Notice2026-07826
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 22, 2026
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
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 of loan applications for Federal title IV, Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) program funds.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21463-21472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07826]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket ID ED-2026-FSA-0793]
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of a Modified System 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 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 of loan applications for
Federal title IV, Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)
program funds.
[[Page 21464]]
DATES: Submit your comments on this modified system of records notice
on or before May 22, 2026.
This modified system of records notice will become applicable upon
publication in the Federal Register on April 22, 2026, unless it needs
to be changed as a result of public comment. The Department will
publish any changes to the modified system of records notice resulting
from public comment.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. However, if you require an accommodation or
cannot otherwise submit your comments via <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, 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.
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> to
submit your comments electronically. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing agency documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site
under ``FAQ''.
Privacy Note: The Department's policy is to make comments received
from members of the public available for public viewing in their
entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
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 auxiliary aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark LaVia, Executive Director,
Servicing, Student Experience and Aid Delivery, Federal Student Aid,
U.S. Department of Education, 1300 Market St., 5th Floor, Philadelphia,
PA 19107. Telephone: 202-805-4376. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#672a06150c492b06310e0627020349000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c416d7e6722406d5a656d4c6968226b637a">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 of 1974,
as amended (Privacy Act) (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Department proposes to
modify the system of records notice entitled ``Common Services for
Borrowers (CSB)'' (18-11-16), which was last published in full in the
Federal Register on July 27, 2023 (88 FR 48449).
The Department is modifying the section entitled ``PURPOSE(S) OF
THE SYSTEM'' as follows:
New purpose (25) is added to identify, verify, and maintain records
for ``legacy'' borrowers, defined as those who received a Graduate PLUS
or Parent PLUS loan prior to June 30, 2026. This process ensures
continued eligibility under pre-2026 provisions for the lesser of a
transitional period not to exceed three academic years or until the
borrower completes their current program of study.
New Purpose (26) is added to support the implementation of
provisions authorizing financial aid administrators to maintain records
and set lower annual loan limits for students or parent borrowers of
PLUS loans. This modification allows the system to record and apply
these reduced limits, ensuring they are maintained and applied
consistently to all students within a specific program of study as
required by Departmental policy. Specifically, to track and enforce
revised aggregate loan limits, including tiered unsubsidized caps for
graduate and professional students, gross lifetime limit for Parent
PLUS borrowers per dependent, and universal non-PLUS lifetime maximum.
The Department is modifying the section entitled ``CATEGORIES OF
RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM'' to add a new category of records that pertains
to legacy borrowers of Graduate PLUS and Parent PLUS loans with lower
annual loan limits. This modification allows the system to record and
apply these reduced limits, ensuring they are maintained and applied
consistently to all students within a specific program of study as
required by Departmental policy. Specifically, to track and enforce
revised aggregate loan limits, including tiered unsubsidized caps for
graduate and professional students, gross lifetime limit for Parent
PLUS borrowers per dependent, and universal non-PLUS lifetime maximum.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 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 <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. 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
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Richard Lucas,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Acting Chief
Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid (FSA), U.S. Department of
Education (Department), publishes a notice of a modified system of
records to read as follows:
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
Common Services for Borrowers (CSB) (18-11-16).
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
Unclassified.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
(1) U.S. Department of Education, Executive Director, Servicing,
Student Experience and Aid Delivery, Federal Student Aid, U.S.
Department of Education, 1300 Market St., 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA
19107 (System Manager);
50 Beale St., San Francisco, CA 94105;
500 West Madison St., Chicago, IL 60661; and
61 Forsyth St., Atlanta, GA 30303.
(2) Maximus Federal Services, Inc. (Contractor--Federal Loan
Servicer for Collections--Debt Management Collection System (DMCS)):
5202 Presidents Ct., Frederick, MD 21703 (Department contractor--
DMCS Program Management and Help Desk;
Amazon Web Services Government Cloud, US East;
[[Page 21465]]
410 Terry Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98109-5210 (System Hosting);
Mail Fulfillment and Imaging Centers: 800 Commerce Dr., Upper
Marlboro, MD 20774; and 6201 Interstate 30, Greenville, TX 75402; and
Contact Centers: 1 Imeson Park Blvd., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL
32218; and 4335 Paredes Line Rd., Brownsville, TX 78526.
(3) Nelnet Servicing, LLC (Contractor--Federal Loan Servicer),
1001 Fort Crook Rd. North, Suite 132, Bellevue, NE 68005 (System
Hosting);
700 East 54th St. North, Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (System
Hosting Backup site);
Mail Fulfillment: 1720 Northway Dr., North Mankato, MN 56003; 3125
Lewis Centre Way, Grove City, OH 43123; 3885 Seaport Blvd., Suite 40,
West Sacramento, CA 95691; and 1803 Rocky River Rd., North Monroe, NC
28110;
Imaging Centers: 121 South 13th St., Lincoln, NE 68508 and 2401 and
2501 International Lane, Madison, WI 53704; and
Contact Centers: 308 Second St., Boscobel, WI 53805; 3381 Ruben M.
Torres Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78526; 3620 23rd St., Columbus, NE 68601;
1529 Continental Dr., Eau Claire, WI 54701; 401 S 21st St., Lincoln, NE
68510; 2401 and 2501 International Lane, Madison, WI 53704; 14400
Branch St. Omaha, NE 68010; 1205 Jackson St. Suite 300, Sidney, NE
69162; and 1101 Centerpoint Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481;
(4) Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. (GLCS)
(Contractor--Federal Loan Servicer):
2401 and 2501 International Lane, Madison, WI 53704; and 1529
Continental Dr., Eau Claire, WI 54701; (System Hosting and System
Hosting Backup site);
Mail Fulfillment and Imaging Centers: 2401 and 2501 International
Lane, Madison, WI 53704; and 1529 Continental Dr., Eau Claire, WI
54701; and
Contact Centers: 930 Blue Gentian Rd., Eagan, MN 55121; 2401 and
2501 International Lane, Madison, WI 53704; 1529 Continental Dr., Eau
Claire, WI 54701; 308 2nd St., Boscobel, WI 53805; and 1101 Center
Point Dr., Stevens Point, WI 54481.
(5) Aidvantage (Contractor--Federal Loan Servicer):
Chandler Data Center, 240 North Roosevelt Ave., Chandler, AZ 48226
(System Hosting);
Omaha Data Center, 7305 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68106 (System
Hosting Backup site);
Mail Fulfillment and Imaging Centers: 3885 Seaport Blvd., Suite 40,
West Sacramento, CA 95691; 1803 North Rocky River Rd., Monroe, NC
28110; and 6201 Interstate 30, Greenville, TX 75402; and
Contact Center(s): A fully remote contact center model is employed.
Customer Service Representatives manage customer calls in a distributed
environment utilizing secure internet connections and using centrally
managed technology.
(6) Missouri Higher Education Loan Assistance Authority (MOHELA)
(Contractor--Not-for-Profit (NFP) Federal Loan Servicer):
633 Spirit Dr., Chesterfield, MO 63005 (System Hosting);
555 Vandiver Dr., Columbia, MO 65202 (System Hosting Backup site);
820 First Street NE, Suite L-120, Washington, DC 20002 (Main
Office);
Mail Fulfillment and Imaging Centers: 633 Spirit Dr., Chesterfield,
MO 63005; and 555 Vandiver Dr., Columbia, MO 65202; and
Contact Centers: 633 Spirit Dr., Chesterfield, MO 63005; 555
Vandiver Dr., Columbia, MO 65202; and 820 First St. NE, Suite L-120,
Washington, DC 20002.
(7) Oklahoma Student Loan Authority (NFPOSLA) (Contractor--NFP
Federal Loan Servicer):
525 Central Park Dr., Ste. 600, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (System
Hosting); 7499 East Paradise Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (System Hosting
Backup site);
1001 Fort Crook Road, North, Suite 132, Bellevue, NE 68005-4247
(System Hosting Backup site);
700 East 54th St. North, Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (System
Hosting Backup site);
Mail Fulfillment and Imaging Center: 525 Central Park Dr., Ste.
600, Oklahoma City, OK 73105; and
Call Center: 525 Central Park Dr., Ste. 600, Oklahoma City, OK
73105.
(8) EdFinancial (Contractor--NFP Federal Loan Servicer):
1001 Fort Crook Rd., Suite 132, North Bellevue, NE 68005-4247
(Nelnet System Hosting);
700 East 54th St. North, Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (Nelnet
System Hosting Backup);
7301 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE 68114 (FISERV System Hosting--FISERV
Solutions Primary Data Center); and
240 North Roosevelt Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85226 (FISERV System
Hosting Backup);
Mail Fulfillment and Imaging Centers: 13271 North Promenade Blvd.,
Stafford, TX 77477-3957; 3885 Seaport Blvd., Suite 40, West Sacramento,
CA 95691; and 1803 Rocky River Rd., North Monroe, NC 29110 (Mail
Fulfillment and Imaging Backup site); and
Contact Centers: 120 North Seven Oaks Dr., Knoxville, TN 37922; 298
North Seven Oaks Dr., Knoxville, TN 37922; 2741 Gunter Park Dr.,
Montgomery, AL 36109; and 4 Barrell Court, Concord, NH 03301;
(9) Educational Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI) (Contractor--Federal
Perkins Loan Servicer):
1033 Jefferson St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (System Hosting);
Mail Fulfillment and Imaging Center: 100 Global View Dr.,
Warrendale, PA 15086; and
Contact Centers: 1200 Cherrington Parkway, Suite 200, Moon
Township, PA 15108; and 3330 Healy Dr., Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
(10) Action Financial Services (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
2055 Cardinal Ave., Medford, OR 97504 (Call Center, Administrative
Support, Compliance, Training and Human Resources).
(11) Bass & Associates, P.C. (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
3926 E Fort Lowell Rd., Tucson, AZ 85712-1083 (Administration and
Student Loan Collections).
(12) Central Research, Inc. (CRI) (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
122 N Bloomington St., Suite I, Lowell, AR 72745 (Accounting/
Corporate Administration).
(13) Coast Professional, Inc (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
4273 Volunteer Rd., Geneseo, NY 14454 (Student Loan Servicing &
Collecting).
(14) Credit Adjustments, Inc. (CAI) (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
1270 Geneva Blvd. Defiance, OH 43512 (Collection Activity,
Administrative Offices).
(15) F.H. Cann & Associates, Inc. (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
1600 Osgood St., Suite 2-120, North Andover, MA 01845 (Collection
Activity, Administrative Office).
(16) Immediate Credit Recovery (ICR) (Contractor--Private
Collection Agency):
6 Neptune Rd., Suite 110, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (Call Center,
Rehab Payer Service and Maintenance, Compliance, IT Staff, HR,
Accounting, CEO, CIO, VP admin and other executive staff).
(17) National Credit Services (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
2525 220th St. SE, Suite 200, Bothell, WA 98021 (Debt Collection,
[[Page 21466]]
Rehabilitations, Skip Tracing, QA, Compliance, HR and Administrative
Wage Garnishment (AWG)).
(18) National Recoveries Inc. (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
14735 Hwy 65, NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304 (Collections, Invoice
Processing, IT).
(19) Professional Bureau of Collections of Maryland, Inc.
(Contractor--Private Collection Agency):
5295 DTC Parkway, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (Executive,
Administrative, Accounting, Collections, IT and Compliance).
(20) Reliant Capital Solutions (Contractor--Private Collection
Agency):
670 Cross Pointe Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230 (Front Line Agents and
Administrative Office).
SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
Executive Director, Servicing, Student Experience and Aid Delivery,
Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education, 1300 Market St., 5th
Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
The authority under which the system is maintained includes section
455(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C.
1087e(a)). Titles IV-A, IV-B, IV-D, and IV-E of the Higher Education
Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) 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 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).
PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
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, this 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.
The information maintained in this system of records is used for
the following purposes:
(1) To verify the identity of an individual;
(2) To determine program eligibility and benefits;
(3) To facilitate default reduction efforts by program
participants;
(4) To enforce the conditions or terms of a title IV, HEA
obligation;
(5) To originate, disburse, service, collect, assign, adjust,
transfer, refer, furnish credit information for, and discharge a title
IV, HEA obligation;
(6) To provide customers with information to help them make
informed decisions on repayment options, including forbearance,
deferment, and recurring debit options, based on their unique
situations;
(7) To investigate possible fraud or abuse or verify compliance
with program regulations or contract requirements;
(8) To locate a delinquent or defaulted individual obligated to
repay a title IV, HEA obligation;
(9) To litigate a title IV, HEA obligation, or to prepare for,
provide support services for, or audit the results of litigation on a
title IV, HEA obligation;
(10) To prepare for, conduct, or enforce a limitation, suspension,
termination, or debarment action;
(11) To verify that Federal, state, local, and Tribal statutory,
regulatory, and program requirements are met by educational and
financial institutions, guaranty agencies, and Department contractors
including Federal Loan Servicers, NFP Federal Loan Servicers, the
Federal Perkins Loan Servicer, and Private Collection Agencies (PCAs);
(12) To verify whether a title IV, HEA obligation qualifies for
discharge;
(13) To conduct credit checks or respond to inquiries or disputes
arising from information on a title IV, HEA obligation already
furnished to a consumer reporting agency;
(14) To investigate, respond to, or resolve complaints submitted to
the Department or to other Federal, State, local, or Tribal agencies
regarding an aid applicant's or recipient's title IV, HEA program
eligibility, the disbursement, or servicing of a title IV, HEA
obligation, or the practices or processes of the Department and/or the
Department's contractors;
(15) To determine credit balances to be refunded by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury (Treasury) to the individual or loan holder;
(16) To allow educational institutions, financial institutions,
Federal Loan Servicers, NFP Federal Loan Servicers the Federal Perkins
Loan Servicer, PCAs, and guaranty agencies to report information to the
Department on all aspects of title IV, HEA obligations in uniform
formats to permit the Department to directly compare data submitted to
the Department by individual educational institutions, financial
institutions, third-party servicers, guaranty agencies, Federal Loan
Servicers, NFP Federal Loan Servicers the Federal Perkins Loan
Servicer, or PCAs;
(17) To report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) information
required by law to be reported, including, but not limited to, reports
required by 26 U.S.C. 6050P and 6050S;
(18) To support research, analysis, and development of educational
policies in relation to title IV, HEA student financial aid programs;
(19) To support Federal budget analysts in the Department, the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Congressional Budget
Office (CBO) in the development of budget needs and forecasts;
(20) To help governmental entities at the Federal, State, Tribal,
and local levels to exercise their supervisory and administrative
powers (including, but not limited to licensure, examination,
discipline, regulation, or oversight of educational institutions,
Department contractors, guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, and third-
party servicers); to investigate, respond to, or resolve complaints
regarding the practices or processes of the Department and/or the
Department's contractors; and to update information or correct errors
contained in Department records;
(21) To ensure that only authorized users access aid applicants' or
recipients' records, to maintain a history of each instance in which
the aid applicant's or recipient's records are viewed or updated, and
to assist the Department in responding to a suspected or confirmed
breach of this system or in preventing, minimizing, or remedying harm
when the Department suspects or confirms that this system has been
breached or when the Department determines that information from this
system is reasonably necessary to assist another agency or entity in
responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or in preventing,
minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm resulting from a suspected or
confirmed breach;
(22) To support the Department in detecting, preventing,
mitigating, and recouping improper payments in title IV, HEA programs;
[[Page 21467]]
(23) To conduct testing, analysis, or take other administrative
actions needed to prepare for or execute programs under title IV of the
HEA; and
(24) To identify whether an aid recipient or application
participant who is applying for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan
or recertifying an IDR plan has provided consent/affirmative approval
to redisclose Federal Tax Information (FTI) of such individuals
pursuant to clause (iv) of section 6103(l)(13)(D) of the Internal
Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986 and for the disclosure of records by the
Department to the IRS to obtain FTI and for the IRS to disclose FTI to
the Department as referenced in Section 494(a) of the HEA (20 U.S.C.
1098h(a)) for the purpose of determining repayment obligation monthly
amounts for an IDR plan under title IV of the HEA with respect to loans
made under part D of title IV of the HEA (Direct Loan Program);
(25) To identify, verify, and maintain records for ``legacy''
borrowers, defined as those who received a Graduate PLUS or Parent PLUS
loan prior to June 30, 2026. This process ensures continued eligibility
under pre-2026 provisions for the lesser of a transitional period not
to exceed three academic years or until the borrower completes their
current program of study; and
(26) To support the implementation of provisions authorizing
financial aid administrators to maintain records and set lower annual
loan limits for students or parent borrowers of PLUS loans. This
modification allows the system to record and apply these reduced
limits, ensuring they are maintained and applied consistently to all
students within a specific program of study as required by Departmental
policy. Specifically, to track and enforce revised aggregate loan
limits, including tiered unsubsidized caps for graduate and
professional students, gross lifetime limit for Parent PLUS borrowers
per dependent, and universal non-PLUS lifetime maximum.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
The CSB system contains records on individuals who received a loan
or who otherwise owe a title IV, HEA obligation held, originated,
serviced, disbursed, adjusted, collected, or discharged by the
Department, which was made under:
(1) The Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, including
Stafford Loans, Federal Insured Student Loans (FISL), Supplemental
Loans for Students (SLS), PLUS Loans (formerly Parental Loans for
Undergraduate Students), and Consolidation Loans;
(2) the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program,
including Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Subsidized Stafford/Ford
Loans, Federal Direct Consolidation Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS
Loans;
(3) the Federal Perkins Loan Program;
(4) the Federal Pell Grant Program;
(5) the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Program;
(6) the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)
Program;
(7) the Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
(SLEAP) Program;
(8) the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) Program;
(9) the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent
(SMART) Grant Program;
(10) the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant Program; and
(11) the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Program.
This system also contains records on individuals who apply for, but
do not receive, a Direct Loan, as well as individuals identified by the
borrower or recipient of the Federal title IV, HEA program funds as
references, co-signers, endorsers, or a spouse whose income and
expenses are considered in connection with the making or the
enforcement of a title IV, HEA obligation.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
Note: Beginning with the 2024-2025 award year application cycle,
the IRS will disclose FTI directly to the Department for use by the
Department in processing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA[supreg]) and making aid eligibility determinations under a
program authorized under subpart 1 of part A, part C, or part D of
title IV of the HEA. FTI will not be maintained in this system.
Beginning July 30, 2023, the IRS will also disclose FTI directly to the
Department for use by the Department to determine monthly payment
amounts under IDR plans with respect to Direct Loans. That FTI also
will not be maintained in this system. All FTI that the Department will
obtain directly from the IRS under the Fostering Undergraduate Talent
by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act will be maintained
within the FTI Module (FTIM) system that will be compliant with the IRS
Publication 1075, ``Tax Information Security Guidelines for Federal,
State and Local Agencies, Safeguards for Protecting Federal Tax Returns
and Return Information,'' and that will be covered under the
Department's system of records notice entitled ``FUTURE Act System
(FAS)'' (18-11-23). This system will continue to maintain both
historical and applicant-provided income information (either through a
manual FAFSA entry or submission of alternative documentation of income
(ADOI) through the IDR process). Any reference to income throughout
this system of records notice refers to income information that the
Department did not obtain directly from the IRS but obtained from the
applicant or from another source.
This system of records covers the following Information Technology
(IT) systems of the Department used to carry out activities with regard
to title IV, HEA obligations held, originated, serviced, disbursed,
collected, or discharged by the Department: DMCS, IT systems operated
by the Federal Loan Servicers and NFP Federal Loan Servicers to
accomplish the purpose(s) of this system of records, IT systems
operated by the Federal Perkins Loan Program Servicer to accomplish the
purpose(s) of this system of records, and IT systems operated by the
PCAs to accomplish the purpose(s) of this system of records. This
system of records also covers paper records obtained by the Department
from guaranty agencies in the process of considering appeals by title
IV, HEA loan borrowers of guaranty agency decisions.
This system of records maintains the employment information,
educational status, family income, Social Security number (SSN),
address(es), email address(es), monthly payment amounts, ADOI, and
telephone number(s) of the aid applicant or recipient indebted on a
title IV, HEA obligation or the individuals whose income and expenses
are included in a financial statement submitted by the aid applicant or
recipient. This system also maintains the consent/affirmative approval
to include permitting the Department to disclose records to the IRS to
obtain FTI and to permit the disclosure and redisclosure of the FTI of
the applicant or recipient. This system of records maintains the loan
discharge income, eligibility information, and associated discharge
eligibility consent information of the aid recipient indebted on a
title IV, HEA obligation. This system also maintains records including,
but not limited to, the application for, agreement to repay, and
disbursements on the loan, and loan guaranty, if any; the repayment
history, including deferments and forbearances; claims by lenders on
the loan guaranty; and records related to discharge of title IV, HEA
obligations on grounds of
[[Page 21468]]
qualifying service, bankruptcy discharge, Total and Permanent
Disability (including medical records submitted to support an
application for discharge by reason of disability), death, Public
Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) (including, but not limited to,
employment records), Borrower Defense (including but not limited to,
case decisions, principal and interest discharged, amount refunded, and
borrower defense notifications) or other statutory or regulatory
grounds for relief.
Additionally, for title IV, HEA grant overpayments, the system
contains records about the amount disbursed, the school that disbursed
the grant, and the basis for overpayment; for all title IV, HEA
obligations, the system contains demographic, employment, and other
data on the individual who owes a title IV, HEA obligation or provided
as references by the obligor, and the collection actions taken by any
holder, including write-off amounts and compromise amounts.
This system of records also contains records of legacy borrowers of
Graduate PLUS and Parent PLUS loans with lower annual loan limits.
Specifically, records that track revised aggregate loan limits,
including tiered unsubsidized caps for graduate and professional
students, gross lifetime limit for Parent PLUS borrowers per dependent,
and universal non-PLUS lifetime maximum.
This system also contains information obtained from matching
programs or other information exchanges with other Federal and State
agencies, and other entities, to assist in identifying individuals who
may be eligible for benefits related to their title IV, HEA
obligations, including, but not limited to, TPD discharges, loan
deferments, interest rate reductions, PSLF, and other Federal and State
loan repayment or discharge benefits or for the purpose of recouping
payments on delinquent title IV, HEA obligations under title IV, HEA
programs.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
The system includes information that the Department obtains from
applicants and those individuals and their families who received, or
who are otherwise obligated to repay, a title IV, HEA obligation held
and collected by the Department. The Department also obtains
information from Federal Loan Servicers, NFP Federal Loan Servicers,
the Federal Perkins Loan Servicer, PCAs, references, cosigners,
endorsers, current or prior FFEL loan holders or servicers, guaranty
agencies, educational and financial institutions and their authorized
representatives, and Federal, State, Tribal and local agencies and
their authorized representatives; private parties, such as relatives
and business and personal associates; present and former employers;
creditors; consumer reporting agencies; and adjudicative bodies.
Information in this system may be obtained from other persons or
entities from whom or from which data is obtained following a
disclosure under the listed routine uses.
Information is also obtained from other Department systems
including the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system (covered
by the Department's system of records notice entitled ``Common
Origination and Disbursement (COD) System'' (18-11-02)) and the
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (covered by the Department's
system of records notice entitled ``National Student Loan Data System
(NSLDS)'' (18-11- 06)) or any successor systems thereto.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
The Department may disclose information contained in a record in
this system of records under the routine uses listed in this system of
records without the consent of the individual if the disclosure is
compatible with the purposes for which the information in the record
was collected. These disclosures may be made on a case-by- case basis,
or, if the Department has complied with the computer matching
requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act),
under a computer matching agreement.
(1) Program Disclosures. The Department may disclose records for
the following program purposes:
(a) To verify the identity of the individual whom records indicate
has applied for or received title IV, HEA program funds, disclosures
may be made to guaranty agencies, educational and financial
institutions, and their authorized representatives; to Federal, State,
Tribal, or local agencies, and their authorized representatives; to
private parties, such as relatives, business and personal associates,
and present and former employers; to creditors; to consumer reporting
agencies; to adjudicative bodies; and to the individual whom the
records identify as the party obligated to repay the title IV, HEA
obligation;
(b) To determine program eligibility and benefits, disclosures may
be made to guaranty agencies, educational and financial institutions,
and their authorized representatives; to Federal, State, or local
agencies, and their authorized representatives; to private parties,
such as relatives, business and personal associates, and present and
former employers; to creditors; to consumer reporting agencies; and to
adjudicative bodies;
(c) To facilitate default reduction efforts by program
participants, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, educational
and financial institutions, and their authorized representatives; to
Federal, State, or local agencies, and their authorized
representatives; to consumer reporting agencies; and to adjudicative
bodies;
(d) To enforce the conditions or terms of a title IV, HEA
obligation, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, educational
and financial institutions, and their authorized representatives; to
Federal, State, or local agencies, and their authorized
representatives; to private parties, such as relatives, business and
personal associates, and present and former employers; to creditors; to
consumer reporting agencies; to adjudicative bodies; and to the
individual whom the records identify as the party obligated to repay
the title IV, HEA obligation;
(e) To permit originating, disbursing, servicing, collecting,
assigning, adjusting, transferring, referring, furnishing of credit
information, or discharging title IV, HEA obligations, disclosures may
be made to guaranty agencies, educational institutions, or financial
institutions that originated, held, serviced, or have been assigned the
title IV, HEA obligation, and their authorized representatives; to a
party identified by the debtor as willing to advance funds to repay the
title IV, HEA obligation; to Federal, State, or local agencies, and
their authorized representatives; to private parties, such as
relatives, business and personal associates, and present and former
employers; to creditors; to consumer reporting agencies; and to
adjudicative bodies;
(f) To provide customers with information to help them make
informed decisions on repayment options, including deferment,
forbearance, and recurring auto debit, based on their unique
situations, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, educational
and financial institutions, and their authorized representatives; and
to Federal, State, or local agencies, and their authorized
representatives;
(g) To investigate possible fraud or abuse or to verify compliance
with contractual requirements or Federal, State, local, or Tribal
statutory, regulatory, or program requirements, disclosures may be made
to guaranty
[[Page 21469]]
agencies, educational and financial institutions, third-party
servicers, and their authorized representatives; to Federal, State,
Tribal, or local agencies, and their authorized representatives; to
private parties, such as relatives, present and former employers, and
business and personal associates; to creditors; to consumer reporting
agencies; and to adjudicative bodies;
(h) To locate a delinquent or defaulted borrower, or an individual
who owes a title IV, HEA obligation, disclosures may be made to
guaranty agencies, educational and financial institutions, and their
authorized representatives; to Federal, State, or local agencies, and
their authorized representatives; to private parties, such as
relatives, business and personal associates, and present and former
employers; to creditors; to consumer reporting agencies; and to
adjudicative bodies;
(i) To prepare a title IV, HEA obligation for litigation, to
provide support services for litigation on a title IV, HEA obligation,
to litigate a title IV, HEA obligation, or to audit the results of
litigation on a title IV, HEA obligation, disclosures may be made to
FFEL loan holders or servicers; Department contractors including but
not limited to, Federal Loan Servicers, NFP Federal Loan Servicers, the
Federal Perkins Servicer, PCAs and to guaranty agencies and their
authorized representatives; Federal, State, Tribal, or local agencies,
and their authorized representatives; and to adjudicative bodies;
(j) To prepare for, conduct, or enforce a limitation, suspension,
or termination or a debarment action, disclosures may be made to
guaranty agencies, educational or financial institutions, and their
authorized representatives; to Federal, State, or local agencies, and
their authorized representatives; and to adjudicative bodies;
(k) To verify that HEA program requirements are met by educational
and financial institutions, guaranty agencies, Federal Loan Servicers,
NFP Federal Loan Servicers, the Federal Perkins Loan Servicer, and
PCAs, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, educational or
financial institutions, and their authorized representatives; to
accrediting agencies; to auditors engaged to conduct an audit of a
guaranty agency or an educational or financial institution; to Federal,
State, Tribal, or local agencies, and their authorized representatives;
and to adjudicative bodies;
(l) To verify whether a title IV, HEA obligation qualifies for
discharge, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, educational
and financial institutions, and their authorized representatives; to
Federal, State, or local agencies, and their authorized
representatives; to private parties, such as relatives, present and
former employers, and business and personal associates; to creditors;
to consumer reporting agencies; and to adjudicative bodies;
(m) To conduct credit checks or to respond to inquiries or disputes
arising from information on the title IV, HEA obligation already
furnished to a consumer reporting agency, disclosures may be made to
consumer reporting agencies; to guaranty agencies, educational and
financial institutions, and their authorized representatives; to
Federal, State, or local agencies, and their authorized
representatives; to private parties, such as relatives, present and
former employers, and business and personal associates; to creditors;
and to adjudicative bodies;
(n) To investigate, respond to, and resolve complaints submitted to
the Department or to Federal, State, local, or Tribal agencies
regarding an aid applicant's or recipient's title IV, HEA program
eligibility, the disbursement or servicing of a title IV, HEA
obligation, or the practices or processes of the Department and/or the
Department's contractors or to update information or correct errors
contained in Department records, disclosures may be made to guaranty
agencies, educational and financial institutions, and their authorized
representatives; to Federal, State, Tribal, or local agencies, and
their authorized representatives; to private parties, such as
relatives, present and former employers, and business and personal
associates; to creditors; to consumer reporting agencies; and to
adjudicative bodies;
(o) To provide credit balances identified in the Department's
systems to Treasury for distribution, disclosures may be made to
guaranty agencies, educational and financial institutions, and their
authorized representatives; to Federal, State, or local agencies, and
their authorized representatives; to private parties, such as
relatives, present and former employers, and business and personal
associates; and to creditors;
(p) To allow the reporting of information to the Department on all
aspects of title IV, HEA obligations in uniform formats and to permit
the Department to directly compare data submitted to the Department by
individual educational institutions, financial institutions, third-
party servicers, guaranty agencies, Federal Loan Servicers, NFP Federal
Loan Servicers, PCAs, and the Federal Perkins Loan Servicer,
disclosures may be made to educational institutions, financial
institutions, guaranty agencies, Federal Loan Servicers, the Federal
Perkins Loan Servicer, NFP Federal Loan Servicers, and PCAs;
(q) To report information required by law to be reported,
including, but not limited to, reports required by 26 U.S.C. 6050P and
6050S, disclosures may be made to the IRS; and;
(r) To help Federal, State, Tribal, and local governmental 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, eligible lenders, and third-party servicers) or to
investigate, respond to, or resolve complaints submitted regarding the
practices or processes of the Department and/or the Department's
contractors, the Department may disclose records to governmental
entities at the Federal, State, Tribal, and local levels. These records
may include all aspects of records relating to title IV, HEA
obligations to permit these governmental entities to verify compliance
with 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.
(2) Feasibility Study Disclosure. The Department may disclose
information from this system of records to other Federal agencies, and
to guaranty agencies and to their authorized representatives, to
determine whether matching programs should be conducted by the
Department for purposes such as to locate a delinquent or defaulted
debtor or to verify compliance with program regulations.
(3) Enforcement Disclosure. In the event that information in this
system of records indicates, either alone or in connection with other
information, a violation or potential violation of any applicable
statutory, regulatory, or legally binding requirement, the Department
may disclose the relevant records to an entity charged with the
responsibility for investigating or enforcing those violations or
potential violations.
(4) Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Disclosure.
(a) Introduction. In the event that one of the parties listed below
is involved in judicial or administrative litigation or ADR, or has an
interest in such
[[Page 21470]]
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 his or her official capacity;
(iii) Any Department employee in his or her individual capacity
where the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been requested to or agrees
to provide or arrange for representation for the employee;
(iv) Any Department employee in his or her 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
the 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
disclosure of certain records to an adjudicative body before which the
Department is authorized to appear or to an individual or an entity
designated by the Department or otherwise empowered to resolve or
mediate disputes is relevant and necessary to the judicial or
administrative litigation or ADR, the Department may disclose those
records as a routine use to the adjudicative body, individual, or
entity.
(d) Parties, Counsel, Representatives, and Witnesses. If the
Department determines that disclosure of certain records to a party,
counsel, representative, or witness is relevant and necessary to the
judicial or administrative litigation or ADR, the Department may
disclose those records as a routine use to the party, counsel,
representative, or witness.
(5) Employment, Benefit, and Contracting Disclosure.
(a) For Decisions by the Department. The Department may disclose a
record to a Federal, State, or local agency maintaining civil,
criminal, or other relevant enforcement or other pertinent records, or
to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary
to obtain information relevant to a 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 or their Agents and
Contractors, and Professional Organizations or the Department's
Contractors. The Department may disclose a records to a Federal, State,
local, or other public authority or an agent or contractor of such
public agency, or professional organization, or the Department's
contractors 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.
(6) Employee Grievance, Complaint, or Conduct Disclosure. If a
record is relevant and necessary to an employee grievance, complaint,
or disciplinary action, the Department may disclose the record in this
system of records in the course of investigation, fact-finding, or
adjudication to any witness, designated factfinder, mediator, or other
person designated to resolve issues or decide the matter.
(7) Labor Organization Disclosure. The Department may disclose a
record from this system of records to an arbitrator to resolve disputes
under a negotiated grievance procedure or to officials of a labor
organization recognized under 5 U.S.C. chapter 71 when relevant and
necessary to their duties of exclusive representation.
(8) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Advice
Disclosure. The Department may disclose records to the DOJ or to OMB if
the Department determines that disclosure is desirable or necessary in
determining whether particular records are required to be disclosed
under the FOIA or the Privacy Act.
(9) Disclosure to the DOJ. The Department may disclose records to
the DOJ, or the authorized representative of 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.
(10) Contracting Disclosure. If the Department contracts with an
entity for the purposes of performing any function that requires
disclosure of records in the system to the employees of the contractor,
the Department may disclose the records to those employees. As part of
such a contract, the Department shall require the contractor to agree
to maintain Privacy Act safeguards as required under 5 U.S.C. 552a(m)
of the Privacy Act with respect to the records in the 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 shall be required to agree to establish and
maintain safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of the
disclosed records.
(12) 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 that individual and on behalf of that
individual. The member's right to the information is no greater than
the right of the individual who requested it.
(13) Disclosure to OMB or CBO for Credit Reform Act (CRA) Support.
The Department may disclose records to OMB or CBO as necessary to
fulfill CRA requirements in accordance with 2 U.S.C. 661b.
(14) Disclosure in the Course of Responding to a Breach of Data.
The Department may disclose records from this system of 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 and prevent, minimize, or
remedy such harm.
(15) 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
[[Page 21471]]
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.
(16) Disclosure to Third Parties through Matching Programs. Unless
otherwise prohibited by other laws, any information from this system of
records, including personal information obtained from other agencies
through matching programs, may be disclosed to any third party through
a matching program, which is conducted under a Computer Matching
Agreement between the Department and the third party, and requires that
the matching be conducted in compliance with the requirements of the
Privacy Act. Purposes of these disclosures may be: (a) To establish or
verify program eligibility and benefits; (b) to establish or verify
compliance with program regulations or statutory requirements, such as
to investigate possible fraud or abuse; and (c) to recoup payments or
delinquent debts under any Federal benefit programs, such as to locate
or take legal action against a delinquent or defaulted debtor.
(17) Disclosure of Information to Treasury. The Department may
disclose records 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 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, including funds disbursed by a
State in a State-administered, Federally funded program.
(18) Disclosure to 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 authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:
Disclosure pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12): The Department may
disclose to a consumer reporting agency information regarding a valid
overdue claim of the Department; such information is limited to:
(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 31 U.S.C. 3711(e). A
consumer reporting agency to which these disclosures may be made is
defined in 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f) and 31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3).
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
The records are maintained in hardcopy, microfilm, magnetic
storage, and optical storage media, such as tape, disk, etc.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
Records in this system pertaining to a title IV, HEA loan borrower
or grant recipient are retrieved by one or more of the following data
elements: the SSN, name, address, randomly generated number, debt
number, phone number, debt type reference, debt type extension debt
number, commercial name, commercial contact name, legacy ID, driver's
license number, American Bankers Association (ABA) routing number,
bankruptcy docket number, debt placement date, debt user defined page
(UDP), email address, last worked date, payment additional extension
reference ID, payment extension reference ID, tag short name, total
balance, credit bureau legacy ID, debt type group short name, debt type
short name, department name, institution account number, judgment
docket number, license-issuing State, next scheduled payment amount,
next scheduled payment date, office name, original debt type name, PCA
group short name, and PCA short name.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
All records are retained and disposed of in accordance with ED
Records Schedule 075: FSA Loan Servicing, Consolidation, and
Collections Records (N1-441-09-016) (ED 075). The Department has
submitted amendments to ED 075 for NARA's consideration and will
continue to preserve all records covered by ED 075 until the amendments
are approved.
ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
All physical access to the Department's site, and to the sites of
the Federal Loan Servicers, the Federal Perkins Loan Servicer, PCAs,
and other contractors listed in this notice, where this system of
records is maintained, is controlled and monitored by security
personnel who check each individual entering the building for his or
her employee or visitor badge.
In accordance with the Department's Administrative Communications
System Directive ACSD-OFO-013 entitled ``Contractor Employee Personnel
Security Screenings,'' all contract personnel who have facility access
and system access are required to undergo a security clearance
investigation. Individuals requiring access to Privacy Act records are
required to hold, at a minimum, a moderate-risk security clearance
level. These individuals are required to undergo periodic screening at
five-year intervals.
In addition to conducting security clearances, contract and
Department employees are required to complete security awareness
training on an annual basis. Annual security awareness training is
required to ensure that contract and Department users are appropriately
trained in safeguarding Privacy Act records.
The computer system employed by the Department offers a high degree
of resistance to tampering and circumvention. 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 users of this system of records are
given a unique user identification and password. The Department's
Information Technology (IT) Identification and Authentication (IA)
Standard requires the enforcement of a complex password policy. In
addition to the enforcement of a complex password policy, users are
required to change their password at least every 90 days or based on
the Zero Trust Strategy/Plan in accordance with the Department's IT IA
standards.
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 comprise a combination of management,
operational, and technical controls, and include the following control
families: access control, awareness and training, audit and
accountability, assessment, authorization, and monitoring,
configuration management, contingency planning, identification and
[[Page 21472]]
authentication, incident response, maintenance, media protection,
physical and environmental protection, planning, program management,
personnel security, personally identifiable information processing and
transparency, risk assessment, system and services acquisition, system
and communications protection, system and information integrity, and
supply chain risk management.
All of the Federal Loan Servicers, NFP Federal Loan Servicers, the
Federal Perkins Loan Servicer, PCAs, and other contractors, as listed
in ``SYSTEM LOCATION,'' undergo FISMA security authorizations. In
addition, access is monitored 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
If you wish to gain access to a record in this system, provide the
system manager with your name, date of birth, and SSN. Requests by an
individual for access to a record must meet the requirements of the
regulations in 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE:
If you wish to contest the content of a record in this system of
records, contact the system manager with your name, date of birth, and
SSN; identify the specific items to be changed; and provide a written
justification for the change. Requests to amend a record must meet the
requirements of the regulations in 34 CFR 5b.7.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
If you wish to determine whether a record exists regarding you in
this system of records, provide the system manager with your name, date
of birth, and SSN. Requests must meet the requirements of the
regulations in 34 CFR 5b.5 and 5b.7, including proof of identity.
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
The system of records entitled ``Common Services for Borrowers
(CSB)'' (18-11-16) was originally published in the Federal Register on
January 23, 2006 (71 FR 3503-3507), modified on September 12, 2014 (79
FR 54685-54695), modified on September 2, 2016 (81 FR 60683-60691),
September 13, 2022 (87 FR 56003-56015), and last modified on July 23,
2023 (88 FR 48449).
[FR Doc. 2026-07826 Filed 4-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 22, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.