not limited to, 
first name, last name, DOB, state of residence, email, phone number, 
mobile device ID, device data, FAFSA transaction data, uniform resource 
locator (URL), computer-related data, and customer communication 
preferences and user-activity (open or clicks) for email and SMS 
communications.

    Note:  This system of records also maintains information that is 
collected in this system and stored in other systems of records. The 
following information about individuals who apply for or receive a 
Federal grant or loan under one of the programs authorized under 
title IV of the HEA is collected in this system and stored in the 
``Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System'' (18-11-02) 
system of records: applicant identifiers including applicant's name, 
SSN, and DOB; demographic information, including Federal tax 
information (tax return status, adjusted gross income, Internal 
Revenue Service exemptions, and tax year), and enrollment 
information; borrower's loan(s) information, including information 
about recipients of Direct Loans, FFEL Program loans, Perkins Loans, 
and FISL Program loans, such as the period from the origination of 
the loan through final payment, and milestones, including, but not 
limited to, consolidation, discharge, or other final disposition 
including details such as loan amount, disbursements, balances, loan 
status, repayment plan and related information, collections, claims, 
deferments, forbearances, and refunds; information about students 
receiving Federal grants, including recipients of Pell Grants, ACG, 
National SMART Grants, TEACH Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service 
Grants, and including grant amounts, grant awards, verification 
status, lifetime eligibility used (LEU), IASG eligible veteran's 
dependent indicator, Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship 
eligibility indicator, and the Pell Grant additional eligibility 
indicator; Pell Grant collection status indicator and overpayment 
collection information; promissory notes, Direct Loan Entrance 
Counseling forms, Federal Student Loan Exit Counseling forms, PLUS 
Loan Counseling forms, the Annual School Loan Acknowledgement 
(ASLA), Direct PLUS Loan Requests, endorser addendums, and 
counseling in the Direct Loan and TEACH Grant programs, such as the 
date that applicant completed counseling; PLUS Loan credit report 
information; applicant identifier information for an electronic 
request to repay a Direct Loan under an income-driven repayment plan 
and endorser/spouse information, such as the SSN, date that 
applicant completed the income-driven repayment plan application, 
and current loan balances; Electronic Direct Consolidation Loan 
borrower identifier information, such as the borrower's SSN, the 
date that borrower completed the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan 
application and promissory note, and current loan balances; and 
credit check decisions, credit appeals, credit appeal identifiers, 
and credit history information to support the credit appeal process. 
Further, information from the ``Enterprise Data Management and 
Analytics Platform Services (EDMAPS)'' (18-11-22) system of records 
is accessible in the DCC IT system to: allow real-time updates to a 
customer's identifiers, demographic attributes, address, phone, and 
email contact details; update customer preference for receiving 
marketing information via text message; allow the Department and its 
contractors to identify customers who have completed a customer 
satisfaction survey; and enable the Department to contact borrowers 
who have been identified by the Department as potentially having 
fraudulent activity from a Third-Party Debt Relief (TPDR) company 
and are at risk of loan default. Information that is modifiable by 
the customer through StudentAid.gov are the following: name, DOB, 
address, phone number, and email address. The DCC IT system also 
sends the following information to the EDMAPS system for analytics 
and reporting: case information including complaints, and OIG fraud 
referral data. Information includes, but is not limited to: SSN, 
DOB, address, phone, and email. Additionally, information from 
Federal Loan Servicers' systems (covered by the ``Common Services 
for Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16) system of records) is accessible on 
StudentAid.gov to allow customers to view their relevant Federal 
Loan Servicer information, payment information, loan information, 
and to make payments on StudentAid.govas they would on the various 
Federal Loan Servicer websites. Finally, customers can use 
StudentAid.gov to update their contact information and access 
financial aid history that is stored in the ``National Student Loan 
Data System (NSLDS)'' (18-11-06) system of records.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information maintained in this system of records is obtained from 
applicants, the parents of dependent applicants, and the spouse of 
married applicants for title IV, HEA program assistance, on the paper 
FAFSA, Portable Document Format (PDF) FAFSA, the online FAFSA form, and 
FAFSA by phone; the authorized employees or representatives of 
authorized entities (namely, IHEs, institutional third-party servicers, 
FFEL Program lenders, FFEL Program guaranty agencies, Federal loan 
servicers, State grant agencies, other Federal agencies, and research 
agencies); and from other persons or entities from which information is 
obtained following a disclosure under the routine uses set forth below.
    The Financial Aid Administrators at IHEs designated by the 
applicant and IHEs' third-party servicers may correct the records in 
this system as a result of documentation provided by the applicant or 
by a dependent applicant's parents, such as Federal income return(s) 
(Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040), Social Security card(s), 
and Department of Homeland Security I-551 Permanent Resident Card.
    This system maintains information added during CPS processing and

[[Page 56032]]

information received from other Department systems, including the 
NSLDS, the COD System, and the SAIG Participation Management System. 
The results of matching programs with Federal and non-Federal agencies 
are added to the student's record during CPS processing. The 
Department's present matching programs are with the Social Security 
Administration (SSA) to verify the SSNs of applicants, and dependent 
applicants' parent(s), and to confirm the U.S. citizenship status of 
applicants as recorded in SSA records and date of death (if applicable) 
of applicants, and dependent applicants' parents, pursuant to sections 
428B(f)(2), 483(a)(12), and 484(g) and (p) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1078-
2(f)(2), 1090(a)(12), and 1091(g)and (p)); with the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA) to verify the status of applicants who claim to 
be veterans, pursuant to section 480(c) and (d)(1)(D) of the HEA (20 
U.S.C. 1087vv(c) and (d)(1)(D)); with the U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) to confirm the immigration status of applicants for 
assistance as authorized by section 484(g) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 
1091(g)); with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to enforce any 
requirement imposed at the discretion of a court, pursuant to section 
5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Public Law 100-690, as amended 
by section 1002(d) of the Crime Control Act of 1990, Public Law 101-647 
(21 U.S.C. 862), denying Federal benefits under the programs 
established by title IV of the HEA to any individual convicted of a 
State or Federal offense for the distribution or possession of a 
controlled substance; and with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to 
identify dependents of U.S. military personnel who died in service in 
Iraq and Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, to determine if they are 
eligible for increased amounts of title IV, HEA program assistance, 
pursuant to sections 420R and 473(b) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070h and 
1087mm(b)).
    During CPS processing, the Department's COD System sends 
information to this system for students who have received a Federal 
Pell Grant. The CPS uses this information for verification analysis and 
for end-of-year reporting. These data elements include, but are not 
limited to: Verification Selection and Status, Potential Over-award 
Project (POP) indicator, Institutional Cost of Attendance, Reporting 
and Attended Campus Pell ID and Enrollment Date, and Federal Pell Grant 
Program information (Scheduled Federal Pell Grant Award, Origination 
Award Amount, Total Accepted Disbursement Amount, Number of 
Disbursements Accepted, Percentage of Eligibility Used At This Attended 
Campus Institution, and Date of Last Activity from the Origination or 
Disbursement table).
    The CPS also receives applicant information from the Department's 
NSLDS system each time an application is processed or corrected. This 
process assesses student aid eligibility, updates financial aid 
history, and ensures compliance with title IV, HEA regulations. Some of 
this information appears on the applicant's SAR and ISIR. Title IV, HEA 
award information is provided to NSLDS from several different sources. 
Federal Perkins Loan information and Federal Supplemental Educational 
Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) overpayment information is sent from IHEs or 
their third-party servicers; the Department's COD System provides 
Federal Pell Grant and Direct Loan data; and State and guaranty 
agencies provide information on FFEL loans received from lending 
institutions participating in the FFEL programs. Financial aid 
transcript information reported by NSLDS provides aid recipients, IHEs, 
and third-party servicers with information about the type(s), 
amount(s), dates, and overpayment status of prior and current title IV, 
HEA funds the aid recipient has received. FFEL and William D. Ford 
Federal Direct Student Loan data information reported by NSLDS 
includes, but is not limited to: (1) Aggregate Loan Data, such as 
Subsidized, Unsubsidized; Combined Outstanding Principal Balances; 
Unallocated Consolidated Outstanding Principal Balances, Subsidized, 
Unsubsidized; Combined Pending Disbursements, Subsidized, Unsubsidized; 
Combined Totals; and Unallocated Consolidated Totals; (2) Detailed Loan 
Data, such as Loan Sequence Number; Loan Type Code; Loan Change Flag; 
Loan Program Code; Current Status Code and Date; Outstanding Principal 
Balance and Date; Net Loan Amount; Loan Begin and End Dates; Amount and 
Date of Last Disbursement; Guaranty Agency Code; School Code; Contact 
Code; and Institution Type and Grade Level; and (3) system flags for 
Additional Unsubsidized Loan; Capitalized Interest; Defaulted Loan 
Change; Discharged Loan Change; Loan Satisfactory Repayment Change; 
Active Bankruptcy Change; Overpayments Change; Aggregate Loan Change; 
Defaulted Loan; Discharged Loan; Loan Satisfactory Repayment; Active 
Bankruptcy; Additional Loans; Direct Loan Master Promissory Note; 
Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note; Subsidized Loan Limit; and the 
Combined Loan Limit. Federal Perkins Loan information reported by NSLDS 
includes, but is not limited to: Cumulative and Current Year 
Disbursement Amounts; flags for Perkins Loan Change; Defaulted Loan; 
Discharged Loan; Loan Satisfactory Repayment; Active Bankruptcy; 
Additional Loans; and Perkins Overpayment Flag and Contact (School or 
Region). Federal Pell Grant payment information reported includes, but 
is not limited to: Pell Sequence Number; Pell Attended School Code; 
Pell Transaction Number; Last Update Date; Scheduled Amount; Award 
Amount; Amount Paid to Date; Percent Scheduled Award Used; Pell Payment 
EFC; Flags for Pell Verification; and Pell Payment Change. TEACH Grant 
Program information includes, but is not limited to: TEACH Grant 
Overpayment Contact; TEACH Grant Overpayment Flag; TEACH Grant Loan 
Principal Balance; TEACH Grant Total; and TEACH Grant Change Flag. Iraq 
and Afghanistan Service Grants information includes, but is not limited 
to, Total Award Amount. The Department obtains from and exchanges 
information that is included in this system of records with IHEs, 
third-party servicers, and State agencies. These eligible entities 
register with the SAIG system to participate in the information 
exchanges specified for their business processes.
    Additionally, for individuals who request assistance, directly or 
through a designated third party, from the Department, information is 
obtained from individuals (e.g., borrowers), their counsel or 
representatives, or students or their parents (when the individual is a 
borrower and depending on whether the individual is a parent or 
student), Federal agencies, State agencies, IHEs, lenders, private 
collection agencies, guaranty agencies, accreditors, and from other 
persons or entities from whom or from which data is obtained following 
a disclosure under routine uses set forth below.

    Note: Customer information that is retrieved from Federal Loan 
Servicers' IT systems (covered by the system of records notice 
entitled ``Common Services for Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16)) is 
accessible through StudentAid.gov to provide customers with payment 
and loan information and to enable customers to make loan payments 
as they would on the various Federal Loan Servicer websites. 
Information that is collected in this system is stored in and 
retrieved from the COD System (covered by the system of records 
notice entitled ``Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System'' 
(18-11-02)) to allow: applicants and borrowers to submit Counseling 
(Entrance, Exit, Financial

[[Page 56033]]

Awareness Counseling, PLUS, TEACH Initial, TEACH Exit, TEACH 
Conversion), Master Promissory Note (MPN), Endorser Addendum, TEACH 
Agreement to Serve (ATS), Loan Consolidation, Income-Driven 
Repayment, PLUS Loan Request, and Annual Student Loan 
Acknowledgement (ASLA) applications through StudentAid.gov; credit 
check decision, credit appeal, and credit history information to be 
viewable on StudentAid.gov to support credit appeal processing; 
users to view and search the PSLF employer database as retrieved 
from the COD System and provide updates to employers' information; 
and the PDF version of the PSLF/Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) 
certification and application form that is generated from the PSLF 
Help Tool to be accessible. Information is also retrieved from the 
COD System to provide StudentAid.gov functionality for creating and 
updating customer records. The following information from the EDMAPS 
system is accessible in the DCC IT system: customer information that 
is retrieved to allow real-time updates to a customer's identifiers, 
demographic attributes, address, phone, and email contact details; 
SMS opt in/out information for customer communication preferences to 
opt in/out of receiving marketing information via text message; 
information for customers who have been identified by the Department 
and its contractors as having completed a customer satisfaction 
survey; information for borrowers who will be contacted by the 
Department because they have been identified by the Department as 
having potentially fraudulent activity from a TPDR company; and 
information on borrowers who have been identified by the Department 
and its contractors as being at risk for loan default.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    The Department may disclose information maintained in a record in 
this system of records under the routine uses listed in this system of 
records notice without the consent of the individual if the disclosure 
is compatible with the purposes for which the record was collected. 
These disclosures may be made on a case-by-case basis or pursuant to a 
matching agreement that meets the requirements of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended (Privacy Act). Until June 30, 2023, Section 
483(a)(3)(E) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)(3)(E)) restricts the use of 
the information gathered from the electronic version of the FAFSA to 
the application, award, and administration of aid awarded under title 
IV of the HEA, aid awarded by States, aid awarded by eligible 
institutions, or aid awarded by such entities as the Secretary may 
designate.
    (1) Program Disclosures. The Department may disclose records from 
the system of records for the following program purposes:
    (a) To verify the identity of the applicant, the spouse of a 
married applicant, and the parent(s) of a dependent applicant, to 
determine the accuracy of the information contained in the record, to 
support compliance with title IV, HEA statutory and regulatory 
requirements, and to assist with the determination, correction, 
processing, tracking, and reporting of program eligibility and 
benefits, the Department may disclose records to guaranty agencies, 
lenders and loan holders participating in the FFEL Program, IHEs, 
third-party servicers, and Federal, State, local, or Tribal agencies;
    (b) To provide an applicant's financial aid history to IHEs, 
guaranty agencies and State agencies, lenders and loan holders 
participating in the FFEL Program, and third-party servicers, including 
information about the applicant's title IV, HEA loan defaults and title 
IV, HEA grant program overpayments, the Department may disclose records 
to IHEs, guaranty agencies and State agencies, lenders and loan holders 
participating in the FFEL Program, and third-party servicers;
    (c) To facilitate receiving and correcting application information, 
processing Federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and reporting Federal 
Perkins Loan Program expenditures to the Department's processing and 
reporting systems, the Department may disclose records to IHEs, State 
agencies, and third-party servicers;
    (d) To assist loan holders with the collection and servicing of 
title IV, HEA loans, to support pre-claims/supplemental pre-claims 
assistance, to assist in locating borrowers, and to assist in locating 
students who owe grant overpayments, the Department may disclose 
records to guaranty agencies, lenders and loan holders participating in 
the FFEL Program, IHEs, third-party servicers, and Federal, State, 
local, and Tribal agencies;
    (e) To facilitate assessments of title IV, HEA program compliance, 
the Department may disclose records to guaranty agencies and IHEs, 
third-party servicers, and Federal, State, and local agencies;
    (f) To assist in locating holders of loans, the Department may 
disclose records to guaranty agencies, lenders and loan holders 
participating in the FFEL Program, IHEs, third-party servicers, and 
Federal, State, and local agencies;
    (g) To assist in assessing the administration of title IV, HEA 
program funds by guaranty agencies, lenders and loan holders in the 
FFEL Program, IHEs, and third-party servicers, the Department may 
disclose records to Federal and State agencies;
    (h) To enforce the terms of a loan or grant or to assist in the 
collection of loan or grant overpayments, the Department may disclose 
records to guaranty agencies, lenders and loan holders participating in 
the FFEL Program, IHEs, third-party servicers, and Federal, State, and 
local agencies;
    (i) To assist borrowers in repayment, the Department may disclose 
records to guaranty agencies, lenders and loan holders participating in 
the FFEL Program, IHEs, third-party servicers, and Federal, State, and 
local agencies;
    (j) To determine the relief that is appropriate if the Secretary 
grants a borrower defense to repayment discharge application, as well 
as to pursue repayment of the amount of such discharges against the 
IHE, the Department may disclose records to Federal, State, and Tribal 
agencies, accreditors, IHEs, lenders and loan holders, guaranty 
agencies, third-party servicers, and private collection agencies;
    (k) To initiate legal action against an individual or entity 
involved in an illegal or unauthorized title IV, HEA program 
expenditure or activity, the Department may disclose records to 
guaranty agencies, lenders and loan holders participating in the FFEL 
Program, IHEs, third-party servicers, and Federal, State, local, and 
Tribal agencies;
    (l) To initiate or support a limitation, suspension, or termination 
action, an emergency action, or a debarment or suspension action, the 
Department may disclose records to guaranty agencies, lenders and loan 
holders participating in the FFEL Program, IHEs, third-party servicers, 
and Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies;
    (m) To investigate and resolve complaints, inquiries, requests for 
assistance, requests for Federal student loan repayment relief and 
other relief under the borrower defense to repayment regulations, and 
to update borrower account records and to correct errors, the 
Department may disclose records to guaranty agencies, lenders and loan 
holders participating in the FFEL Program, accreditors, IHEs, third-
party servicers, private collection agencies, and Federal, State, and 
local agencies;
    (n) To inform the parent(s) of a dependent applicant of information 
about the parent(s) in an application for title IV, HEA funds, the 
Department may disclose records to the parent(s);
    (o) To identify the student as the correct beneficiary of the PLUS 
loan funds, and to allow the processing of the

[[Page 56034]]

PLUS loan application and promissory note, the Department may disclose 
records to the parent(s) applying for the parent PLUS loan;
    (p) To encourage a student to complete a FAFSA or to assist a 
student with the completion of a FAFSA, the Department may disclose the 
FAFSA filing status of the student to an LEA, a secondary school where 
the student is or was enrolled, a State, local, or Tribal agency, or an 
entity that awards aid to students and that has been designated by the 
Secretary, as currently permitted by Section 483(a)(3)(E) of the HEA 
(20 U.S.C. 1090(a)(3)(E));
    (q) To enable an applicant, at the applicant's written request, to 
obtain information from other Federal agencies' records that will 
assist the applicant in completing the FAFSA or income-driven repayment 
plan forms online, the Department may disclose information from this 
system of records to other Federal agencies, such as the IRS;
    (r) To determine an applicant's eligibility for the award of State 
postsecondary education assistance and for the award of aid by eligible 
IHEs or by other entities that have been designated by the Secretary, 
as currently permitted by Section 483(a)(3)(E) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 
1090(a)(3)(E)), and to administer those awards, the Department may 
disclose information from this system of records to State agencies, 
eligible IHEs, and other entities designated by the Secretary that 
award aid to students, as currently permitted by Section 483(a)(3)(E) 
of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)(3)(E)); and
    (s) To help Federal, State, Tribal, and local government entities 
exercise their supervisory and administrative powers (including, but 
not limited to licensure, examination, discipline, regulation, or 
oversight of IHEs, Department contractors, guaranty agencies, lenders 
and loan holders, and third-party servicers) or to respond to aid 
applicant or recipient complaints submitted regarding the practices or 
processes of the Department and/or the Department's contractors, or to 
update information or correct errors contained in Department records 
regarding the aid applicant's or recipient's title IV, HEA program 
funds, the Department may disclose records to governmental entities at 
the Federal, State, Tribal, and local levels. These records may include 
all aspects of loans and grants made under title IV of the HEA in order 
to permit these governmental entities to verify compliance with 
applicable debt collection, consumer protection, financial, and other 
applicable statutory, regulatory, or local requirements. Before making 
a disclosure to these Federal, State, local, or Tribal governmental 
entities, the Department will require them to maintain safeguards 
consistent with the Privacy Act to protect the security and 
confidentiality of the disclosed records.
    Note: Some information that is maintained in this system of records 
is also maintained in other Department systems of records and, 
therefore, may be disclosed pursuant to the routine uses published in 
those other systems' system of records notices, including the ``Common 
Origination and Disbursement (COD) System'' (18-11-02), ``National 
Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)'' (18-11-06), and ``Common Services 
for Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16).
    (2) Enforcement Disclosure. In the event that information in this 
system of records indicates, either on its face or in connection with 
other information, a violation or potential violation of any applicable 
statute, regulations, or order of a competent authority, the Department 
may disclose the relevant records to the appropriate agency, whether 
Federal, State, Tribal, or local, charged with the responsibility of 
investigating or prosecuting that violation or charged with enforcing 
or implementing the statute, Executive Order, rule, regulation, or 
order issued pursuant thereto.
    (3) Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Disclosure.
    (a) Introduction. In the event that one of the parties listed in 
sub-paragraphs (i) through (v) of this routine use is involved in 
judicial or administrative litigation or ADR, or has an interest in 
judicial or administrative litigation or ADR, the Department may 
disclose certain records to the parties described in paragraphs (b), 
(c), and (d) of this routine use under the conditions specified in 
those paragraphs:
    (i) The Department or any of its components;
    (ii) Any Department employee in their official capacity;
    (iii) Any Department employee in their individual capacity where 
the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) agrees to or has been requested to 
provide or arrange for representation of the employee;
    (iv) Any Department employee in their individual capacity where the 
Department has agreed to represent the employee; and
    (v) The United States, where the Department determines that the 
litigation is likely to affect the Department or any of its components.
    (b) Disclosure to the DOJ. If the Department determines that 
disclosure of certain records to the DOJ is relevant and necessary to 
judicial or administrative litigation or ADR, the Department may 
disclose those records as a routine use to the DOJ.
    (c) Adjudicative Disclosure. If the Department determines that it 
is relevant and necessary to judicial or administrative litigation or 
ADR to disclose certain records to an adjudicative body before which 
the Department is authorized to appear or to a person or entity 
designated by the Department or otherwise empowered to resolve or 
mediate disputes, the Department may disclose those records as a 
routine use to the adjudicative body, person, or entity.
    (d) Disclosure to Parties, Counsel, Representatives, and Witnesses. 
If the Department determines that disclosure of certain records is 
relevant and necessary to judicial or administrative litigation or ADR, 
the Department may disclose those records as a routine use to the 
party, counsel, representative, or witness.
    (4) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Advice 
Disclosure. The Department may disclose records to the DOJ or to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) if the Department determines that 
disclosure is desirable or necessary in determining whether records are 
required to be disclosed under the FOIA or the Privacy Act.
    (5) Contract Disclosure. If the Department contracts with an entity 
to perform any function that requires disclosing records in this system 
of records to the contractor's employees, the Department may disclose 
the records to those employees. As part of such a contract, the 
Department shall require the contractor to agree to establish and 
maintain safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of the 
disclosed records.
    (6) Congressional Member Disclosure. The Department may disclose 
the records of an individual to a member of Congress or the member's 
staff when necessary to respond to an inquiry from the member made at 
the written request of and on behalf of the individual whose records 
are being disclosed. The member's right to the information is no 
greater than the right of the individual who requested it.
    (7) Employment, Benefit, and Contracting Disclosure.
    (a) For Decisions by the Department. The Department may disclose a 
record to a Federal, State, or local agency, or to another public 
agency or professional organization, maintaining civil, criminal, or 
other relevant enforcement or other pertinent records, if necessary to 
obtain information relevant to a

[[Page 56035]]

Department decision concerning the hiring or retention of an employee 
or other personnel action, the issuance of a security clearance, the 
letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other 
benefit.
    (b) For Decisions by Other Public Agencies and Professional 
Organizations. The Department may disclose a record to a Federal, 
State, local, or other public agency or professional organization, or 
the Department's contractor in connection with the hiring or retention 
of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance of a security 
clearance, the reporting of an investigation of an employee, the 
letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other 
benefit, to the extent that the record is relevant and necessary to the 
receiving entity's decision on the matter.
    (8) Employee Grievance, Complaint, or Conduct Disclosure. If a 
record is relevant and necessary to an employee grievance, complaint, 
or disciplinary action involving a present or former employee of the 
Department, the Department may disclose a record from this system of 
records in the course of investigation, fact-finding, or adjudication 
to any party to the grievance, complaint, or action; to the party's 
counsel or representative; to a witness; or to a designated fact-
finder, mediator, or other person designated to resolve issues or 
decide the matter.
    (9) Labor Organization Disclosure. The Department may disclose 
records from this system of records to an arbitrator to resolve 
disputes under a negotiated grievance procedure or to officials of 
labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. chapter 71 when relevant 
and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation.
    (10) Disclosure to the DOJ. The Department may disclose records to 
the DOJ to the extent necessary for obtaining DOJ advice on any matter 
relevant to an audit, inspection, or other inquiry related to the 
programs covered by this system.
    (11) Research Disclosure. The Department may disclose records to a 
researcher if the Department determines that the individual or 
organization to which the disclosure would be made is qualified to 
carry out specific research related to functions or purposes of this 
system of records. The Department may disclose records from this system 
of records to that researcher solely for the purpose of carrying out 
that research related to the functions or purposes of this system of 
records. The researcher must agree to establish and maintain safeguards 
to protect the security and confidentiality of the disclosed records.
    (12) Disclosure to the OMB and Congressional Budget Office (CBO) 
for Federal Credit Reform Act (FCRA) Support. The Department may 
disclose records to OMB and CBO as necessary to fulfill FCRA 
requirements in accordance with 2 U.S.C. 661b.
    (13) Disclosure in the Course of Responding to Breach of Data. The 
Department may disclose records to appropriate agencies, entities, and 
persons when (a) the Department suspects or has confirmed that there 
has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Department has 
determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there 
is a risk of harm to individuals, the Department (including its 
information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, 
or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, 
entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection 
with the Department's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed 
breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.
    (14) Disclosure in Assisting another Agency in Responding to a 
Breach of Data. The Department may disclose records from this system to 
another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Department 
determines that information from this system of records is reasonably 
necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in (a) responding to 
a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or 
remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or 
entity (including its information systems, programs, and operations), 
the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a 
suspected or confirmed breach.
    (15) Disclosure of Information to State and Federal Agencies. The 
Department may disclose records from this system to (a) a Federal or 
State agency, its employees, agents (including contractors of its 
agents), or contractors, or (b) a fiscal or financial agent designated 
by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, including employees, agents, or 
contractors of such agent, for the purpose of identifying, preventing, 
or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, 
Federal funds.
    (16) Disclosure to the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). The Department may disclose records from this system of records 
to NARA for the purpose of records management inspections conducted 
under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:
    Disclosures pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12): The Department may 
disclose the following information to a consumer reporting agency 
regarding a valid, overdue claim of the Department: (1) the name, 
address, taxpayer identification number, and other information 
necessary to establish the identity of the individual responsible for 
the claim; (2) the amount, status, and history of the claim; and (3) 
the program under which the claim arose. The Department may disclose 
the information specified in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12) 
and the procedures contained in subsection 31 U.S.C. 3711(e). A 
consumer reporting agency to which these disclosures may be made is 
defined at 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f) and 31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3).

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    System records are paper-based and stored in locked rooms or 
electronic and stored on secured computer systems and in the cloud.
    Paper applications are stored in standard Federal Records Center 
boxes in locked storage rooms at the contractor facility in London, 
Kentucky, and then moved to the NARA Federal Records Center listed in 
the ``System Location'' section above, where the records are stored 
until disposed.
    Digitized paper applicant records, which include optically imaged 
documents, are stored on DADS (disks) in a virtual disk library, which 
is also electronic, in the computer facilities controlled by the Next 
Generation Data Center (NGDC) in Clarksville, VA.
    Records that are collected in this system for applicants of Federal 
grants or loans are stored in the COD System for individuals who apply 
under one of the programs authorized under title IV of the HEA, 
including, but not limited to the: (1) Federal Pell Grant Program; (2) 
Federal Perkins Loans Program; (3) ACG Program; (4) National SMART 
Grant Program; (5) TEACH Grant Program; (6) Iraq and Afghanistan 
Service Grant Program; (7) Direct Loan Program, which includes Federal 
Direct Stafford/Ford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford 
Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans and Federal Direct Consolidation 
Loans; (8) FFEL Program; and (9) FISL Program.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    Records in this system pertaining to a title IV, HEA loan 
applicant, borrower, or grant recipient are indexed and retrieved by a 
single data element, or a

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combination of the following data elements, to include SSN, name, DOB, 
the academic year in which the applicant applied for title IV, HEA 
program assistance, and case tracking number. These data elements are 
also used to retrieve information of title IV, HEA program applicants 
for and recipients of Federal grants or loans from the COD System 
(applicant information is collected in this system of records and 
stored in the COD System).
    This system also uses a credit appeal identifier to retrieve credit 
appeal information from the COD System to support the credit appeal 
process.
    Additionally, this system uses a combination of SSN, DOB, and name 
data elements to retrieve records from Federal Loan Servicers' systems 
(covered by the system of records notice entitled ``Common Services for 
Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16)) to allow customers to access their 
relevant Federal Loan Servicer information, payment information, loan 
information and to make payments on StudentAid.gov as they would on the 
various Federal Loan Servicer websites.
    This system also uses customer identifiers to retrieve customer 
information data from the EDMAPS system (covered by the system of 
records noticed entitled ``Enterprise Data Management and Analytics 
Platform Services (EDMAPS) System'' (18-11-xx)) to allow real-time 
updates to customer information and communication preferences; and for 
the Department and its contractors to identify customers who have 
completed a customer satisfaction survey in the DCC system; who may 
have potential fraudulent activity from a TPDR company; and who may be 
at risk for loan default.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
    All records maintained in this system are primarily retained and 
disposed of in accordance with the records schedules listed below. The 
Department has submitted amendments to these records schedules to NARA 
for its review and approval.
    (a) Department Records Schedule 051: FSA National Student Loan Data 
System (NSLDS) (DAA-0441-2017-0004) (ED 051). (Records covered by ED 
051 will not be destroyed until NARA-approved amendments to ED 051 are 
in effect, as applicable.)
    (b) Department Records Schedule 052: Ombudsman Case Files (N1-441-
09-21) (ED 052). (Records covered by ED 052 will not be destroyed until 
NARA-approved amendments to ED 052 are in effect, as applicable.)
    (c) Department Records Schedule 072: FSA Application, Origination, 
and Disbursement Records (DAA-0441-2013-0002) (ED 072). (Records 
covered by ED 072 will not be destroyed until NARA-approved amendments 
to ED 072 are in effect, as applicable.)

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    All users of the system will have a unique user ID with a password. 
All physical access to the data housed at system locations is 
controlled and monitored by security personnel who check each 
individual entering the building for their employee or visitor badge. 
The computer system employed by the Department offers a high degree of 
resistance to tampering and circumvention with firewalls, encryption, 
and password protection. This security system limits data access to 
Department and contract staff on a ``need-to-know'' basis and controls 
individual users' ability to access and alter records within the 
system. All interactions by users of the system are recorded.
    In accordance with the Federal Information Security Management Act 
of 2002 (FISMA), as amended by the Federal Information Security 
Modernization Act of 2014, every Department system must receive a 
signed Authorization to Operate (ATO) from a designated Department 
official. The ATO process includes a rigorous assessment of security 
and privacy controls, a plan of actions and milestones to remediate any 
identified deficiencies, and a continuous monitoring program.
    FISMA controls implemented are comprised of a combination of 
management, operational, and technical controls, and include the 
following control families: access control, awareness and training, 
audit and accountability, security assessment and authorization, 
configuration management, contingency planning, identification and 
authentication, incident response, maintenance, media protection, 
physical and environmental protection, planning, personnel security, 
privacy, risk assessment, system and services acquisition, system and 
communications protection, system and information integrity, and 
program management.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    If you wish to gain access to a record in this system, contact the 
system manager at the address listed above. You must provide necessary 
particulars such as your name, SSN, and any other identifying 
information requested by the Department while processing the request to 
distinguish between individuals with the same name. Alternatively, to 
gain access to a record in the system, you may make a Privacy Act 
request through the U.S. Department of Education, FOIA Service Center 
at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/foia/request_privacy.html by 
completing the applicable request forms. Requests by an individual for 
access to a record must meet the requirements of the Department's 
Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity.
    Borrowers are able to access their financial aid history from NSLDS 
in this system. If you wish to gain access to other records in the 
NSLDS, please refer to the RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES section in the 
system of records notice entitled ``National Student Loan Data System 
(NSLDS)'' (18-11-06).
    For title IV, HEA program applicants and recipients of Federal 
grants or loans, if you wish to gain access to such information about 
you from the COD System, please refer to the RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES 
section in the system of records notice entitled ``Common Origination 
and Disbursement (COD) System'' (18-11-02).
    If you wish to gain access to the EDMAPS system information that is 
about you and accessible in this system, please refer to the RECORD 
ACCESS PROCEDURES section in the system of records notice entitled 
``Enterprise Data Management and Analytics Platform Services (EDMAPS) 
System'' (18-11-xx).
    If you wish to gain access to information in the Federal Loan 
Servicers' IT systems that is about you and accessible in this system, 
please refer to the RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES section in the system of 
records notice entitled ``Common Services for Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-
16).

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    If you wish to contest or change the content of a record about you 
in the system of records, provide the System Manager with your name, 
DOB, SSN, and any other identifying information requested by the 
Department while processing the request to distinguish between 
individuals with the same name. Identify the specific items to be 
changed and provide a written justification for the change.
    To contest the content of a FAFSA record for the current processing 
year, send your request to the FOIA Service

[[Page 56037]]

Center listed in the Notification Procedures section. The application 
processing cycle lasts 21 months. For example, for the 2021-2022 award 
year, applications were accepted from October 1, 2020, through June 30, 
2022.
    Financial aid history from NSLDS is accessible in this system. To 
contest name and address records about you, provide the System Manager 
with your name, DOB, SSN, and any other identifying information 
requested by the Department while processing the request to distinguish 
between individuals with the same name. All other financial aid history 
records from NSLDS must be contested by following the CONTESTING RECORD 
PROCEDURES identified in the system of records notice entitled 
``National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)'' (18-11-06).
    For title IV, HEA program applicants and recipients of Federal 
grants or loans, if you wish to contest such information about you, 
please refer to the CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES section in the system 
of records notice entitled ``Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) 
System'' (18-11-02).
    To contest information about you in a Federal Loan Servicer IT 
system, payment information, and loan information that is accessible in 
this system, please refer to the CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES section 
in the system of records notice entitled ``Common Services for 
Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16).
    To contest the EDMAPS system information that is accessible in this 
system, please refer to the CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES section in the 
system of records notice entitled ``Enterprise Data Management and 
Analytics Platform Services (EDMAPS) System'' (18-11-xx).
    Requests to amend a record must meet the requirements of the 
Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.7.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
    If you wish to determine whether a record exists about you in the 
system of records, contact the system manager at the address listed 
above. You must provide necessary particulars such as your name, SSN, 
and any other identifying information requested by the Department while 
processing the request to distinguish between individuals with the same 
name. Alternatively, you may make a Privacy Act request through the 
U.S. Department of Education, FOIA Service Center at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/foia/request_privacy.html by completing the 
applicable request forms.
    If you wish to submit a request for notification to determine 
whether a record exists about you in the COD System as a title IV, HEA 
program applicant or recipient of a Federal grant or loan, please refer 
to the NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES section in the system of records notice 
entitled ``Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System'' (18-11-
02).
    Borrowers are able to access their financial aid history from NSLDS 
in this system. If you wish to submit a request for notification to 
determine whether a record exists about you in the NSLDS system of 
records, please refer to the NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES section in the 
system of records notice entitled ``National Student Loan Data System 
(NSLDS)'' (18-11-06).
    If you wish to submit a request for notification to determine 
whether a record exists about you in a Federal Loan Servicer IT system, 
please refer to the NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES section in the system of 
records notice entitled ``Common Services for Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-
16).
    If you wish to submit a request for notification to determine 
whether a record exists about you in EDMAPS system, please refer to the 
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES section in the system of records entitled 
``Enterprise Data Management and Analytics Platform Services (EDMAPS) 
System'' (18-11-xx).
    Requests for notification about whether the system of records 
contains information about an individual must meet the requirements of 
the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including 
proof of identity.

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    None.
    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Chief Operating 
Officer, Federal Student Aid (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Education 
(Department) publishes the rescindment of the system of records notice 
entitled ``Federal Student Aid Application File'' (18-11-01):

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    Federal Student Aid Application File (18-11-01).

HISTORY:
    The ``Federal Student Aid Application File'' system of records 
notice, was published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 30159 (June 4, 
1999), modified at 64 FR 72384, 72407 (December 27, 1999), modified at 
65 FR 11294 (March 2, 2000), modified at 66 FR 18758 (April 11, 2001), 
modified at 74 FR 68802 (December 29, 2009), modified at 76 FR 46774 
(August 3, 2011), modified at 84 FR 57856 (October 29, 2019), and is 
being rescinded by this notice.
    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Chief Operating 
Officer, Federal Student Aid (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Education 
(Department) publishes the rescindment of the system of records notice 
entitled ''Customer Engagement Management System (CEMS)'' (18-11-11):

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    Customer Engagement Management System (CEMS) (18-11-11).

HISTORY:
    The ``Customer Engagement Management System (CEMS)'' (18-11-11) 
system of records notice was published in the Federal Register at 83 FR 
27587 (June 13, 2018). Prior to being covered by the CEMS system of 
records notice, records that are about individuals who have asserted 
defenses to the repayment of their Federal student loans, also known as 
``borrower defenses,'' pursuant to the Department's regulations at 34 
CFR 685.206, were covered by the system of records notice entitled 
``Common Services for Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16), which was first 
published in the Federal Register at 71 FR 3503 (January 23, 2006), 
subsequently modified at 79 FR 54685 (September 12, 2014), and last 
modified at 81 FR 60683 (September 2, 2016). Prior to being covered by 
the CEMS system of records notice, records that are about individuals 
who requested assistance from the FSA Ombudsman were covered by the 
system of records notice entitled ``Office of the Student Loan 
Ombudsman Records'' (18-11-11), which was first published in the 
Federal Register at 64 FR 72384, 72399 (December 27, 1999) and then 
subsequently modified at 81 FR 12081 (March 8, 2016). The CEMS system 
of records notice is being rescinded by this notice.

[FR Doc. 2022-19890 Filed 9-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P