Department of Education September 13, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act), the U.S. Department of Education (Department) publishes this notice of a modified system of records entitled ``Common Services for Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16). The information contained in this system is maintained for various purposes relating to aid applicants and recipients, cosigners, and endorsers. These include: determining program benefit eligibility; originating, disbursing, servicing, collecting, assigning, adjusting, transferring, referring, discharge, and furnishing of credit information for title IV, Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), obligations; enforcing conditions or terms of title IV, HEA obligations; and ensuring program and contractual requirements are met by education and financial institutions, guaranty agencies, and Department contractors including Federal Loan Servicers, Not-for-Profit (NFP) Federal Loan Servicers, the Federal Perkins Loan Servicer, and Private Collection Agencies (PCAs).