ISAC Student PortalISAC Communiqué
Volume 31, Number 1C
September 2021
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| High School Counselors/Teachers | |
| College Admissions Counselors | |
| ISAC Communiqué |
Welcome to the September 2021 electronic ISAC Communiqué, which is a quarterly compilation of e-Messages sent through ISAC's e-Messaging service throughout July, August and September.
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.
Registration Open for FAFSA Symposium
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on September 15, 2021.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to announce registration for the 3rd annual FAFSA Symposium is now open! The FAFSA Symposium will take place virtually on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at no cost to counselors, mentors, and members of the public.
The FAFSA Symposium provides an opportunity for schools to share best practices for supporting students in completing the FAFSA and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Topics covered in this year's symposium will address the following themes:
- Navigating financial aid application completion amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
- Collaborating and leveraging partnerships to improve financial aid application completion
- Innovative strategies for increasing financial aid application completion
- Resources to support financial aid application completion
This event will provide practitioners the opportunity to strengthen student support around financial aid application completion and highlight FAFSA completion efforts across the state. The symposium agenda and registration for the sessions is found on the FAFSA Symposium website. Registration is free but required.
For questions about the FAFSA Symposium, contact the Professional Development staff at isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.
Processing Update for 2022-23 State Scholars (Impacting High School Graduating Class of 2022)
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on September 10, 2021.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).
As indicated in a July 14 e-Message and following a one-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, an early announcement option for the State Scholar Program (SSP) is again available this year. The purpose of today's message is to provide details regarding the early announcement process.
You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section:
| Sixth Semester Data Due on or before November 5 Online and Batch Submission Now Available |
| Early Announcement Processing Data Processing Has Begun; Early Announcements Begin by Late September |
| Corrections |
| Obtaining Certificates of Achievement |
| Illinois State Scholar Badges |
| Appeals |
| Looking Ahead: Final Announcements |
Sixth Semester Data Due on or before November 5
In order to ensure qualified students are included when determining 2022-23 State Scholars, be sure to submit sixth semester data as soon as possible – and, no later than Friday, November 5, 2021.
Sixth semester is defined as the third semester prior to graduation, which is typically the end of a student's junior year (excluding summer term). The following procedures remain in effect for this year's cycle:
- if a school ranks, unweighted rankings should be provided;
- if a school does not rank, unweighted grade point averages (GPAs) must be provided;
- weighted rankings and GPAs cannot be accepted; and,
- schools are required to submit data for the entire class and to include any applicable disqualification codes.
If your high school's sixth semester data has already been successfully submitted (i.e., a confirmation e-mail was received from ISAC's School Services Department), proceed to the Early Announcement Processing section, below.
High schools that still must submit sixth semester data may choose from two available options: the online process, or in batches (via Excel spreadsheets).
Online Process – Now Available
- Student sixth semester data may be provided online via the SSP system.
- The student list is provided based on students who took one of the standardized tests (ACT or SAT).
- Step-by-step instructions for the online SSP system, including sample screen prints, are provided via the SSP Online Processing User Guide, which may be accessed via the GAP Access page.
- An Illinois SSP Sixth Semester Academic Information Request form must be completed and submitted by the high school for any student who should be considered for SSP designation but does not appear on the online SSP system. The form may also be used to notify ISAC of issues that require exceptions processing (i.e., if duplicate student records appear on the online SSP system).
Batches (via Excel Spreadsheets) – Remains Available
- Create an Excel spreadsheet with your students' sixth semester data.
- Formatting specifications for the Excel spreadsheet, along with a SSP File Upload User Guide, may be accessed via the Methods to Submit Sixth Semester Data area of the Required Sixth Semester Data page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section.
- A sample template is available by selecting the "Guidelines and Samples" tab from the SSP: File Upload screen in the SSP system.
- Once the Excel spreadsheet is ready to submit, log in to the GAP Access portal to access the SSP system, and then follow the on-screen prompts to upload your file to ISAC.
- After the file has been uploaded, the file validation process will begin.
- The validation process will take several minutes (5 minutes minimum), so allow enough time and then click the "Refresh" button to check if the validation is complete.
- After validation has completed, the file will have one of two statuses: "Validated" (no errors); or, "Validation Errors Found" (with errors).
- If the file status is "Validated," no further action is required.
- If the file status is "Validation Errors Found," the errors must be corrected before any students on the file can be considered for State Scholar designation. Instructions for correcting errors are provided in the SSP File Upload User Guide.
- Sixth semester data processing has begun, and ISAC anticipates the first round of early announcements being made in mid- to late-September of 2021.
- High schools choose whether to include their eligible students for consideration in the early processing cycle.
- Checking the "Run Selection" box (located on the "State Scholar Program: Search By School: Results" screen of the SSP system) allows the high school's students to be included for consideration in the next round of 2022-23 State Scholar announcements.
- For high schools that submit sixth semester data via an Excel spreadsheet, the "Run Selection" checkbox becomes available to check after ISAC has processed the file and resolved any discrepancies.
- An e-mail is sent to the high school's Primary Administrator (principal) and the School Contact (as listed in the SSP system's "State Scholar Program: Search by School: Results" screen) to indicate when the "Run Selection" box is available to check.
- Before checking the box, be sure to review all submitted student data for accuracy.
- For high schools that use the online process, the "Run Selection" box will be available immediately. The school simply needs to check the "Run Selection" box once the final sixth semester data has been submitted.
- Students whose high schools submit sixth semester data, but are not included for consideration in an early announcement round (i.e., the "Run Selection" box is not checked), will be considered for State Scholar designation when the last announcement round takes place in late fall.
- Individual congratulatory letters will be sent based on when a student is announced as a State Scholar.
- As 2022-23 State Scholars are named, congratulatory letters will be mailed directly to Scholars.
- If your school does not choose to participate in the early announcement process, congratulatory letters will be mailed directly to your Scholars after the final round of announcements takes place in late fall.
- Using the option for obtaining Certificates of Achievement, high schools participating in the early announcement process will be able to print certificates as soon as their Scholars have been named, rather than waiting for the final round of announcements.
- High schools may generate the "Finalists" report in the SSP system after their State Scholars have been announced.
- Once a high school's 2022-23 State Scholars have been announced, corrections to already-submitted data would need to be submitted as follows:
- Changes (for example, correcting the spelling of a name, or reporting that a student was designated as a State Scholar in error) must be submitted in writing to ISAC's School Services Department via a fax to 847.831.8549, via an e-mail to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov, or via regular mail to our Deerfield address.
Obtaining Certificates of Achievement
Rather than waiting for the final round of announcements to take place in late fall, high schools have the option of downloading and printing Certificates of Achievement as soon as their Scholars have been named.
- Instructions for downloading and printing Certificates of Achievement are provided in the SSP Online Processing User Guide.
- Schools that do not choose to download and print their own certificates may instead wait for ISAC to mail printed Certificates of Achievement to them after the final round of announcements takes place.
- High schools that download their own certificates will not receive the ISAC-printed Certificates of Achievements later this fall.
Included in the congratulatory letter is information regarding a digital Illinois State Scholar badge issued by ISAC. The badge can be displayed on a State Scholar's online profiles and social media accounts, and shared with high school counselors, prospective colleges, employers, family members and others. Scholars may access their badges by visiting the ISAC Student Portal at isac.org/studentportal/badge and then following the on-screen prompts. Complete instructions are available via at the ISAC website.
Validating a Badge
Those with whom a Scholar shares their badge may wish to validate its authenticity. In order for them to do so, the Scholar will need to provide either a link (URL) to the badge or the badge ID.
- If the link (URL) has been provided: click on the link, which will launch the Badge Verification screen. The badge ID will automatically be populated, so they only need to click on "Check Badge ID."
- To verify a badge without the link (URL): the person will need to access the State Scholar Program Badge area (located within the Toolbox section of the ISAC Student Portal), click on "Badge Verification," enter the Scholar's badge ID, and then click on "Check Badge ID."
A validated badge will display "Badge ID is valid for: (FIRST NAME) (LAST NAME)."
- If a high school counselor feels that a student should have been designated as a State Scholar and was not, ISAC must receive a letter of appeal from the student and/or high school on or before the appeal deadline.
- The deadline for 2022-23 State Scholar appeals will be determined, and all appeals will be considered, after all Scholars have been announced (anticipated for late fall).
- Details regarding the appeals process are provided at the Appeals page of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area.
- As you counsel students or parents with questions regarding the selection process, you may choose to share with them the student's GPA or class rank data that the high school submitted to ISAC, and explain how that information factors into the eligibility formula. An updated "Formula Used to Determine State Scholar Eligibility" resource will soon be available to access via the State Scholar Program page that is located within the Before College area of the Students & Parents section, under College and Career Exploration and Planning.
Looking Ahead: Final Announcements
- A listing of all 2022-23 State Scholars will be available at ISAC's website after the final round of announcements has been completed in late fall.
- A sample press release, which can further assist schools in announcing State Scholars, also will be provided at the ISAC website after final announcements have been made.
Postsecondary & Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework Webinars
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on September 9, 2021.
This July marked the fifth year since the PaCE Framework was adopted by the state's education agencies. While there is no mandate on schools to adopt PaCE, the Illinois PaCE Framework offers schools a tool for structuring their college and career readiness efforts to ensure that students have the information needed to make the most informed decision possible about life after high school.
The framework is organized around three key areas:
- Career Exploration and Development,
- Financial Aid and Literacy, and
- Postsecondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection
ISAC's Professional Development team is pleased to announce the PaCE Virtual Offerings for this fall. The PaCE Overview provides background on how PaCE came to be and explains how schools/districts can adopt Illinois PaCE or develop a customized framework to fit their schools' needs. The PaCE Implementation Leader Training provides an in-depth understanding of the PaCE implementation process and supports to implement an Illinois PaCE Framework or customized Framework.
All webinars are offered at no cost to counselors, school administrations, and members of the public. Registration is required, but space is limited. For the most up-to-date schedule and to register for one of the webinars, visit our website at www.isac.org/pace/webinars.
ISAC offers Continuing Education (CE) credits and Professional Development (PD) hours to participants at a rate of one per contact hour. To earn these, it is necessary to attend the webinar in its entirety and complete an ISAC evaluation form. To receive PD hours, an additional evaluation from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) must be completed and submitted along with an Illinois Educator Identification Number (EIN).
The Professional Development team offers schools/districts the opportunity to customize their own PaCE Framework through a virtual PaCE Framework Development Workshop. The Professional Development team offers PaCE Implementation Support sessions. These sessions are available to schools/districts that would like support in implementing a framework.
Visit our PaCE Support and Training page to learn more about the Illinois PaCE Framework and our PaCE Support options.
For questions, contact the Professional Development team at isac.pace@illinois.gov.
State Scholar Candidates Must Take Standardized College Exam – Alert Your Junior Students
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on September 7, 2021.
As conversations are taking place around the topic of the use of college entrance exams – including the passage of P.A. 102-0054, which, effective January 1, 2022, prohibits Illinois' public institutions from requiring the submission of student test scores as part of the admissions process – we'd like to take this opportunity to remind high school counselors of State Scholar Program eligibility requirements and how they impact your students.
Regardless of whether Illinois colleges use standardized test scores in their admissions decisions, your junior students who are potential State Scholar candidates will still need to take one of the accepted exams during the specified timeframe to be considered for State Scholar designation.
According to ISAC rules, one of the program eligibility requirements is that a student must take either the ACT or SAT exam between August 1 and June 30 during the third and fourth semester prior to high school graduation (typically the student's junior year). For 2023-24 State Scholars (students who will be college freshmen in the fall of 2023), those tests need to be completed between August 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
Because this issue has generated questions, and knowing your students' families may be starting to make decisions about whether and when to take the exam(s), we've prepared a short template that can be used to communicate with your students. The below language can be used as is or can be adapted to better fit the needs of your school.
Template for communication with students
Welcome back to school! With the start of your junior year, one of the opportunities available to you is the chance to be considered for State Scholar designation. The State Scholar Program recognizes students for outstanding academic achievement and is a prestigious honorary award for your academic resume. Approximately the top ten percent of graduates from Illinois high schools are announced as State Scholars each year.
Even though some colleges do not require an SAT or ACT exam for admission, the exam is required if you want to be considered as a State Scholar. You don't need to complete an application for the State Scholar Program – selection is based on a combination of your SAT or ACT exam scores and your sixth semester class rank. Exams need to be taken between now and June 30, 2022 to be considered for the designation, so start thinking about scheduling yours.
See the staff in the ____________ office to get more information about the State Scholar Program and this year's SAT and ACT exams.
2021-2022 Professional Development Webinars
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on August 31, 2021.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to announce the Professional Development (PD) webinar series for this fall. Webinar sessions will be offered from September through December. For the most up-to-date schedule and to register for one of the webinars, please visit our website at www.isac.org/pd/webinars.
To assist you in helping your students with the financial aid process and staying current on the state and federal programs, ISAC offers comprehensive professional development opportunities for counselors, mentors, and community partners through a series of training webinars. These webinar trainings give professionals a detailed understanding of the financial aid process by covering a wide array of topics, ranging from applying for financial aid to understanding the verification process and working with unique student populations.
Plan to participate in one or several of these opportunities offered by ISAC's Division of Capacity Development & Training. All webinars are offered at no cost to counselors, mentors, and members of the public. Registration is required, but space is limited. For additional information about ISAC's professional development offerings and upcoming webinars, visit our website at www.isac.org/pd.
ISAC offers Continuing Education (CE) credits and Professional Development (PD) hours to participants at a rate of one per contact hour. To earn these, it is necessary to attend the webinar in its entirety and complete an ISAC evaluation form. To receive PD hours, an additional evaluation from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) must be completed and submitted along with an Illinois Educator Identification Number (EIN).
For questions about ISAC's professional development opportunities or webinar series, please contact isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.
Selective Service Requirement Removed from ISAC's Rules
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, and Community Organizations on August 27, 2021.
In connection with the U.S. Department of Education's early implementation of the portion of the FAFSA Simplification Act that removed the Selective Service registration requirement for receipt of federal student aid, ISAC Administrative Rules have been revised to reflect the same change.
Effective August 16, 2021, the requirement that each applicant must comply with Selective Service requirements as stated in federal regulations was deleted from ISAC's rules (General Provisions, Section 2700.40(i), General Applicant Eligibility Requirements). We are in the process of updating resource information, including program pages on the website, and will revise application documents and other operational material as necessary as we move through the processing year.
In light of this change, moving forward, ISAC's programs will no longer include Selective Service registration as an eligibility requirement, and application processing will not include a check for Selective Service status, nor will an applicant be deemed ineligible due to failure to register for Selective Service.
2021-22 MAP Suspense Date: August 27, 2021
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers August 23, 2021.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).
ISAC is suspending the announcement of 2021-22 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for applicants whose initial 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the Central Processing System (CPS), or whose initial Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is received by ISAC, on or after Friday, August 27, 2021.
Each year, once projections indicate that the demand is close to exceeding the anticipated availability of limited MAP dollars, ISAC suspends award announcements. However, any 2021 high school graduates with whom you may be in contact should still be encouraged to submit a FAFSA or Alternative Application prior to August 27 if they plan to be enrolled in college for the 2021-22 academic year.
- Every year, there are students who do not use their MAP awards and – if appropriated dollars remain after all eligible recipients who completed an application prior to the suspense date have received their awards – those who file on or after August 27 and meet the MAP eligibility requirements may have an opportunity to receive those unused dollars. If this occurs, eligible students who complete their FAFSA or Alternative Application earliest will receive first consideration.
- FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for other forms of federal, state and institutional assistance.
- The suspension of 2021-22 MAP award announcements does not impact any other financial aid programs.
In addition, encourage your college-bound students and their families to visit the Students & Parents area at isac.org for information regarding the financial aid process.
ISAC Transcript Exchange – Back to School Webinars
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, and Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants on August 18, 2021.
It's that time of year again – back to school season! As staff and students are heading back to school, we want to remind you that the ISAC Transcript Exchange, through our partnership with Parchment, enables the electronic exchange of transcript information for Illinois students. The Parchment K12 team is offering an online webinar on two different dates to cover topics that will benefit you and your learners to help start the new school year successfully. The session will provide a refresher of Parchment features, updates on the newest product enhancements, tips for communicating with your students about transcripts and the Parchment platform, and additional resources, training, and support. Click on the date and time below to register for a webinar that best fits your schedule. If you register for a webinar and are unable to attend it, Parchment will send you a recording of the session.
- August 26th at 12 p.m. Central Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time)
- September 14th at 10 a.m. Central Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time)
If you're not familiar with the ISAC Transcript Exchange, the service provides the opportunity for high school students to request that transcripts be sent electronically to the college(s) of their choice and to other organizations requesting transcripts (e.g., scholarships providers). Through the ISAC Transcript Exchange, Illinois high schools are able to use the Parchment electronic service at no cost. Current students are able to request that transcripts be sent electronically to destinations free of charge. Alumni are also able to use Parchment for transcript requests that includes a transcript fee. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of transcript data, documents are sent through a secure transcript service in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
If your school is not currently taking advantage of the ISAC Transcript Exchange and you would like to learn more about the service, please contact Lenore Smith from ISAC at Lenore.Smith@illinois.gov.
Ready to View – CCE Conference Recordings
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on July 28, 2021.
Session Recordings and Presentations Available
On behalf of the Conference Planning Committee, we want to thank the over 1,000 attendees and session speakers who participated in the 2021 College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference to examine and discuss issues related to this year's conference theme: Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the Success of All Learners. Interest session recordings and presentation files from the virtual conference are now available on the 2021 CCE conference website.
While we miss the in-person interactions that have grown to be a key part of the conference, we are pleased that we were still able to come together online to share information and resources from state and national experts that can help you in your work in supporting student success. The conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders to explore the short and long-term outcomes of our policies, programs, and structures as we strive to meet the needs of all learners and to help them contribute to stronger communities and a more inclusive workforce and economy. The conference also supports the state's Goal 2025 – to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high quality degrees and postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025.
Note: If you registered and attended the online conference via the Whova platform, you can still access the Whova conference web app for up to three months and the Whova conference mobile app for up to six months after the conference.
2021 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 State Board of Education
- Illinois College Access Network
- Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
- Advance Illinois
- Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
- Generations Serving Generations
- ACT Now
- Women Employed
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and
postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025
Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on July 22, 2021.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make you aware of the following information, which may be of interest to you and/or your college-bound students and their families.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at ISAC's website (isac.org).
You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section:
2022-23 (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023)
2021-22 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022)
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
State Scholar Processing Update
Submit Sixth Semester Data
A July 14 e-Message announces that sixth semester data, which will be used to determine State Scholar designation for Illinois students who will be college freshmen during the 2022-23 academic year, is being accepted via the State Scholar component of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal.
The option to submit sixth semester data in batches (via Excel spreadsheets) is available now, and the online process is anticipated for early September.
Following a one-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the early announcement option is again being offered this processing cycle.
GAP Access Reminders
- High schools choosing to participate in the State Scholar Program process must be registered to utilize GAP Access.
- Information regarding how to register for GAP Access is provided via the Required Sixth Semester Data page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section.
- Each time a user logs in to the GAP Access portal, the two-factor authentication process requires the use of a one-time verification code – which is obtained through an application – in conjunction with a user ID and password.
- Please report any changes in your school's administration (i.e., new principal) to ISAC.
- In keeping with the goal of securing all confidential data, the principal of each high school is designated as that school's GAP Access Primary Administrator.
- While we understand principals are not usually involved in the day to day processes, we do require the school principal to register for their own GAP Access account.
Watch for additional updates – including availability of the online option to provide/review individual records, and scheduling of the first round of early announcements – via the standard communication methods (i.e., the Counselor Message Board, the State Scholar Program News section, and ISAC's e-Messaging service). Processing updates will also be communicated via a yellow highlighted box that appears on the "State Scholar Program: Search By School: Results" screen.
September 29: FAFSA® Symposium
Mark your calendar for ISAC's 3rd annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium, taking place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. Further details regarding this virtual event, which is offered free of charge, are provided in a May 27 e-Message.
State Budget
The Illinois General Assembly passed a fiscal year 2022 (FY22) state budget in late May, and it was signed into law by the governor in late June. With the exception of MAP – for which the approved 2021-22 appropriation is $479,566,200, reflecting an increase of more than $28.2 million over the FY21 appropriation – the FY22 budget provides ISAC-administered programs and services with funding that is essentially level to FY21 amounts.
ISAC FY22 program operations are expected to again experience a "business as usual" processing environment. As such, we will continue to provide partners with updates and operational details regarding each of our programs as we proceed through the year.
College-bound students and their parents may visit the Grants and Scholarships portions of the Students & Parents area, where a "Processing Updates" section for each program provides families with the most up-to-date information.
FAFSA Still Available
The 2021-22 FAFSA is still available online, and – if not already done – should be completed and submitted as soon as possible by students who will be attending college between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for several forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance, including the Illinois MAP grant.
Details regarding the 2021-22 application cycle may be accessed by counselors and other professionals via the Applying for Financial Aid section of the e-Library for Partners.
Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid Available
Undocumented students meeting the criteria of the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity (RISE) Act may file the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid – which is patterned after the FAFSA and available in English and Spanish – to apply for the MAP grant. Further details are provided at ISAC's RISE Act page.
Every Monday: New FAFSA Completion Initiative Match Data Available
Beginning with the 2020-21 academic year (i.e., high school graduating class of 2021), all Illinois public high school students are required to complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. ISAC's FAFSA Completion Initiative is a resource that can help high schools monitor their students' compliance with this mandate.
The FAFSA Completion Initiative matches student lists of participating high schools against FAFSA and Alternative Application records. New 2021-22 match data is available weekly, on Monday mornings.
Principals that have not already done so can sign up their respective high school for participation in ISAC's FAFSA Completion Initiative through our automated system at the GAP Access portal.
September 16: Next Commission Meeting
The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, September 16, 2021. Further details, including a listing of tentative agenda items, will be available prior to the meeting via the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area.
Visit the Commission Meeting Schedule page for information regarding all meetings scheduled in 2021.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Monday, September 6 – Labor Day
- Monday, October 11 – Columbus Day
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
For Assistance
Access the Counselors area anytime, or send an e-mail message to ISAC's School Services Department. With the exception of days when ISAC staff members are unavailable, we will review and respond to messages during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT.
State Scholar Processing Has Begun
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers and College Admission Counselors on July 14, 2021.
Unless otherwise noted, all links in this message may be accessed via the Counselors area at isac.org.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is providing the following information to notify high schools that processing for the State Scholar Program (SSP), for Illinois students who will be college freshmen during the 2022-23 academic year, has begun.
You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section:
| ISAC Accepting Sixth Semester Data |
| Early Announcement Option |
| Watch for Further Updates |
ISAC Accepting Sixth Semester Data
The sixth semester data used to determine State Scholars must be submitted via the SSP system. Although you are submitting the sixth semester data now, we will not "process" the student data until early fall.
- For information regarding how to register for GAP Access, visit the Required Sixth Semester Data page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section.
- Already registered for GAP Access? Now is the perfect time to verify that the principal and SSP contact information listed for your high school in the SSP system is current. If any updates need to be made, please contact ISAC's School Services Department.
- Remember that two-factor authentication is required for both School User and Administrator accounts every time a user logs in to the GAP Access portal. Refer to the GAP Access Two-Factor Authentication User Guide for instructions.
High schools are encouraged to submit their data as soon as they are able to do so.
Sixth semester is defined as the third semester prior to graduation, which is typically the end of a student's junior year (excluding summer term). The following procedures remain in effect for this year's cycle:
- if a school ranks, unweighted rankings should be provided;
- if a school does not rank, unweighted grade point averages (GPAs) must be provided;
- weighted rankings and GPAs cannot be accepted; and,
- schools are required to submit data for the entire class and to include any applicable disqualification codes.
High schools may choose from two options when submitting the required sixth semester data:
Option One: Batches (via Excel Spreadsheets) – AVAILABLE NOW
- Create an Excel spreadsheet with your students' sixth semester data. All data files must be formatted according to the specifications provided by ISAC.
- Formatting specifications for the Excel spreadsheet, along with a SSP File Upload User Guide, may be accessed via the Methods to Submit Sixth Semester Data area of the Required Sixth Semester Data page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section.
- A sample template is available by selecting the "Guidelines and Samples" tab from the SSP: File Upload screen in the SSP system.
- When the Excel spreadsheet is ready to submit, log in to the GAP Access portal to access the SSP system, and then follow the on-screen prompts to upload your file to ISAC.
- Once the file has been uploaded, the file validation process will begin.
- The validation process will take several minutes (5 minutes minimum), so allow enough time and then click the "Refresh" button to check if the validation is complete.
- After validation has completed, the file will have one of two statuses: "Validated" (no errors); or, "Validation Errors Found" (with errors).
- If the file status is "Validated," no further action is required.
- If the file status is "Validation Errors Found," the errors must be corrected before any students on the file can be considered for State Scholar designation. Instructions for correcting errors are provided in the SSP File Upload User Guide.
- Note that file validation is different from data processing. Validation simply verifies that all records in the file are are complete (no missing fields) and formatted correctly. You will be notified later in the year when the data processing cycle, during which State Scholars are named, begins.
Option Two: Online Process – ANTICIPATED FOR EARLY SEPTEMBER
- Once this function is available, student sixth semester data may be provided online via the SSP system. The student list is provided based on students who took one of the standardized tests (ACT or SAT).
Following a one-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the early announcement option is again being offered this processing cycle. After an announcement schedule has been determined, early announcements – which allow eligible students to be designated as State Scholars prior to the final round of announcements for the academic year – will begin later this year. A follow-up e-Message will be sent once the first round of early announcements has been scheduled (anticipated for early September).
- Scholars at high schools choosing to take advantage of early announcements may have more opportunities to list this honorary designation on applications for college admission and merit-based scholarships.
- High schools will choose whether to include their eligible students for consideration in the early processing cycle.
- Checking the "Run Selection" box (located on the "State Scholar Program: Search By School: Results" screen of the SSP system) allows the high school's students to be included for consideration in the next round of 2022-23 State Scholar announcements.
- The "Run Selection" checkbox will become available to check after ISAC has processed the high school's Excel spreadsheet and resolved any discrepancies.
- An e-mail will be sent to the high school's Primary Administrator (principal) and the School Contact (as listed in the SSP system's "State Scholar Program: Search By School: Results" screen) to indicate when the "Run Selection" box is available to check.
- Before checking the box, be sure to review all submitted student data for accuracy.
- Students whose high schools submit sixth semester data, but are not included for consideration in an early announcement round (i.e., the "Run Selection" box is not checked), will be considered for State Scholar designation when the last announcement round takes place later in the academic year (anticipated for the fall).
Watch for additional updates – including availability of the online option to provide/review individual records, and scheduling of the first round of early announcements – via the standard communication methods (i.e., the Counselor Message Board, the State Scholar Program News section, and ISAC's e-Messaging service). Processing updates will also be communicated via a yellow highlighted box that appears on the "State Scholar Program: Search By School: Results" screen.
Still Time to Register – CCE Conference
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on July 12, 2021.
July 12-16, 2021
Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Belonging for the Success of All Learners
While the conference starts this morning at 10 a.m., it's not too late to register now to join your colleagues for a full week of sessions on hot topics, trends, and emerging issues about student college access and success and career readiness, including these three plenary sessions:
- Monday, July 12th (10 a.m.) – Conference Kick Off and State Agency Panel: Educating During the Pandemic
- Tuesday, July 13th (1 p.m.) – Higher Education Strategic Plan for a Thriving Illinois
- Wednesday, July 14th (1 p.m.) – Keynote Panel: Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the Success of All Learners
After you register you can set up your Whova event platform account to build your own conference schedule and to interact and engage with other attendees via community board topics, Network Tables (speed networking sessions), and other interactive features. If you've already registered, we encourage you to download the Whova mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can learn more on how to use Whova to attend the event, connect with other participants, and join the live streams, which will be delivered via Webex, by visiting the Whova Attendee User Guide.
Register now and join stakeholders from across the state to share and learn how we can work together better in helping students achieve success and our state reach its Goal 2025.
2021 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 State Board of Education
- Illinois College Access Network
- Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
- Advance Illinois
- Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
- Generations Serving Generations
- ACT Now
- Women Employed
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and
postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025
Get Ready! CCE Conference Starts Next Week
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on July 6, 2021.
July 12-16, 2021
Still Time to Register
Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Belonging for the Success of All Learners
If you have not already registered for the conference, register now to join colleagues working to help students access postsecondary education, ensure degree or credential attainment, and support career readiness. You can learn more about the conference at the conference website.
If you are already registered, be sure to log into the Whova conference platform before the conference starts and set up your account to engage with other attendees and make participating in the conference as smooth as possible. Review the full conference agenda and session descriptions ahead of time so you can build your personal schedule with the "My Agenda" feature and block off your calendar for your sessions. While reviewing the more than 50 interest sessions with speakers who will motivate and inspire you, be sure to add the three plenary sessions to your schedule:
- Monday, July 12th – Conference Kick Off and State Agency Panel: Educating During the Pandemic
- Tuesday, July 13th – Illinois Higher Education Strategic Plan: Next Steps
- Wednesday, July 14th – Keynote Panel: Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the Success of All Learners
In addition to accessing the conference through the desktop/laptop platform, we encourage you to download the Whova mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can learn more on how to use Whova to attend the event, interact with other participants, and join the live streams, which will be delivered via Webex, by visiting the Whova Attendee User Guide.
Register now so you don't miss out on this important college access and success and career readiness conference. We look forward to engaging with you online!
2021 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 State Board of Education
- Illinois College Access Network
- Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
- Advance Illinois
- Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
- Generations Serving Generations
- ACT Now
- Women Employed
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and
postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025
HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS/TEACHERS
2022-23 MAP Start-up Formula Approved
Sent on September 21, 2021.
The following highlights some of the agenda items included at the September 16, 2021 meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and any action taken. A listing of the agenda items is provided in the September 16 Agenda Book, which can be accessed from the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area of ISAC's website.
FY2023 (2022-23 Academic Year) MAP Start-up Formula Approved – Agenda Item 5
Because the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY2023) state budget process has not yet begun, when developing the proposed start-up formula, staff assumed that the Monetary Award Program (MAP) will receive $479.5 million, which is level with the FY2022 appropriation. Following the FY2022 recompute formula, staff recommended and the Commission approved using a living allowance of $5,020 for 2022-23 academic year MAP grants, with a maximum award of $5,496. The approved start-up formula is outlined in the MAP section within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area of the website.
Encourage Students to Submit 2022-23 FAFSA® or Alternative Application after October 1
Given the likelihood that 2022-23 MAP award announcements will need to be suspended at some point during the processing cycle, high schools are reminded to encourage college-bound students to submit the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid as soon as possible after the applications become available on October 1, 2021.
Additional Items
The following additional items were presented to and approved by the Commission:
- 2022 Meeting Dates – Agenda Item 1
- Proposed Administrative Rules Amendments – Agenda Item 6
Next Meeting
The next Commission meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 2, 2021.
2021-22 ISAC Administrative Rules Available
Sent on July 27, 2021.
The 2021-22 ISAC Administrative Rules, effective July 1, 2021 for the 2021-22 academic year, are now available for reference at the ISAC website. The rules are accessible in two locations:
- in the e-Library of isac.org, by clicking on #4, Administrative Rules, and
- in the About ISAC area of isac.org, by clicking on Administrative Rules.
The online rules are posted in two formats: alphabetical by program and by program type/topic.
Amendments were made to nine Parts this year: General Provisions, Grant Programs for Dependents of Correctional Officers, Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers, Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Grant Program for Exonerees, John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program, Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program, Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program and AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.
While most of the amendments were of an administrative nature, more substantive changes were made to these areas.
- Amendments were made to General Provisions (Part 2700) to clarify guidance for the use of consortium and contractual agreements between colleges, and concurrent registration. The revisions mirror federal guidance to the extent possible and remove the requirement that agreements between colleges be submitted to ISAC for approval.
- Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program (Part 2763) and Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program (Part 2764) – for both programs, text was added stating that ISAC will establish priority claim dates for the submission of payment requests each year. This change was made to gain the ability to complete second and subsequent awarding rounds earlier in the academic year. Additionally, in an effort to reduce the number and dollar amount of awards that may convert to loans due to non-fulfillment of teaching obligations, the awarding order for each program was changed so that, rather than MTI or Golden Apple, the Monetary Award Program (MAP) is now the first payer.
- AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program (Part 2766) – clarifications were made to the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and matching requirements, as a result of state legislation (P.A. 101-0654) passed earlier this spring.
June 2021 ISAC Communiqué
Sent on July 1, 2021.
The latest 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 quarter.
Topics covered in this electronic Communiqué include:
- Don't Miss Out on the 2021 CCE Conference
(sent June 28, 2021) - Register Today – 2021 CCE Conference
(sent June 21, 2021) - Register for the 2021 CCE Conference!
(sent June 10, 2021) - Save the Date & Call for Proposals – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium
(sent May 27, 2021) - Parchment Connect Virtual Events
(sent May 25, 2021) - Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
(sent May 20, 2021) - Professional Development Webinar Recordings
(sent May 17, 2021) - Results of Entrance Exams Taken through December 31, 2020 Included for 2021-22 State Scholar Consideration
(sent May 3, 2021) - ISAC Transcript Exchange Final Transcript Processing Best Practices
(sent April 14, 2021) - 2021-22 State Scholar Announcements
(sent April 12, 2021) - Illinois Postsecondary Profiles Tool Added to ISAC Website
(sent April 6, 2021) - ISAC Transcript Exchange Final Transcript Processing Best Practices
(sent April 5, 2021) - March 2021 ISAC Communiqué
(sent April 1, 2021)
Electronic newsletters are available at the beginning of each quarter (January, April, July, and October), and are the compilation of information announced via an e-Message to any of the Counselor subscription groups during the previous quarter.
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.
