Do I need a Partner Connect account?
Partner Connect includes publicly available content (Knowledge Center, FSA Handbook, etc.). There are some features within Partner Connect that require a Partner Connect account. Users with a Partner Connect account will have access to specific Title IV information and the ability to view, edit, or manage certain data or processes. Your specific account access will depend on your organization type and organization role.
I am a Financial Aid Director and received a notification of a new role as an Eligibility and Oversight (E&O) Administrator. What does that mean?
Effective December 17, 2023, eligibility and case management functionality has been integrated into Partner Connect. The role of Eligibility and Oversight Administrator has been established to enable organizations to grant access to the appropriate staff to edit and update Eligibility & Case Management functionality (e.g., Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (E-App), FSA program reviews, and other oversight-related cases).
Each school's Financial Aid Director (FAD) was automatically assigned as their organization's Eligibility and Oversight Administrator. FADs who currently have access to FSA Systems, managed by Access and Identity Management System (AIMS), will use their existing FSA User ID and password to log in to Partner Connect.
FADs who are not enrolled in any FSA System will receive an email from Partner Connect on December 18, 2023 detailing the next steps for account creation process. The email message will be sent from noreply@fsapartners.ed.gov with the title "Welcome to FSA Partner Connect." After your account is created, you will receive another email containing your FSA User ID, instructions for creating a password, and information on registering a Two-Factor Authentication token (TFA). Please allow 24 hours for the account creation process to complete.
I am CEO/COO/Presidents of Third-Party Servicer and received a notification of a new role as an Eligibility and Oversight (E&O) Administrator. What does that mean?
Effective December 17, 2023, eligibility and case management functionality has been integrated into Partner Connect. The role of Third-Party Servicer (TPS) Eligibility and Oversight (E&O) Administrator has been established to enable your organization to grant access to the appropriate staff to edit and update Eligibility & Case Management functionality on behalf of schools you service as well as access necessary functions that you need to manage your own account information.
The CEO/COO/Presidents for each Third-Party Servicer was automatically assigned as the TPS E&O Administrator. TPS users with current access to FSA Systems, managed by Access and Identity Management System (AIMS), will use their existing FSA User ID and password to log in to Partner Connect.
TPS Users who are not enrolled in any FSA System will receive an email from Partner Connect on December 18, 2023 detailing the next steps for account creation process. The email message will be sent from noreply@fsapartners.ed.gov with the title "Welcome to FSA Partner Connect." After your account is created, you will receive another email containing your FSA User ID, instructions for creating a password, and information on registering a Two-Factor Authentication token (TFA). Please allow 24 hours for the account creation process to complete.
Is this the same FSA User ID I currently use to log into COD, NSLDS®, etc.?
Yes, this is the same FSA User ID that is used to log into FAA Access to CPS Online or SAIG, NSLDS® Professional Access, eCDR Appeals System, COD Online, and other FSA Systems.
What if I forgot my username and/or password?
If you forget your password, you can click the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. To reset your password, you must correctly answer the challenge questions. If you forget your FSA User ID, click the “Forgot User ID” link on the login page and enter your email address. For password assistance, you can also contact the FSA Partners & School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978.
What is an FSA User ID and Password?
An FSA User ID is a personal username used for accessing the Federal Student Aid (FSA) systems, which are protected by the Access and Identity Management System (AIMS). Both an FSA User ID and password are required to log in to FSA Partner Connect. If you are a new user, your FSA User ID will be sent to you via email after you have been granted access to Partner Connect.
For information on maintaining an FSA User ID (EA ID: GENERAL-21-44), visit: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2021-07-15/reminder-maintaining-access-federal-student-aid-systems-professional-users-ea-id-general-21-44
What is Access and Identity Management System (AIMS)?
Access and Identity Management System (AIMS) is a security infrastructure used by Federal Student Aid. This infrastructure provides secure access and single identity management services. AIMS makes it possible for you to log into Partner Connect and other Federal Student Aid systems by providing an FSA User ID, password, enabled with Two-Factor Authentication (TFA).
I am a Department of Education staff member or Contractor. How do I request a Partner Connect account?
Department of Education Employees and Contractors receive access through the Access Managers of their respective FSA Business Groups or from their Contract Administrator. Once your account is initiated, you will receive an email from FSA Partner Connect outlining the next steps to continue the account creation process. After your account has been created, you will receive another email containing your FSA User ID, instructions for creating a password, and information on registering a Two-Factor Authentication token (TFA).
I am an external partner (school, third-party servicer, etc.). How do I request a Partner Connect account?
Administrators are responsible for granting and managing account access on behalf of their organization. Primary and Secondary Administrators, are generally responsible for enrolling and managing user access on behalf of their organizations. Primary and Secondary Administrators can enable permissions for most Partner Connect functionality (e.g., partner Dashboard; Student, Parent, Borrower Account; Partner Profiles, or StudentAid.gov Student View).
The Eligibility and Oversight (E&O) Administrators or Alternate E&O of your organization is responsible for granting access to edit and update Eligibility & Case Management functionality (e.g., Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (E-App), Third Party Servicer Inquiry Form, FSA program reviews, and other oversight-related cases).
Once your Administrator initiates your account, you will receive an email from FSA Partner Connect to start account creation. After your account has been created, you will receive another email containing your FSA User ID, instructions for creating a password, and information on registering a Two-Factor Authentication (TFA) token.
I am a Partner Connect Administrator (Primary, Secondary, Eligibility and Oversight (E&O) Alternate E&O). How do I manage users?
To manage user access, Administrator's will navigate to Manage Organization Accounts tab in the Account Access Management Center. Here Administrators will be able to initially enroll users and update account access as needed.
Where can I get additional information on two-factor authentication tokens?
For guidance on registering a two-factor authentication token (GENERAL-22-81), visit: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2022-11-02/tfa-information-soft-token-instructions
Are logon attempts limited?
Your FSA User ID will be locked after three unsuccessful login attempts. You must wait 30 minutes before trying to use the same password again. When the password is unlocked 30 minutes later, you can try again or you can select the 'Forgot Password' link at the FSA Login page and answer the challenge questions. If your answers are correct, you will be allowed to reset your password.
How often does my account password have to be changed?
Your FSA User ID passwords must be changed every 90 days. Any password that is older than 90 days will automatically expire. You will see a warning message 5 days before your password is set to expire during your login. This warning message will display a prompt for you to change your password before it expires. You may also change your password anytime using the 'Change Password' link located on the FSA login page.
If I am associated with more than one user group, how do I change my user group after I’ve logged in?
You may be prompted to select a User Group the first time you log in to FSA Partner Connect. Any subsequent log ins will default to your previously selected User Group. You can change your selection at any time by selecting the icon in the top right of the page.
If I am associated with more than one organization, how do I change my organization after I’ve logged in?
You may be prompted to select an organization the first time you log in to FSA Partner Connect. Any subsequent log ins will default to your previously selected organization. You can change your selection at any time by selecting the icon in the top right of the page.
Are FSA Partner Connect Primary Administrators and Secondary Administrator User Types the same as the PDPAs and SDPAs in the SAIG Enrollment System?
The FSA Partner Connect Primary and Secondary Administrators are often the Primary Destination Point Administrators (PDPAs) and Secondary Destination Point Administrators (SDPAs) in the SAIG Enrollment System. However, FSA Partner Connect limits the number of Primary and Secondary Administrators to one per organization, so if there are multiple PDPAs or SDPAs for a single organization within the SAIG Enrollment System, the PDPA or SDPA is chosen by the Service Name they oversee for their organization in SAIG.
What does the Potential Affiliate status indicate on my Manage Organization Accounts page?
The Potential Affiliate status indicates that the account is potentially associated with your organization based on that user’s access to other FSA Systems, including NSLDS®, CPS, or COD. FSA Partner Connect displays Potential Affiliate accounts to the Primary and Secondary Administrators in case those users need to be granted access to FSA Partner Connect. This allows for a streamlined process to add users to FSA Partner Connect.
Will we still have to go into each system at least once every 90 days to prevent being made inactive or can we just go into one i.e. just COD or NSLDS?
Partner Connect is bringing a lot of improvements but users will still need to maintain specific system access by logging in at least once every 90 days. If a user does not access a specific system for 90 calendar days, FSA will disable the user's access to that system. The number of days of inactivity is unique to each system the user is authorized to access.
Will foreign schools have the same access to Partner Connect?
Information that is publicly available today will continue to be available to everyone including foreign schools! Foreign school users will also have access to functionality behind log-in, once they have been processed through SAIG enrollment. Once complete, Partner Connect access can be granted by your Primary Administrator.
