• 1098-T
  • The 1/5/2026 deadline for 1098-T Generate Job in Production has been eliminated.
  • The Temporary Lock Out dates restricting access to 1098-T pages have been eliminated.
  • The 2025 Tracking Calendar via the 1098-T QRG has been updated with these changes.
  • Make sure to join the new 1098-T eList.
• Item type approver updates to SF Support
  • When item types need to be approved, please make sure staff with that responsibility have appropriate Solar Winds access so that validation of approval can be made quickly/efficiently.
• SFRA Cohort 3 Drop-In meeting scheduled for December 29, 1pm  2:30 pm
  • Cohort 3 colleges, please bring your questions on functionality, communications, and any other SFRA topics.
  • SF Drop-in Session: SFRA Cohort 3 meeting information
• SF Year in Review
  • Coming Soon! We’re preparing our annual recap of all the exciting SF highlights stay tuned!
• Waiver form update in SW
  • Please note that the SolarWinds SF: Waivers ticket request form has been updated to a fillable Microsoft Word document and is no longer a PDF. The requested information and verbiage remain unchanged; only the format has been updated to improve usability.
• Cybersource Updates
  • The second round of our online payment platform updates will take place for the cohort 2 colleges during the month of February. We will reach out to your colleges POC with instructions and for them to select a time to meet with the SF Support Team and we will assist you with updating your Cybersource keys (these new keys will be active for 2 years.)
• Term Rollover
  • The State Board will distribute the approved 202627 rates by early February 2026. Please note that the SF Team will host a term roll and term fee update training on March 9, and colleges will be asked to work with us to update and validate all fee and waiver changes by the end of March. Additional guidance and instructions for this annual process will be shared soon.
• Apprentice BPG updates
  • If you’re one of the 15 colleges that run apprenticeships programs, please note that we’ve updated the Business Process Documentation recently with the latest waiver functionality detail (starting on page 9.)
• New Request Type for QRG updates in SolarWinds
  • Have you spotted a QRG that needs an update? Or do you have an SF topic you’d like to see added? You can now submit these requests directly in SolarWinds!
  • Navigation in SW: ctcLink Support > Training > Reference Center > SF  Reference Center
• Student Log In & Institution Set Issues
  • We recommend that students first activate their account using gateway.ctclink and not HCX to ensure that the Institution Set is populated correctly.
  • You can use the Student Institution Set Override page to update if there are any issues, but this only fixes issues for the Gateway/full site.
  • We also recommend that students use the desktop gateway to do anything Student Financial related.

Updated QRGs

• Void a Receipt  Updated steps to include “always select a void reason” and added additional information on the QCS_SF_E215_DPT_GL query.
• Financial Aid Refund Adjustments  Updated steps, removed file mapping information and created a new video for group post.
• Assign a Waiver for an Individual Student and Apply/ Update Student Waivers Through Equation Variable and Student Groups  updated navigation paths (Thank you Matt at Whatcom for letting us know).
• 1098-T Resource Updates, continued updates for the 2025 1098-T processing:
  • 2025 1098-T Business Processing Guide
  • 1098-T Guide
  • Added the Request Missing Student National ID (SSN) Communications Video to reference center.

I’m ready for some snow (sorry non snow peeps), so here is a fun snow fact:

Snowflakes have six sides:Due to the hexagonal structure of ice crystals, all snowflakes have six sides, though they have unique patterns;the largest ever recorded was massive, 15 inches wide. (thanks Google)

😂Bonus Dad Joke:

What happens when you cross a snowman and a vampire?

Frostbite!

-Your State Board SF Team