Availability of EDExpress for Windows 2023

Jul 05, 2023

We are pleased to announce the posting of EDExpress for Windows 2023–2024, Release 3.0 on the Software and Other Tools page of Federal Student Aid’s Knowledge Center website (https://Knowledge Center.ed.gov/software-and-other-tools). Release 3.0 adds new functionality enabling you to report student Federal Work Study (FWS) data to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System using the new Campus-Based Common Record schema.

In addition to the software, the following EDExpress 2023–24 documents are available for download from the EDExpress 2023–2024 Knowledge Center website:

The EDExpress for Windows 2023–2024, Release 3.0 Cover Letter (provides critical information regarding enhancements in Release 3.0)

The EDExpress for Windows 2023–2024, Release 2.0 Desk Reference (revised for Release 3.0 to incorporate guidance on Campus Based FWS functionality, including Campus-Based external import add/change record layout)

EDExpress 2023–2024, Release 3.0 adds new functionality that enables schools to exchange FWS data with the COD System using the new Campus-Based schema (version 1.0a) implemented in July 2023.

New Campus-Based features in EDExpress include the ability to define Campus-Based school profiles, add new FWS records manually or via import from an external system, export Campus- Based Common Record documents for transmission to the COD System, and import processed results. We implemented related enhancements to Browse, Query, and Print functionality.

For additional details and guidance regarding Campus-Based functionality added in Release 3.0, see the 2023–2024 EDExpress Release 2.0 Desk Reference (updated for Release 3.0) and Cover Letter posted with the software to the Knowledge Center website and the EDExpress Help system within the software.

For more information regarding the COD System’s implementation of the new Campus-Based schema and testing opportunities for combination schools, see the March 26, 2023 electronic announcement (updated June 15, 2023) and the May 23, 2023 electronic announcement on the Knowledge Center website, as well as Volume 4 of the 2023–2024 COD Technical Reference.

Note the following guidance during the installation of EDExpress 2023–2024, Release 3.0:

When you initiate the EDExpress 2023–2024 installation process, you will be prompted to install the ACE Access Database Engine. This functionality is required to install EDExpress 2023–2024. Click Install to allow the process to determine if the ACE Access Database Engine is already on the workstation and install it if not; after which the installation will proceed.

EDExpress 2023–2024 requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.6.2. You will be prompted to install this software if the EDExpress 2023–2024 installation process determines it is not available on your workstation.

For more information on installing EDExpress 2023–2024, see the EDExpress for Windows 2023–2024 Installation Guide.

If you upgrade from EDExpress 2023–2024, Release 2.0 to Release 3.0, your User IDs, passwords, and other security settings are carried forward to Release 3.0 and do not need to be recreated.

If you have not installed EDExpress 2023–2024 prior to Release 3.0, when you first access the software after installation, the default User ID is SYSADMIN and the default password is $y$tem Adm1n. Be sure to include the space between $y$tem and Adm1n (the two parts of the default password).

After you enter the default user ID and password, EDExpress 2023–2024 requires that you immediately define a new password for the SYSADMIN. New passwords must be a minimum of 12 characters and must include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one keyboard character that is not a letter or number (such as an exclamation mark or other punctuation symbol). You can adjust the minimum password length and other requirements in the Password Setup dialog box (Tools, Setup, Global, Password Setup).

The SYSADMIN user ID only provides access to critical administrative functions to limit its use for routine software tasks and improve your ability to trace actions taken in the software to specific users. EDExpress administrators at your school should create unique user IDs in Security Users setup with the necessary access (based on the associated Security Group) and log into the software under those IDs for most software tasks they perform.

For more information on security setup, see EDExpress Help in the software and the updated EDExpress for Windows 2023–2024, Release 2.0 Desk Reference.

If you have questions regarding downloading, installing, or using EDExpress 2023–2024, Release 3.0, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 1-800-330-5947 or by email at [email protected].

You can also post questions regarding EDExpress on FSATech. FSATech is an electronic mailing list for technical questions about Federal Student Aid systems, software, and mainframe products. For more information on subscribing to FSATech, go to https://listserv.ed.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=FSATECH&A=1.

If you have any questions about the COD System, contact the FSA Partner and School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978. You may also email [email protected].