Functionality

1. Functionality. The following features should help people
1. Federal Methodology (FM) which produces an accurate EFC, using:
1. Complete assumptions as specified by the government to assure consistency with federal calculations. The edits include determining:

Full model (Dependent or Self-Supporting)

Simplified determination

Type (formula) selection (Type 1 through 6)

Automatic Zero EFC Calculation.

2. Pell Grant Calculation for Full, 3/4, 1/2 time, and less than 1/2 time students
3. Unlimited Cost of Education (Student Expense Budgets) configurations.
4. Separate Budgets can be built for FM and IAM costs in each program. The user can select either budget (or alternate them) at run time. The budgets are used in packaging
5. Institutionally Adjusted Methodology (IAM) permits::Include or exclude:

house value

Simplified calculation (Include or exclude other assets)

Establish minimum student contributions by year in school and model (Dependent or Independent) Adjust the EFC

Describe a range of EFC's to be adjusted

use a multiplier (>1.0) to increase expectation for students in defined range.

6. Award packaging profiles can be set up to figure estimated award packages for students. There is no limit to the number of profiles. The parameters used in each profile include, and are applied in the following sequence:

Funds available. There are 12 pre-defined funds (Pell, SEOG, Subsidized Loans, etc) using the same refund-order parameters as used by the CSAS Refund Calculator. These funds cannot be modified, though they can be selectively ignored in defining packaging rules. An unlimited number of additional funds can be specified including institutional and outside awards. Up to thirteen funds can be assigned to each profile. See next item.

Order of award. Thirteen different award funds can be specified for any packaging profile. Pell is always first State Grant is always second

Ohio Instructional Grant Eligibility is calculated for students living in Ohio. Other state grant calculations (such as MN can be added if formulas are available and data is included in the federal application data set.)

Any other awards can be assigned slots 3 through 13, though we recommend using slots 12 and thirteen for Unsubsidized and PLUS loans respectively

If 12 and 13 are used for Unsub and PLUS, the eligibilities are automatically calculated based on Federal Cost of Attendance, subsidized loan offered and total aid offered.

Maximum and Minimum amounts. As each award is determined according to the Order of Award: The award amount is set to the Maximum amount parameter unless the remaining need is less than the parameter: in which case the award is set to the remaining need, unless the remaining need is less than the Minimum parameter, in which case: The award is set to the Minimum amount.

7. What If? Calculations Records can be "cloned" with specific modifications so that so that users can examine the effects of different family decisions -- For instance, "What if two (or more) in college?", "What if income changes?", "What if assets are depleted?" All versions of the record along with associated eligibility calculations are maintained
8. Multi Year Calculations. Includes calculations for 1996-997 through 2000-2001. The user can select any year by a single key stoke. For instance, this enables users to estimate eligibility for students interested in enrolling during remaining terms of 1999-00 as well as 2000-2001.
9. Instant Calculations Complete calculations (except packaging) are performed as each data element is entered or revised. This assures complete and constant accuracy.
10. Assumed Value Flags The software calculates alternate (or assumed) values when entered data fails federally specified edits. Assumed values are used in the calculations. When the assumed value is different from the entered value the Assumed Value is instantly displayed in a different color next to the entered value. This alerts the user to possible errors or anomalies in the entered data.
11. Integration with other software products including all CSAS products. Optional adhoc report writer that enables joining and reporting on information from other data sources in formats including Dbase, Clipper, ASCII, ODBC, and others.

Questions? E-mail us at CSAS