The Central Processing System (CPS) will send e-mail acknowledgments to students who file a 2007/2008 federal application or correction via the web and will also supply an e-mail address.

These e-mails are expected to help students better understand where their web application or correction is in the process. CPS will attempt to deliver the e-mail to the student twice, in case some difficulty occurs that prevents delivery the first time.

The first e-mail tells the student that the CPS received his or her submitted application or correction. There are two versions of this e-mail: one for students who need to submit signatures and one for students who supply all the necessary signatures. The second e-mail tells the student that the CPS processed the application or correction.

The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the availability of the PIN (Personal Identification Number) Application Process through the http://www.pin.ed.gov/ website.

What does this mean?

Anybody for whom a PIN number has not already been generated can now have one created by supplying basic identification information.  Once created, the PIN, when used along with the applicant’s identification data, allows access to that applicant’s data in several Student Financial Aid (SFA) Systems, as identified below, and may also serve as that person’s signature. The most notable application of this new process is to allow parents to receive a PIN and use it to electronically sign their student’s FAFSA/Renewal/Correction on the web forms electronically.

How do you apply for a PIN?

Anyone interested in obtaining a PIN need only go to http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp and choose apply for a PIN.  From there, they will need to supply their name, social security number, date of birth and mailing address and then submit the request.  When the submission has been completed, a confirmation number will appear on the screen letting them know that their information was successfully transmitted.

How do you receive the PIN?

Once the data has been successfully submitted, the Central Processing System will confirm the identifying information with the Social Security Administration database.  After a successful match, a PIN will be generated and a PIN mailer will be sent.

Where can a PIN be used?

A PIN can be used to access the following websites:

* FAFSA application, renewal and corrections on the web http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ – used to apply for aid and correct your application.

* National Student Loan Database System www.NSLDS.ED.GOV

* Direct Loan Servicing www.DLSERVICER.ED.GOV

* Direct Loan Consolidation www.LOANCONSOLIDATION.ED.GOV

* Direct Loan Origination www.ED.GOV/OFFICES/OSFAP/DIRECTLOAN/INDEX.HTML

If you have any questions about this new option, please contact FAFSA's customer service group at 1.800.801.0576, or the NCC Financial Aid Office.

Immigration and Naturalization Confirmation

The INS will automatically conduct a confirmation match for all financial aid applicants who apply as eligible non-citizens and provide their alien registration number.

Drug Conviction Question

When completing your financial aid application, be sure to answer question 31.  The question asks if you have ever been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs while enrolled in college and receiving Title IV aid.

If you fail to answer this question, we will be unable to continue processing your application. This could jeopardize a substantial amount of federal aid you might otherwise have been entitled to receive.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP Grant)

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has redesigned its website to provide better access to information and services for students, families, schools, lenders and other financial aid partners.

Students and families can now use the http://www.hesc.com site to apply for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grant and other financial aid, estimate the cost of attending college, search for scholarships and check the status of their TAP grant.

Student Interest Rate:

The interest rate for Stafford Loans effective July 1, 2007 will be 6.8 percent during the in-school, grace and deferment periods and a rate of 6.8 percent while in repayment.  PLUS loans will be 7.9 percent.