During the past three decades, the Department of Education has created  many nonintegrated information systems to support its growing number of  student financial aid programs. In adopting this approach to better integration and utilization of its existing  data on student loans and grants, SFA may be able to address, at least in  part, long-standing database integration problems. In addressing the human capital skills issue  associated with successful middleware implementation, SFA will count on  the help of its modernization partner, who has substantial experience in  implementing middleware solutions in the banking industry and the use of  the middleware product’s vendor (IBM) as programmers. While  middleware provides a means for better user integration, sound  business practices and disciplined internal management controls will  be needed for any organization to achieve mission improvements and  financial benefits from its information systems investments. 10.
What GAO Found

Although the Department of Education spent millions of dollars to modernize and integrate its nonintegrated financial aid systems during the past 10 years, these efforts have met with limited success. Recently, Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance (SFA) began using a software approach known as middleware to provide users with a more complete and integrated view of information in its many databases. In selecting middleware, SFA has adopted a viable, industry-accepted means for integrating and utilizing its existing data on student loans and grants. To meet its human capital needs, SFA has solicited the help of a private sector "modernization partner" with experience in implementing and managing middleware solutions--particularly in the financial industry--and has also chosen to use a leading middleware software product.