👋 Welcome to SF Connect!

As summer begins to wind down and we look ahead to the start of fall quarter, we hope you've had a chance to enjoy some sunshine, recharge, and celebrate the incredible work you've accomplished this year. August is always a busy time as campuses prepare to welcome new and returning students, and Student Financials teams play a critical role in helping students start the term successfully. We encourage you to review the updates below and share relevant information with your campus as we head into fall quarter.

📢General SF Updates

• CyberSource Unified Checkout
  • 24 CTCs have successfully transitioned to the new Unified Checkout payment platform. The remaining 9 CTCs are scheduled to begin transitioning next Monday, August 24.
  • OAAP and CampusCE are currently in the development phases of this transition. We will continue to work closely with both vendors to ensure payment functionality transitions smoothly to utilizing Unified Checkout.
  • The SF Team is sending out weekly updates regarding this work to the ctcLink Student Financials e-list.
• Tuition Waivers -
  • Additional guidance regarding which tuition and fee charges each waiver may apply to is now available on the State Board website under the new “Waiver Applicability” dropdown.
  • Please review the following waiver info for more detail:
    • Children and Spouse of Totally Disabled or POW/MIA or Deceased Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members (W72)
    • Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Law Enforcement Officers or Firefighters (W04)
    • Wrongfully Convicted Person (W84)
    • Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members (W70)
    • Other Military or Naval Veterans (W71)
• Penny Rounding Adjustment (ER 341)
  • Development and configuration of the Penny Rounding Adjustment functionality in ctcLink Production is now complete.
  • For guidance on using the new functionality, please review the Penny Rounding QRG
• 1098-T Statements
  • 2026 QRG ***UPDATE***
    • 1098-T Business Processing Guide & Tracking Calendar QRG
  • FIRE System Retirement and Transition to IRIS
    • The FIRE System has been retired, and the IRS is transitioning fully to the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS).
    • Beginning with Filing Season 2027, IRIS will be the only intake system available for filing information returns.
    • Existing FIRE users are strongly encouraged to apply for a new Transmitter Control Code (TCC) through IRIS to ensure continued electronic filing capability.
    • Please find the attached email with additional information from the State Board and view the following IRS link on how to set it up.
      • https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5717.pdf
• International Student Contracts & Student Coding Manual
  • The Student Coding Manual is maintained by the State Board and contains guidelines, memos, and instructions developed to assist colleges in coding programs, courses, and students for reporting purposes.
  • Please note that the Student Coding Manual has been updated to show that 2% for international contract enrollments is no longer allowed.
• Third Party Contracts (TPCs)
  • The new query QCS_SF_EXT_ORG_CONTACT_INFO has been developed to provide a more efficient method in reviewing existing TPC vendors (external orgs)
• FARP/FARC (Financial Aid Refund Adjustments QRG)
  • A reminder to please review the FA Refund Amounts Due Query (QCS_SF_FA_REFUNDS_DUE) on a regular basis to ensure that BankMobile Refund lines do not hold improper FA revision balances.
  • Additional training may be found via the FARP/FARC training from 11/25 in the Canvas Pillar Work Sessions

🖥️ 2026 Maintenance & Deployment Schedule

• Monday, September 14 PCD Refresh
• Monday, October 5 PCD Refresh
• Saturday, October 10 | 7:00 AM  1:00 PM Deploy CS Image 38 & HCX Update
• Saturday, October 24 | 7:00 AM  1:00 PM Deploy FSCM Image 56
• Monday, November 2 PCD Refresh
• Saturday, November 14 | 7:00 AM  9:00 AM Server Maintenance
• Saturday, November 14 | 7:00 AM  1:00 PM Deploy HCM Image 56
• Monday, December 7 PCD Refresh

📚SF Resource Updates 

Have a suggestion or found something that needs updating?

Submit via: SolarWinds → ctcLink Support → Training → Reference Center → SF  Reference Center

We always appreciate your input!

Updated QRGs-

• Student Financial Responsibility Agreement - Updated form template
• 1098-T FAQs for ctcLink - added information regarding returned 1098-T documents retention
• Create a New Cashier Office - removed incorrect security role
• Request/Update an External Organization - added new query
• 1098-T Processing - added warning box regarding doing steps in order and timing
• Student Self-Service: Make a Payment - updated video with updated checkout
• CyberSource Pending Payments - Added info regarding Review Transaction Log
• Review Group Transactions - updated images
• Apply/Update Student Waivers Through Equation Variable and Student Groups - added warning box to apply/update waivers using equation variables dropdown.

🎓Learning Opportunities 

Recent

You must be registered and logged into Canvas to access these recordings 

August 10, SF Training: Fall Welcome Back to Basics: Cashiering, Refunds and Payment Plans

August 17, SF Work Session: Hot Topics 1098-T Resolution

Upcoming

August 24, 1pm, Cross-Pillar Training: Core, FA, SF Enrollment Cancellation

September 3, 1:30pm, SF Drop-In Session: 1098-T Prior Year Q&A

September 14, 1pm, SF Training: Tuition Calculation and Waivers

🤓Today Ilearned 

Nintendo launched Super Mario World, the Nintendo classic featuring Yoshi’s first-ever appearance in North America on August 13, 1991.

Thanks for taking the time to stay connected and informed.

We appreciate all that you do!

- Your State Board SF Team