CCCApply Sub-Committee: Review Social Security Number Revision
- Patricia Donohue
Online Meeting Information
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 5, 2019 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Follow Up discussion to review mock-up = December 18, 10:00am)
Location ZOOM: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/6770513851 MEETING ID: 677-051-3851
Use VoiP or Call TOLL Telephone: Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 876 9923 (US Toll)
Agenda
| TIME | DESCRIPTION |
| 3:00pm | Introductions: - Attendees please add your name, college, and title in the Chat window |
1) Overview and history of the current SSN Question implementation (i.e., Legal Opinion 13-05, historical information, etc.) (10 mins) 2) Overview of the current change request, including new layout and the overarching priority of softening and removing/hiding as much of the legal language from the screen as possible, while still ensuring it is accessible to the applicant via Help modals (20 mins) 3) Review the layout draft from the Foundation team. Get feedback from college users. 4) Finish by reviewing our current needs list for approval:
| |
4:00 pm | Schedule F/U Call? - Close Meeting |
Upcoming Meetings: 2019-2020 CCCApply Sub-Committee Meeting Schedule
Issue Summary
The Social Security Number question, that currently appears in the OpenCCC Account system, has long been known as a barrier for applicants; attributing factors include the overall layout design, the look & feel, the legal language, etc. The feedback received from students and colleges is that the legal language is overwhelming and the layout is confusing. Many students, including noncredit students, international students, undocumented, minors, etc, that do not have a SSN, are being forced to navigate through the legal information and penalties information - even though they are legitimate exceptions and are not required to have one or provide one. Although providing a SSN is optional, there are many reasons why students that have a SSN must provide it.
Project Overview
Sub-committee Objectives:
- Meet with sub-committee to review information collected so far.
- Review historical legal info (Legal Opinion 13-05).
- Identify and document stakeholders and needs
- Gather and document requirements by stakeholder, application, downstream impacts
- Discuss technical requirements
Feedback / Requirements Needed
- For Phase II: Should the SSN be displayed in the NC and IA applications?
- Should a final revision be made to the question text to include "federal financial aid"
December 18 Meeting Review
Review latest revisions approved by CO:
- proposed plan for phased roll-out
- Review language regarding "needed for federal financial aid"
- Review initial suggestion from Immigrants Rising:
Requirements for Admissions & Records
Immigrants Rising Suggestions
- In the question prompt sentence, add "However, it is not required for admission."
Full question reads: "The Social Security Number is used as a means of identifying student records and to facilitate federal financial aid. However, it is not required for admission."
2. In the legal language Help modal, add the following text after: “Federal law requires...... with a few exceptions” including students in noncredit classes, international students, undocumented students and nonresident aliens.:
THESE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS; including students enrolled exclusively in noncredit classes, International students, undocumented students, and nonresident aliens."
3. Add a link to nonresident aliens: (the IRS definition seems like a good one: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxation-of-nonresident-aliens)
Suggestion Options
Yes - I have a Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number (show input fields)
No - I do not have a Social Security Number because I am an International student, undocumented student, nonresident alien, or enrolled exclusively in noncredit classes.
I decline to provide my Social Security Number at this time.
I forget my Social Security Number. I will provide this to the college during registration.
If the student selects:
No...(display this pop-up)
I decline... (display this language)
I forget...(display this language)
The menu options above would require a change to an existing data field or a new field would be added.
Just a reminder...
If you have a SSN or TIN, failure to provide it while claiming tax credits for specified education expenses may result in a penalty levied against the student by the IRS in the amount of $100, per year, until the missing or incorrect information is provided (26 C.F.R. 1-60505-1(e)(4)).
Legal Considerations
Questions
- What are the legal compliance requirements (privacy)?
- Can we move legal language into Help modal?
- What other legal considerations are there?
Documentation
Legal Information About SSN and Legal Opinion 13-05
IRS definitions of Taxation of Nonresident Aliens: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxation-of-nonresident-aliens
IRS definition of International Individuals: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-individuals
College Users Feedback Survey
This survey is a work in-progress. Sub-committee will help finalize the questions. Survey should be shared with multiple communication channels (AR Listserv, CCCApplySteering lisserv, CACCRAO, etc.).
Requirements for Access to In-Progress CCCApply Application Data
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ys1AY25fDo6WTjS2DlAzFkUkgPmnXjmXocLpif20BTc/edit