Dear Colleague,

Earlier this month, HESC implemented new rules regarding the elimination of award recipient Social Security Numbers (SSNs) on all school files, effective with the 2019-20 academic year and thereafter. All outgoing and incoming files for the 2018-19 academic year will still contain students’ SSNs.

Excelsior and ETA Credit Verification Files
On July 30, HESC sent out the first credit verification files for the Excelsior Scholarship and ETA award programs referencing the Student College ID.  You will not receive the credit verification request file until you provide the Student College ID information to HESC.

Student Status Listing
On Friday, August 2, HESC will resume sending out the Student Status Listing.  Once again, you will only receive information for any student for which HESC has received the Student College ID.  Student records will be added to the weekly Student Status Listing as we continue to receive your Student College IDs.

2019-20 Transaction Processing
Also, please be aware that HESC will no longer accept any 2019-20 transactions from schools which contain SSNs. If a transaction file is submitted with student SSNs, it will not be processed, and the school will be required to submit the transaction again using the Student College IDs.

New File Layouts
The new file layouts for the Credit Verification files and the Student Status Listing files are available on the HESC website and are labeled Student ID Version.  This includes the SUNY/CUNY Tuition Credit layout.  The field size for the Tuition Credit has been increased to display the correct tuition credit amount. HESC is currently working on revising the remaining file layouts and will notify schools when the revised layouts are available. 

Please send any questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

HESC