Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative System Enhancements

04/17/2026

Dear Colleagues,

As part of our continuous efforts to better support you in guiding students through the financial aid process, we have made two enhancements to the Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative system in the GAP Access portal.

New FAFSA Status Indicator

Often, high school seniors mistakenly file a financial aid application [Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid] for the current academic year instead of their first year of college – for example, a Class of 2026 senior filing an application for 2025-26 rather than 2026-27 – preventing a successful data match in the system.

To address this, a new Incorrect FAFSA Year Filed status has been added to the "FAFSA Status" column in GAP Access, making it easier for counselors to identify and notify those students so they can file the correct application.

Admin Waiver Now Available

The 2025-26 administrative waiver became available in GAP Access on April 1, 2026. This waiver allows school administrators to grant exceptions to students as a last resort when all efforts to assist them in completing a financial aid application or Nonparticipation Form have been exhausted, ensuring students can meet Illinois' graduation requirement without being denied the ability to graduate.

If you have any questions about these enhancements or need assistance logging in to GAP Access, please contact ISAC's Partner Services Department by calling 866.247.2172 or sending an email to [email protected].

You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups for Counselors.

If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an email to [email protected] or calling 866.247.2172.