Starting in October 2026, schools will use FSA Partner Connect to respond to notifications from FSA regarding borrower defense to repayment applications filed by their former or current student borrowers. Schools will use the new Borrower Defense portal—available from the FSA Partner Connect home page—to review cases, understand applicable regulation years, and upload evidence. We will update FSA Partner Connect to offer:
- a new summary page for borrower defense cases,
- robust search and filter tools,
- improved functionality to review case details, and
- a modernized approach to manage evidence.
To assist FSA Partner Connect users in understanding the new functionality, FSA is offering a live, instructor-led webinar and self-paced training materials.
Borrower Defense in FSA Partner Connect Webinar
The session will introduce the new borrower defense to repayment functionality available in FSA Partner Connect. You will learn how to navigate the new “Case Summary” page; use search and filter tools to locate cases; review case details and manage evidence; and understand permissions and notifications. The webinar is designed to provide a straightforward, easy-to-understand overview for anyone beginning to use the new features.
FSA is offering the webinar on two separate occasions: one session for school administrators and another for third-party servicer and district servicer organization administrators. Please attend the session that best matches your role and needs.
No registration is required for the live webinar. Participation is first-come, first-served, and we can accommodate up to 10,000 attendees.
Borrower Defense for School Administrators
- When: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, 1–2:30 p.m. Eastern time (ET)
- Link to Join: Borrower Defense for School Administrators Webinar
Borrower Defense for Third-Party Servicer and District Servicer Organization Administrators
- When: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, 1–2:30 p.m. ET
- Link to Join: Borrower Defense for Third-Party Servicer and District Servicer Organization Administrators Webinar
Additional Training Resources
In addition to the live webinar, FSA will provide self-paced training materials, including a job aid, to walk you through the new process step-by-step and a webinar recording. The webinar recording will cover the same material as the live webinar.
To view these additional resources when they are available, log in to the FSA Training Center and select “Systems Training” from the main menu bar. From the drop-down menu that appears, choose “FSA Partner Connect” and then select the “Partner” icon in the middle of the page.
Contact Information
For technical questions about FSA Partner Connect, complete the Customer Support form in the FSA Partner Connect Help Center. For additional assistance, you may contact the FSA Partner and School Relations Center at 1-800-848-0978. Starting Aug. 28, 2026, the contact center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
If you have a question about a specific borrower defense to repayment application, contact Borrower Defense Customer Support at 1-855-279-6207. Information for borrowers is available at StudentAid.gov/borrower-defense.
SOURCE: (ANN-26-23) FSA Partner Connect Training – Borrower Defense to Repayment for Administrators