JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2024-25 MAP Suspense Date: August 21, 2024

08/15/2024

Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).

2024-25 MAP Suspense Date: August 21, 2024

ISAC is suspending the announcement of 2024-25 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for applicants whose initial 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the FAFSA Processing System (FPS), or whose initial Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) is received by ISAC, on or after Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Beginning as early as Thursday, August 22, 2024, MAP records in suspense status will:

  • be reflected in the MAP system;
  • show on the appropriate screens and reports; and,
  • appear in the MAP Eligibility File Extraction.

Application Volume and Projected Claim Rates Being Monitored

ISAC staff began to monitor and analyze MAP application volume and projected payment request (i.e., claim) rates as soon as 2024-25 FAFSA and Alternative Application filing commenced. Current data analysis indicates that the suspension of 2024-25 MAP award announcements is necessary at this time in an effort to avoid overcommitting the program's available funding.

ISAC staff will continue to monitor MAP application volume and claim rates. If future analysis indicates that a partial release of awards from suspense status is viable (i.e., if additional grants can be offered), we will communicate that information to the financial aid community as it becomes available.

Students Still Encouraged to Apply

We continue to encourage students who are contemplating college this fall to complete a FAFSA or, for eligible undocumented students, the Alternative Application. MAP-eligible students who complete an application on or after August 21, 2024 will be put on a waiting list for MAP funding, and if ISAC were to determine that additional grants could be offered, they would be announced based on the order in which the applications were received. Students who meet the eligibility requirements for federal Pell Grants can still receive that funding for fall, and there may be other ISAC grant and scholarship programs, as well as those provided by institutions, that continue to have funding available. Free assistance in completing the FAFSA or Alternative Application is available from ISAC by booking a one-on-one virtual session at https://www.isac.org/connect, or students can set up an in-person session with their local ISACorps member at https://studentportal.isac.org/isacorps.

2024-25 MAP Applicant Award Announcement Status Chart

The 2024-25 MAP Applicant Award Announcement Status Chart provides an overview of categories for students based on the initial application receipt date.

Student Award Announcements

Colleges must suspend announcements of MAP awards to applicants whose initial 2024-25 application (FAFSA and Alternative Application) receipt date is on or after Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Please note that ISAC is not notifying affected applicants that their awards have been placed in suspense status. Colleges are advised to follow their own policies and procedures regarding communicating announcement information to students with suspended awards.

Identifying Records in Suspense Status

MAP records in suspense status will be indicated by a MAP Suspend Code of "S" (S = New application received after the suspense date will not be considered for an award this year) in the MAP system and in the MAP Eligibility File Extraction. The MAP system contains filters that will allow you to identify student records and create a report of those records placed in suspense status.

Check ISAC's Website Periodically for Updates

As new information becomes available throughout the year – including the start of the payment processing cycle, which is anticipated by the end of August 2024 – ISAC will continue to update the MAP Program News page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section, which may be accessed via the Financial Aid Administrators area. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status of the program.

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If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact ISAC's School Services Department by calling toll free at 866.247.2172 or sending an e-mail message to [email protected].