Federal Student Aid (FSA) has announced that institutions using the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) must upgrade to the latest versions of EDconnect and TDClient software by December 7, 2026, in preparation for a planned SAIG system upgrade in early 2027.
Institutions that continue using older software versions risk losing access to SAIG, which supports the electronic exchange of federal student aid information.
Required Software Versions
In Electronic Announcement GENERAL-26-70, issued November 6, 2026, FSA identified the following required versions:
- EDconnect 8.6.1: Institutions currently using version 8.5.0 should upgrade to version 8.6.1.
- TDClient 3.5.0: Institutions currently using versions 3.3.1 or 3.4.0 should upgrade to version 3.5.0.
Institutions already operating the latest versions do not need to take further action.
Operating System Requirements
Institutions should also verify that their operating systems meet the minimum requirements for the updated software.
EDconnect 8.6.1 requires Windows 11 or Windows Server 2016 or higher.
TDClient 3.5.0 supports several operating systems, including:
- Windows 11 or Windows Server 2016 and higher
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9 or higher
- Solaris 11.3 on SPARC or higher
- AIX 7.1 TL2 or higher
- z/OS 2.4 or higher
Institutions using unsupported operating systems should prioritize the necessary upgrades to maintain compatibility.
Upgrade Resources and Next Steps
FSA has published updated software and installation guides through the Software and Other Tools section of its Knowledge Center.
Institutions are encouraged to review their current software versions, coordinate with their IT departments or third-party service providers as appropriate, and complete any necessary upgrades before the December 7 deadline.
For assistance, institutions may contact the FPS Help Desk at 1-800-330-5947 or support@fps.ed.gov.