Site Changes Archive - 2001

This is an archive of all prior changes made to this site in 2001. Recent changes can be found under Site Changes.

Archives available: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998

12-24-2001
  • New site design.
    • 12-17-2001
  • Added two new items to the SAL for Windows Changes page.
  • Add news item announcing release of Electronic Bill Notices.
  • Updated PC Help links page.
    • 11-28-2001
  • Updated Virus FAQ with information on Badtrans.
    • 11-20-2001
  • Added instructions for NeoPlanet 5.2 Browser to the ECSI Internet Services FAQ.
    • 11-16-2001
  • Added News and Regulation items concerning the new Perkins and NDSL promissory notes.
    • 11-15-2001
  • Updated SAL for Windows Changes with two new items.
    • 11-02-2001
  • Updated Virus FAQ with information on Nimda.E.
    • 10-25-2001
  • Updated Electronic Signature News Item to provide links to additional resources.
    • 10-24-2001
  • Added News Item announcing release of 2001-2002 Student Financial Aid Handbook. Also added to Student Loan Links page.
  • Reinstatement of Form 553 has been added to the Regulations page.
  • Added a link to IFAP's SFA Guidance Relating to Terrorist Attacks page to the Student Loan Links page.
  • Updated the Mail Payments To page for borrowers.
    • 10-23-2001
  • Added ability to view completed WebExit (our new electronic exit) to the Client page.
  • Added Innovis Skip Trace Links page.
    • 10-18-2001
  • Added new School Search page to the Borrower and Client pages. Also added to the cancellation section of the Borrower Forms page.
  • Added 'client-specific' forms to the Borrower Forms page.
    • 09-28-2001
  • The September-October 2001 Newsletter is available.
    • 09-26-2001
  • The regulation item regarding the new Form 553 has been revised. ECSI has converted the Microsoft Word document and is providing a PDF version of the 553.
  • Updated news item Nimda Virus Infection Warning. Site appears clean.
    • 09-24-2001
  • The web-based Exit Interview is available for review in the My Account Demo, found on the Client page.
  • Added Regulation item: Guidance Regarding Borrowers Called for Military Duty Due to Terrorist Attacks.
    • 09-20-2001
  • Instructions for sorting the Mass-Mailing file added to the SAL for Windows Changes section.
    • 09-19-2001
  • New software update documented in the SAL for Windows Changes section.
  • News item Nimda Virus Infection Warning warning of NCHELP site infection added to the News section.
  • Added Deferment and Cancellation Definitions to Deferment/Cancellation Table for Perkins document.
  • Added Nimda Virus to Virus FAQ.
    • 09-18-2001
  • Added FISAP Announcement to Regulations section.
    • 09-17-2001
  • Added Form 553 notice to Regulations section.
    • 09-11-2001
  • Added new item to Regulations section.
    • 09-10-2001
  • Five new documents added to the SAL for Windows Changes section.
    • 09-06-2001
  • A new item IRS Skiptracing Procedures for Perkins Loans (CB-01-12) has been added to the Regulations section.
    • 08-30-2001
  • A list of possible solutions has been added to the login failed page of the My Account section.
    • 08-28-2001
  • The U.S. Courts official Proof of Claim Bankruptcy form is now available on the Client page (in the other category). It was also added to the Student Loan Links page. This is a PDF Fill-in version of the original. Thanks to Lana Maples from TCU for contributing the original form.
  • The following changes were made to the borrower's My Account section:
    1. Account numbers were removed from the electronic bills to match the paper version.
    2. Fraud warnings were added to the Direct Payment Menu page and the Bank Information page.
    3. The deadline for recurring direct payment transactions has been changed. The cutoff is now 6:00am on the business day prior to the schools's default draw date (1st or 20th of the month).
    4. The Make Direct Payment page will now show the anticipated processing date for permanent payments.
    5. The Current Account Balance now shows credit balances in the total line.
    6. The "Explain This" topic on the My Account page was missing information about the Direct Payment feature.
  • The client's view of borrower account information was updated to support credit balances in the total line.
    • 08-27-2001
  • Added Regulation item: Accessing FISAP from the Web.
    • 08-10-2001
  • Corrected the Contacts page.
  • Updated the SAL System Requirements.
  • Added a new PC Issues section to the SAL HelpDesk.
  • Added the following new documents to the SAL Helpdesk: Task Scheduler Job Does Not Run, How to Obtain the GUI Task Scheduler, How to Terminate a Task Started With the AT Scheduler.
    • 08-08-2001
  • Corrected the site certificate verification link on the Security FAQ. This link enables you to independently verify ECSI's certificate for presenting secure pages.
    • 07-30-2001
  • Added Fisap announcement to Regulations and News pages.
  • Added W32.Sircam to the Virus FAQ page.
    • 07-26-2001
  • The following document has been added to the SAL for Windows Changes page: Changes to Operator Security Setup.
    • 07-18-2001
  • Added regulation item 1998-1999 have been added to the Death and Disability Discharge Changes Take Effect.
  • Place a copy of News Item #49 (Department of Education's Electronic Signature Guidelines) into the Regulation page.
  • Replaced missing articles from Regulations Archive
  • Added new communications section to the Software Links page.
    • 07-12-2001
  • Corrected the link to the 1998-1999 have been added to the 1998-1999 Low-Income Schools on the Student Loans Link page.
  • Added the 2001 Federal Register Archive to the 1998-1999 Low-Income Schools on the Student Loans Link page.
    • 07-09-2001
  • The remaining versions of the new forbearance form have been added to the Borrower Forms page. This includes the PDF Fill-In form.
  • ECSI's yearly IRS Skiptracing and Safeguard Procedures letter is available in the News section.
  • The following documents have been added to the SAL for Windows Changes page: Suspense Report, Operator Security Report.
    • 06-29-2001 The new forbearance form (in PDF) has been added to the Borrower Forms page. Additional document formats will be available shortly.
    06-22-2001 Added latest enhancements to the SAL for Windows Changes page.
    06-18-2001
  • Created a Headlines Archive. Older items on the Headlines page will be stored in the archive for an extended period.
  • Changes to the Current Account Balance page in the Borrower's My Account section:
    1. Add the "Principal Paid" column
    2. Add shading to the current due column to make it easier for visitors to find.
    3. Now displays the correct values under "Principal Paid" and "Payoff".
    • 06-14-2001
  • Added two news items: Enhancements to our Electronic Bill Presentment service and 2002 User Conference Dates
  • Borrowers that are signed up for ACH or coupons can now view electronic statements in the Borrower section of the web site.
  • Changed the VNC Download and Setup document to point to the new location for VNC.
  • The Index of Downloads document is now current. VNC, SAL for Windows and Transmission Support Files have been added to the index.
    • 06-13-2001
  • The Agency section of the web site now requires the use of secure pages. A News Item is also available to explain this change.
  • Added new item to the SAL for Windows Changes page.
  • Added the new Print Web Pages document to the Agency Start page.
  • Corrected the Client Site Update Notification feature. When trying to remove your email address, you were presented with an error. This has been corrected and you will now receive a confirmation message instead of the error message.
    • 06-12-2001
  • Added two new items to the SAL for Windows Changes page.
  • Added new links to the Borrower Links page. Correct broken links.
  • Added a new help document Print Web Pages. This is intended for clients and agencies trying to print wide reports from our site.
  • Changed the links referencing the 553 form on the Student Loan Links page.
    • 06-07-2001
  • Added documentation on four new features to the SAL for Windows Changes page.
    • 05-30-2001
  • Added the May-June newsletter to the Newsletter Index.
  • Archived old news items from the News Index to the News Archive.
    • 05-16-2001
  • Added the Department's Electronic Signature Guidelines to the Student Loans Links page.
    • 05-16-2001
  • The list of electronic bills now shows the bill type. Previously, it was confusing for borrowers receiving multiple bill types.
    • 05-15-2001
  • Added news item: Department of Education's Electronic Signature Guidance.
  • Added news item: Perkins Promissory Note Comment Period Extended.
    • 05-08-2001
  • Audio has been added to all remaining user conference slide shows.
  • The Last session of the 2001 conference (agency/cohort) has been split into two shows to simplify viewing
  • The audio for Credit Bureau Reporting and Conducting an Exit Interview can be found on the Conference Slide Shows page
  • Add two sessions that were not part of the original conference itinerary: ECSI's Electronic Exit Prototype Demo and Automated Agency Placements
  • Add the sample of embedding ECSI's application into a school's pages.
    • 05-07-2001
  • Added the new DRAP Letter to the Dear Borrower Letters page. There is also a News Item to announce the letter.
  • Corrected the link to the Infospace reverse-search page on the Collections and Skip Tracing Links page.
  • Audio has been added to the following user conference slide shows: Introduction / Year In Review, Internet Services, Regulations, Bankruptcy Law Update
    • 05-03-2001
  • News item announcing the return of LiveHelper (full text).
  • News item announcing Electronic Bill Presentment (full text).
  • LiveHelper has been added to the site's table of contents to make it available to all visitors.
  • Electronic Billing Statements are now available on-line in the borrower's My Account section.
  • The following "My Account" documentation has been revised or added: My Account Overview, My Account Online Documentation Index, Electronic Bill History, View Electronic Bill
  • 2001 User Conference Shows are now on-line! Everything relating to past conference can be found in the User Conference section. Watch for the audio tracks which will be released in the near future.
    • 04-18-2001
  • LiveHelper is back! LiveHelper is an on-line, customer service tool to connect our web users to our customer service reps. It can be found on several of the borrower pages to make it convenient.
    • 04-16-2001
  • Added CSS versions of the Deferment and Forbearance forms to the Borrower Forms page.
    • 04-12-2001
  • Updated the links to the Student Financial Aid Handbook on the Student Loan Links. These now match the reorganized IFAP site.
    • 04-09-2001
  • Please note the schedule change on the 2001 User Conference Itinerary for the buy-client session. The Session Description has also been updated to reflect this change.
  • Add Where to Mail Payments document to borrower's My Account page.
  • Corrected bad link to borrower login page on the Sitemap page. Also added missing borrower pages.
    • 03-23-2001
  • New version of the client's Notify Me! service has been placed on the Clients page. You can now pick the frequency that Email notices are sent. This replaces the old Email Notify application which has been removed.
  • Corrected the links to IFAP on the Student Loan Links page. Our links are now in sync with their site redesign.
  • Add news item: SFA's New Title IV portal
  • Add news item: Release of Pre-Release Draft of 2002-2003 FISAP Technical Reference
    • 03-20-2001
  • Add the ability to perform weekly payments to the Direct Payment service. The date the payment is scheduled to be made is now much more clear on both the entry and contract pages.
    • 03-07-2001
  • Add March-April 2001 Newsletter
    • 02-21-2001
  • Added new items to the Legislation page
  • Added Info Button documentation to the SAL HelpDesk page
  • Added a new Table of Contents item to the SAL HelpDesk section.
    • 02-20-2001
  • Corrected login link on Client's My Accounts Demo page
    • 02-16-2001
  • Added the ability for a school to view their borrower's tax forms to the Client page
    • 02-14-2001
  • Added IRS Form 8822 to Borrower Forms page
  • Added links to Change of Address forms from IRS and USPS to the Borrower On-line Address Change
    • 02-13-2001
  • Added documents to the Legislation page
  • Added News Item announcing new Headlines page.
  • Added new virus to the Virus FAQ
  • Archived old items from the Regulation Index to the Regulation Archive
  • Add Headlines section to >Home page and Client
    • 02-12-2001
  • Added the following links to the Student Loan Links page: 2001 Campus Based Dear Colleague Letters, Federal School Code Search.
  • Added the following links to the Borrower Links page: Students.gov.
  • Added Senate Bill S.152 to the Legislation page.
  • Added new Headlines section to Home page and Clients page.
  • Reorganized Home page and main Links page.
  • Corrected link to Borrower page on the Which Section help page.
  • Added IRS Form 8822 to Borrower Forms page.
    • 02-09-2001
  • Added the preliminary information for the 2001 User Conference. Documents include conference brochure, registration form, itinerary and session descriptions.
  • Added a news item and SAL HelpDesk document concerning the problem between VNC and McAfee's 2-7-01 version of their virus scan engine.
    • 02-07-2001 The minimum payment for the Direct Payment has been changed to be either $50 or 10% of the current due. This will help borrowers who are extraordinarily late if they wish to begin making payments.
    02-05-2001 Corrected the link to the Federal Register in regulation item 24, Perkins Program Changes.
    01-30-2001
  • The ability for clients to Check Borrower Web Accounts is back. You can find it right on the Client page.
    • 01-29-2001
  • New page Document Formats to explain new formats of the borrower forms.
  • New version of the Borrower Forms page. The following forms were added:
    1. Cancellation: CSS version of Page 1 and Page 2
    2. ACH Application: CSS version and Layers version
    3. IRS Form W9-S: CSS version Page 1 and Page 2
    4. JPG images of all forms
  • New version of the SAL HelpDesk page. Many minor changes, especially to links. Two new sections were added: SAL for Windows Changes and the SAL Help Manual
  • Added SAL for Windows change: Stop Code Window Changes
  • Added the SAL for Windows On-line Help Manual
    • 01-26-2001
  • Corrected navigation links in the following documents for Netscape users
    • 01-23-2001
  • Corrected links in the Password/PIN FAQ. Made minor changes to the wording of the last paragraph of item six.
  • Added Form 8863, Hope and Lifetime Credit descriptions to the Tax Incentives page.
  • Added Department of Education document Loan Repayment A National Handbook of Best Practices to the Student Loan Links page.
  • Adjusted the link to the Federal Register on the Student Loan Links page.
  • Implemented the following borrower suggestions. Special thanks to every borrower who has taken the time to comment. Your input is appreciated!!
    • Add a note to borrower's My Account Login to use PIN if password not yet selected.
    • Added troubleshooting help to the bottom of the login page
    • Corrected the filing instructions for 2000 1098-T
    • Add a link to the Tax Incentives write-up from the 1098-E/T tax documents.
    • 01-22-2001
  • Updated Service Schedule through December 2001.
    • 01-18-2001
  • Added January-February Newsletter.
    • 01-15-2001
  • Updated the Reference List.
  • Added news item announcing new Secure Updates service.
    • 01-14-2001
  • Added the new Direct Payment service to the borrower's My Account page.
  • Added news item announcing Direct Payment Service
  • Added documentation for Update Banking Information, Make Direct Payment, View Direct Pay History.
    • 01-12-2001
  • Loaded the remaining 1098-E documents for schools who bill at mid-month.
    • 01-11-2001
  • Added Frequently Asked Questions to the Clients Page
  • Added document on Electronic Signatures Act
  • Added new information to the PDF Document FAQ
  • Added document survey to the following: Clear Browser Cache, Virus FAQ
  • Added the General Privacy Statement and Borrower Privacy Statement to the Frequently Asked Questions Index
  • Changed Table of Contents (left frame) to make the choices clearer. Also, the borrower link now defaults to secure pages (SSL). In the past this was an option. If a borrower's browser does not support SSL, then can access the unsecure pages from the expanded table of contents.
  • New document with instructions to Clear Browser Cache added to the My Account area and the ECSI Internet FAQ.
  • Added a document to help visitors choose a section of the site that is most appropriate to them.
  • Changed the wording of the Login item on the Borrower Page to make it clear what they are logging into.
    • 01-10-2001
  • 2000 1098-E information loaded for schools which are billed at the end of December or on the 3rd of the month. The remainder of schools will be loaded on January 16.
  • Changes to the My Account application.
    • All borrower data and tax information is now stored with 448-bit encryption. This is a substantial upgrade from our prior 56 and 128 bit security.
    • Added index of documentation to the My Account page.
    • The following documentation has been updated to reflect these changes. More document changes will be posted in the next few days. Help: Last Account Balance, Help: Update My Demographics, Help: Password Change, Tax Information, Help: Where to Find ABA Routing/Account Numbers, Reset My Password, Email My Password, Login Problem Report.
    • Borrowers may now provide name changes in addition to their other demographics.
    • The Tax Information page allows viewing multiple tax documents and years. Only tax documents on file are available. Year 2000 documents are being loaded the week of Jan 8 and Jan 29. If no tax documents are available for a given borrower, the borrower will receive a more explanatory message instead of the hard-error message.
    • Update My Banking Info page has been added to support the new Direct Payment service.
    • The loan interest rate has been added to the Last Account Balance page.
    • Last Account Balance: The balance, current due and payoff for each loan now reliably display. Previously, only the summary figures would display reliably.
    • Pages that display demographic information (such as last account balance, update demographics, etc) now display two messages. One message indicates that the address is bad. The other indicates that the phone number or date of birth are invalid or missing.
    • Borrower who attended multiple schools that ECSI processes will no longer have trouble with their initial login. In addition, when performing a logout and an immediate login no longer gives an error.
    • A message is displayed from all My Account sections when the web site is down for any type of maintenance. If the site is under maintenance, you will not be permitted to login. This message also appears daily between 4:00AM and 4:30AM (eastern) during the regular update.
    • Most forms now support JavaScript positioning the cursor to the first field. Non-JavaScript browsers will not see this behavior. A few of the forms are still being changed.
    • In browsers that support JavaScript 'popup' windows, the help document for a form is displayed in a small, re-sizable window, alongside the main form. This enables you to keep the help document and the form visable. Non JavaScript (or JavaScript-disabled) browsers will still display a full browser window.
    • The Request A Form page now directs borrowers to the My Account page for completing on-line forms. This is intended to support the new fill-in, HTML forms. These HTML forms will provide an alternative for users that prefer not to use the PDF documents.
    • Many minor and cosmetic changes.
    • 01-05-2001
  • Added Where to Send Payments to Borrower Page
  • Frequently Asked Questions page changes
    • 01-04-2001
  • Borrower Links page: Add Links to IRS documents for tax year 2000 (1098-E and 1098-T).
  • Correct bad links on the Site Help page
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