ISAC Student PortalISAC Communiqué
Volume 33, Number 10C
April 2024
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| ISAC Communiqué |
Welcome to the April 2024 ISAC Communiqué, which is a compilation of e-Messages sent through ISAC's e-Messaging service throughout April.
The articles in this electronic Communiqué have been organized according to the Counselor subscription groups to which the messages were distributed.
Questions?
Questions regarding information in this electronic Communiqué can be directed to School Services at 866.247.2172 or at ISAC.schoolservices@illinois.gov. On occasion, you may be directed to a specific contact person or area; when this occurs, we will provide the appropriate information in the individual article or message.
Join us for a PaCE Half-Day Training!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 30, 2024.
There is still time to register for our half-day training on implementing a Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework at Lincoln Land Community College on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Registration is now open for this event, which is free to attend. Registration will close on May 7.
This training is perfect for those at any level in the process of implementation, who are looking for ideas on how to build a PaCE culture, collect and use data, and work PaCE into their school day. This training will include time to connect with ISAC and work with your team.
For more information and registration details, visit the In-Person PaCE Trainings page. For questions, contact isac.pace@illinois.gov.
Message from the Illinois State Board of Education – FAFSA
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on April 30, 2024.
elow is the content of a letter that was sent last week from Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent of Education, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Note that the ability to indicate a school-granted waiver via a check-box in the GAP Access portal (referenced below) is now available, as is the updated user guide.
Dear Superintendents and High School Principals:
As we near the end of the 2023-24 school year, I want to share with you important information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). As you are all keenly aware, the rollout of the U.S. Department of Education's streamlined FAFSA has been problematic. Although state officials, working with national partners, have shared concerns and constructive feedback with the Department, aspiring students and their families continue to experience problems and delays in determining their federal financial aid eligibility. As a result, despite all your best efforts, Illinois continues to lag in the number of students who have completed the FAFSA—and thus reducing the number of qualified graduates. You can view all Illinois public high schools completion rates on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) webpage. Given the delay in the launch of the FAFSA, as well as the numerous issues that continue to impede many students from successfully filing it, the team at ISBE has been working closely with ISAC to develop an easier method for waivers to be granted by schools for this school year only.
Illinois law requires all Illinois public high school seniors to complete the FAFSA, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, or a Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form (waiver) to graduate. However, there is a provision that allows school administrators to grant waivers due to extenuating circumstances after making a good faith effort to assist a student in filing an application. Waivers should be used only as a last resort. These school-granted waivers must be recorded in the ISAC GAP Access platform no later than July 31 for compliance. ISAC is currently working on making the change in its system to allow the waiver to be granted with a simple check in a box and anticipates that feature to be available by next week. ISAC will update the Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative – Access and Agreement User Guide on the ISAC GAP Access webpage with instructions on how to grant waivers for students on your school's roster.
This means that no student should be denied the ability to graduate this year because of the FAFSA issues that are beyond their control. Any graduating student who has not completed the FAFSA, Alternative Application, or Nonparticipation Form should be granted a waiver.
It is incumbent on all of us to continue our work to have students complete their FAFSA or Alternative Application, so every student can make their postsecondary dreams a reality. ISAC and ISBE staff have gone above and beyond to respond to this challenging FAFSA issue. I encourage you to reach out to ISAC to help you host a FAFSA/financial aid completion workshop for your students. You can submit a request form on ISAC's website. ISACorps members (near-peer mentors) are available in every region of the state and will continue offering help in person or via phone and text through the end of the academic year and into the summer. You can download the FAFSA Completion Communications toolkit to learn about flyers, social media posts, and tips to help encourage students to file their financial aid applications. And ISAC's YouTube channel – especially its financial aid playlist – provides free how-to advice 24/7 in English and Spanish.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tony Sanders
State Superintendent of Education
Close Out the Year with FREE Professional Development from ISAC!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 29, 2024.
We are excited to share the free webinars happening in May. Please share these offerings with colleagues and partners! All webinars below are in Central Daylight Time. To register, visit the Professional Development Calendar.
Professional Development and Continuing Education hours will be available. For questions, contact isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.
The Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative
Join us on Tuesday, May 7, from 11-11:45 a.m. to learn how to access your students' financial aid application completion data through ISAC's Gift Assistance Program (GAP) Access portal. Through this free service to districts and schools, ISAC shares data on a daily basis to identify students who have not filed a financial aid application.
Supporting Students Transition to College
As the academic year concludes, many students face a critical juncture: the transition from high school to college. However, this transition period, often referred to as "summer melt," presents numerous challenges that can hinder students' enrollment in higher education institutions. Join our webinar on Tuesday, May 14, from 11-11:45 a.m. to explore effective strategies for supporting students through this delicate phase.
Act Now to Take Advantage of the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Account Adjustment
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 25, 2024.
Federal Direct Loan and Federal Family Educational Loan (FFEL) borrowers have only one week remaining to learn and take advantage of the IDR Account Adjustment, before it ends next Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
The adjustment is a set of temporary changes that allow federal student loan borrowers to receive credit for certain previously ineligible payments while under an IDR plan and/or pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
This final webinar is available to the public at no cost. During the webinar, we will discuss the different IDR plans, how you can take advantage of the adjustment, and your next steps!
Final Webinar Date: April 29, from 12 – 12:45 p.m.
For registration details, visit the Professional Development Calendar. For questions, contact isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.
Spring into Action with Free ISAC Webinars
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 25, 2024.
This year's delay of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) has had a ripple effect on students, families, counselors, colleges, and many other partners and college access practitioners. Students across the country have not been able to submit, sign, or correct a FAFSA, which also means they have not received a financial aid offer.
Join this call-to-action webinar to learn more about how ISAC can support your students and families with free assistance through the summer and year-round. Learn more about the latest updates to the FAFSA, best practices for navigating the corrections and verification processes, and ISAC resources available to you and your students. Take action to ensure students have the assistance and support they need. To register, visit the Professional Development Calendar. For questions, contact isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.
Webinar Dates
- Thursday, May 2, 1-2 p.m.
- Friday, May 10, 9-10 a.m.
- Tuesday, May 14, 12-1 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 22, 2-3 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 28, 10-11 a.m.
Register Now for the Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Symposium!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 23, 2024.
Don't forget to register for the third annual PaCE Symposium taking place at Elgin Community College on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.! We thank Elgin Community College for their partnership in hosting this event.
Registration will close on Friday, May 3, 2024. Registration for the symposium is $25 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. We encourage folks interested in attending to register in advance.
For more information and to register, visit the PaCE Symposium page. For questions, contact isac.pace@illinois.gov. We look forward to seeing you!
Changes to GAP Access Registration Process
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on April 17, 2024.
Recent changes to the registration and update process for the Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal have made it easier for Primary Administrators to oversee and manage GAP usage by the staff in their offices. These changes are effective immediately.
GAP Access has three levels of authorization, with a single Primary Administrator at each institution who is responsible for determining and authorizing the appropriate level of access for other users (if any) at the school/facility. Other users who can perform program functions within GAP are Administrators, who can grant privileges, reset passwords and update and view applicant records, and Users, who can update and/or view applicant records.
With the streamlining of the process, the Primary Administrator is now able to provide access and assign or update privileges in GAP Access without the need to interact with ISAC. This allows the task to be handled solely within your offices and eliminates any time that may have been involved while waiting for ISAC staff to respond to the request.
Now, when the Primary Administrator receives a request to approve a new user or to update user privileges, the Primary Administrator will complete the necessary steps within the GAP system and finalize the request. System-generated e-mail messages will continue to be automatically sent throughout the process as applicable to the Primary Administrator and/or to institutional staff requesting privileges. Only in the event it is necessary to register a new Primary Administrator or switch the Primary Administrator role to a different staff member, will ISAC staff need to be involved in completing the registration.
Reminder – Password resets can be done through the system by the school or facility without contacting ISAC. Use the "Forgot Password/Forgot USER ID?" link on the User Login page.
The GAP Access User Guides have been updated to reflect the new process and contain step-by-step instructions. The Guides are available through the links below and on the GAP Access page on our website.
Join Us to Learn about the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Account Adjustment
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 17, 2024.
The IDR Account Adjustment will end this month on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. The adjustment is a set of temporary changes that allows federal student loan borrowers to receive credit for certain previously ineligible payments while under an IDR plan and/or pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
We want to make all Federal Direct Loan and Family Federal Education Loan (FEEL) borrowers aware of this opportunity and how to navigate the process! All webinars are in Central Time. For registration details, visit the Professional Development Calendar. For questions, contact isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.
April Webinar Dates:
- Monday, April 22, 10 – 10:45 a.m.
- Wednesday, April 24, 8 – 8:45 a.m.
- Monday, April 29, 12 – 12:45 p.m.
2024-25 Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative is Now Available!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on April 16, 2024.
Effective today (Tuesday, April 16, 2024), the 2024-25 Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative functionality is now available in the Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal! All Illinois senior students at a public high school are required to complete a financial aid application – either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) – as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma.
ISAC's Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative is available to public and private high schools to help identify students who have completed a financial aid application or the financial aid application nonparticipation form (waiver). Completion data for financial aid applications and waivers is available every day in GAP Access.
Operational details are provided in the recently-updated Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative – Access and Agreement User Guide.
Senior Class Rosters for Public and Private High Schools
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides ISAC with all public high school senior class roster information to match with financial aid applications and waivers. Therefore, public high schools do not need to upload their 2024-25 senior class rosters.
Private high schools can now upload their Class of 2024 rosters into GAP Access to have the information matched with completed financial aid applications. Private high schools must complete a Student Record Upload for the Class of 2024 by July 31, 2024.
The Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form
Students and parents can complete the waiver via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of ISAC's Student Portal. A student or parent will need to create a Student Portal account to complete the form. Once the form has been completed, the opt-out box will auto-populate with a check mark next to the student's name in GAP Access.
How ISAC's Training Team Can Help
ISAC provides support and assistance for the Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative and other college-going activities to both students and partners:
- ISACorps members are available to support your outreach activities for students and parents. Submit an Outreach Request Form for your next spring/summer event.
- Learn about training that is offered for professionals through our Professional Development Opportunities web page.
Change of Date and Location for PaCE Half-Day Training
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 16, 2024.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Part One of the PaCE Half-Day Trainings and those registered for Part Two of the PaCE Half-Day Trainings. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we need to change the date and location of the half-day training that was originally scheduled to take place at Shawnee Community College.
Join us for the rescheduled event on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Lincoln Land Community College from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.! We thank Lincoln Land Community College for their continued partnership.
Registration for the May 9 event is NOW OPEN to school counselors, administrators, college and career staff, and others who support students to be college and career ready. The training is free to attend. Registration will close on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
For more information and registration details, visit the In-Person PaCE Trainings page. For questions, contact isac.pace@illinois.gov.
Still Time to Submit Your CCE Conference Proposal
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 9, 2024.
Time is running out to submit an interest session proposal for the 2024 College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference before the priority consideration deadline of Monday, April 15, 2024. One of the things that makes this annual event so valuable to its attendees is the interest sessions developed and led by dedicated educators and professionals like you. We invite you to complete the online session proposal form to showcase the work you do that contributes to student success. Thanks, again, to those of you who have already submitted a proposal.
We encourage proposals covering a wide range of themes related to college access and completion such as, but not limited to: college and career readiness; programs and services for underrepresented students; student wellness and emotional support; student retention, persistence, and completion; career and technical education; education, business, and the economy; and college costs and affordability. Sessions should provide in-depth information, practical ideas, and specific strategies for the audience, and demonstrate and promote positive steps taken to address college access, completion issues, and career readiness and sharing of specific lessons learned. Session proposals should also explain how the information shared contributes to community health. Please complete the online session proposal form on the conference web page, where you'll also find additional event information.
We look forward to seeing you on July 18, 2024, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, Illinois. Registration for the conference will open later this spring.
Please share the information in this e-Message with colleagues in your organization and others in your network.
2024 College Changes Everything Conference Planning Committee
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission
- Illinois Board of Higher Education
- Illinois Community College Board
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Illinois State Board of Education
- Illinois College Access Network
- Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
- Advance Illinois
- Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
- ACT Now
- Women Employed
- iCan Dream Center
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
Helping Illinois reach its Goal 2025: to increase the proportion
of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and
postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025.
Join Us for the Illinois PaCE Symposiums!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 8, 2024.
We are excited to offer the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Symposium at two different locations this year. The symposiums will take place from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (CT) and we look forward to seeing you at one of the two locations!
I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center (Champaign) on Tuesday April 16, 2024
- Registration will close on Friday, April 12, or when full capacity is reached (whichever comes first)
Elgin Community College on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
- Registration will close on Friday, May 3, or when full capacity is reached (whichever comes first)
For more information and to register, visit the PaCE Symposium page. For questions, contact isac.pace@illinois.gov.
Join Us to Learn about the One-Time Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Account Adjustment
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 4, 2024.
learn how you can take advantage of this adjustment!
Less than one month remains for federal student loan borrowers to take advantage of the One-Time IDR Account Adjustment. This adjustment ends on April 30, 2024, don't miss out!
The adjustment is a set of temporary changes that allows federal student loan borrowers to receive credit for certain previously ineligible payments while under an IDR plan and/or pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
We want to make all Federal Direct Loan and Family Federal Education Loan (FEEL) borrowers aware of this opportunity and how to navigate the process! All webinars are in Central Time. For registration details, visit the Professional Development Calendar. For questions, contact isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.
April Webinar Dates:
- Tuesday, April 9, 12 – 12:45 p.m.
- Monday, April 22, 10 – 10:45 a.m.
- Wednesday, April 24, 8 – 8:45 a.m.
- Monday, April 29, 12 – 12:45 p.m.
Deadline Extended – Submit Your Proposal
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 3, 2024.
In an effort to be responsive to the level of interest from participants, we are extending our priority consideration date to submit interest session proposals to Monday, April 15, 2024. We hope this will give those who require it additional time to finalize their proposals for the conference. Please complete the online session proposal form, which – along with more information about interest session submission – is available on the conference webpage. We also want to acknowledge the people who have already submitted their interest session proposal. Thanks so much to you all!
As a reminder, the annual College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference gathers a wide range of participants, and we encourage proposals that cover a wide range of themes related to college access and completion such as, but not limited to: college and career readiness; student retention, persistence, and completion; education, business, and the economy; and college costs and affordability. Sessions should provide in-depth information, practical ideas, and specific strategies for the audience, and demonstrate and promote positive steps taken to address college access, completion issues, and career readiness and sharing of specific lessons learned. Session proposals should also explain how the information shared contributes to community health. You're invited to complete the online session proposal form on the conference web page, where you'll also find additional event information.
We look forward to seeing you on July 18, 2024, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, Illinois. Registration for the conference will open later this spring.
Please share the information in this e-Message with colleagues in your organization and others in your network.
2024 College Changes Everything Conference Planning Committee
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission
- Illinois Board of Higher Education
- Illinois Community College Board
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Illinois State Board of Education
- Illinois College Access Network
- Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
- Advance Illinois
- Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
- ACT Now
- Women Employed
- iCan Dream Center
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
Helping Illinois reach its Goal 2025: to increase the proportion
of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and
postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025.
Do You Send Paper Transcripts? Make the Switch to Electronic, It's Easy!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, and Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants on April 3, 2024.
Don't forget to register and join ISAC for a webinar
to hear about this great opportunity!
The ISAC Transcript Exchange is available for free to all
Illinois public and private high schools!
The ISAC Transcript Exchange, powered by Parchment, provides the opportunity for high school students to request that their transcripts and other credentials be sent electronically to the college(s) of their choice, the Common App, and other organizations requesting transcripts (e.g., scholarship providers and third-party verifications).
The ISAC Transcript Exchange – Parchment Preview
Join us on Tuesday, April 9, from 10-10:45 a.m. (CT) to learn how the ISAC Transcript Exchange benefits high schools across the state of Illinois, take advantage of efficiencies by switching from paper to electronic transcripts, hear an overview of the student and administrator experiences, and discover how to navigate the student and admin dashboards. You will also hear from a School Counselor on how the Transcript Exchange has made an impact on their school and students. There will be an opportunity to have your questions answered directly from a Parchment representative.
To register, visit the Professional Development Calendar. For questions on ISAC's Transcript Exchange, contact Lenore.Smith@illinois.gov.
Note: ISAC will not be offering Continuing Education credits or Professional Development hours for this webinar.
Don't Forget to Register for Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Training Opportunities
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on April 2, 2024.
Don't forget to register for the half-day training on learning how to successfully implement a PaCE Framework! This training is free to attend. We look forward to seeing you at one of two locations:
- University of St. Francis (Joliet) – Thursday, April 11, 2024, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Shawnee Community College (Ullin) – Thursday, April 18, 2024, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Registration will close on Tuesday, April 9 for the University of St. Francis location.
Registration will close on Tuesday, April 16 for the Shawnee Community College location.
For more information and registration details, visit the In-Person PaCE Trainings page. For questions, contact isac.pace@illinois.gov.
March 2024 ISAC Communiqué
Sent on April 1, 2024.
The March 2024 edition of the ISAC Communiqué is now available for your review, and may be accessed via the Partner e-Messages & Newsletters section of the e-Library for Partners at isac.org. This electronic version of ISAC's newsletter is a compilation of information provided to Counselor partners via ISAC's e-Messaging service over the past month.
Topics covered in the March 2024 ISAC Communiqué include:
- Attend the Very First Illinois National College Fair!
(sent March 29, 2024) - Spring into FREE Professional Development Webinars in April!
(sent March 26, 2024) - Don't Forget – Submit Your CCE Conference Proposal
(sent March 25, 2024) - Registration Open for the 2024 PaCE Symposium
(sent March 25, 2024) - First Gen Symposium Session Materials Are Now Posted!
(sent March 22, 2024) - Join Us for a Half-Day Training on PaCE Implementation
(sent March 21, 2024) - 2024 CCE Conference: Save the Date & Call for Proposals
(sent March 18, 2024) - Do You Send Paper Transcripts? Make the Switch to Electronic, It's Easy!
(sent March 14, 2024) - Discontinuation of Authy Desktop Application – Mobile App Now Required for GAP Two-Factor Authentication
(sent March 12, 2024) - Don't Forget to Submit a Session Proposal for the 2024 Illinois PaCE Symposium!
(sent March 12, 2024) - Join Us to Learn about the One-Time Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Account Adjustment
(sent March 6, 2024) - February 2024 ISAC Communiqué
(sent March 1, 2024)
Encourage Your Colleagues to Sign Up for e-Messaging
ISAC's e-Messaging service is our primary means of communicating information to Counselor partners.
Encourage your colleagues who have not done so to subscribe through the Counselors e-Messaging sign-up page at isac.org today, so that they won't miss future announcements or updates from ISAC.
