ISAC Student PortalISAC Update
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| ISAC Update |
Welcome to the July 2021 ISAC Update for financial aid administrators and business officers. This version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent through ISAC's e-Messaging service throughout July.
The articles in this Update have been organized according to the FAA subscription groups to which the messages were distributed.
Questions?
Questions regarding information in this ISAC Update 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.
Ready to View – CCE Conference Recordings
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, and FFELP Administrators 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
2021-22 ISAC Administrative Rules Available
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, and Business Officers 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.
Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, and FFELP Administrators 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 students.
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:
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
2020-21 July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021)
2021-22 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022)
July 28: Webinar
The following webinar for financial aid administrators will be offered later this month:
- July 28 at 2 p.m. (CT) – ISAC Operational Update and Review of Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Processing in GAP Access
To participate in this webinar, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library at isac.org to access the webinar link and presentation materials, both of which will be posted on the day of the session. Registration is not required for the webinar.
August 6: MAP Advising Data Due
The 2021 collection period for Monetary Award Program (MAP) Advising data – including advising and support program information and course completion rates – is now open, and data is due on or before Friday, August 6, 2021. As a reminder, both components of the required data are submitted through the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal. Complete information is provided in a June 7 e-Message.
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.
ISAC Student Portal Provides MAP Resources
Encourage your students to visit the ISAC Student Portal to access these helpful resources related to MAP grants:
- MAP Estimator (located in the Toolbox area) – students planning to attend an Illinois college may use this tool to get an idea of their eligibility for the MAP grant, and
- MAP Paid Credit Hours Display (located in the Program Applications & Status Checks area) – MAP grant recipients may use this option to track the number of MAP paid credit hours they have used to date.
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.
Processing Schedules
Although ISAC staff will be unavailable on the days listed above, the MAP system will be available during regularly scheduled hours and will reflect records processed by the Central Processing System (CPS) through the last business day immediately preceding each respective holiday. Results for payment requests submitted from 5 p.m. (CT) the business day prior to the holiday through 5 p.m. (CT) the business day following the holiday will be available via the MAP system on the morning of the second business day after the holiday.
For Assistance
Access the Financial Aid Administrators 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.
August 6: Adjustments to Claims and Benefit Usage Data Due
Adjustments to cancel or reduce previously-submitted MAP claims, as well as Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant and Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) benefit usage data for all terms, will continue to be accepted through (including) Friday, August 6, 2021.
Remember that, due to the MAP payment offset process, only data reconciliation activities should take place until after ISAC has determined that all payment processing is final. At that time, colleges with an outstanding amount owed to ISAC will receive an e-mail notice indicating the total amount to be returned. Until then, no funds should be returned to ISAC.
August 9: Data Available for Historical View Only
Effective Monday, August 9, 2021, data for the 2020-21 processing cycle will be available for historical view only in the GAP Access component for each of the following programs.
As a reminder, reports continue to be available for colleges to access after data has been moved to historical view. However, after submitting adjustments, colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment/Benefits Results Exceptions report that is available the next business day.
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. Be sure to regularly visit the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area, where a "Program News" section for each program provides the most up-to-date information.
Students and borrowers seeking program information may be directed to the "Processing Updates" section of each program within the Grants, Scholarships, and Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs portions of the Students & Parents area.
MAP Recompute Formula
At its June 17, 2021 meeting, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission approved a recompute formula that increases the maximum 2021-22 MAP award from $5,340 to $5,496 and also increases the living allowance from $4,875 to $5,020. Additional details regarding the formula and its implementation are provided via e-Messages dated June 22 and July 6.
Now Available: ING Grant Application and Eligibility Data
The interactive application for the 2021-22 ING Grant Program is available for students to complete and submit online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. 2021-22 ING Grant eligibility data is available in the ING Grant system.
Specific details regarding the ING Grant system, including important reminders and guidelines, are provided at the ING Grant Electronic Processing page.
Now Available: Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers Application
The application for the 2021-22 Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, and Correctional Officers is available for students to access via the Applications page of the Students & Parents area.
ED's DCL GEN-21-05, and Impact on Verification Process for ISAC's Programs
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN-21-05 on July 13, 2021, announcing changes made to the verification process for the 2021-22 award year to provide relief to students challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce barriers to enrollment. For the remainder of the 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) processing and verification cycle, ED is waiving verification requirements for most FAFSA information, except for the identity/statement of educational purpose and high school completion status under verification tracking groups V-4 and V-5.
Consistent with ED's action, and effective July 13, 2021, ISAC is not requiring colleges to complete federal verification for students receiving ISAC program benefits for the 2021-22 award year, and advises schools to follow ED guidance in regard to when verification must be completed. However, colleges are still required to confirm Illinois residency for all students receiving ISAC program benefits for which Illinois residency is a requirement. Further details are provided in a July 16, 2021 e-Message.
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.
Remember that colleges have the ability to make corrections and submit professional judgment adjustments for students who have filed a 2021-22 Alternative Application. Details are provided in a March 23 e-Message.
ISAC creates Alternative Application Student Records for students who complete the Alternative Application. Access the School File Layout Specifications document – which includes Alternative Application Student Record field names, field lengths, and start and end positions for each data element – via the Electronic Tools page of the e-Library for Partners. Also available in the e-Library (in the Partner Training area) is the 2021-22 Operational Guide for Alternative Application Processing.
Continue Certifying Eligibility for MTI Scholarships Throughout the Year
Colleges are encouraged to continue certifying eligibility for 2021-22 MTI Scholars on a daily basis.
As a reminder, the Golden Apple Foundation certifies eligibility for the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program. The college's role for the Golden Apple Scholars program starts with payment processing.
Further details are provided in a May 18 e-Message.
MTI Scholarship Applications Still Being Accepted
The 2021-22 MTI Scholarship Program application continues to be accepted, even though the March 1, 2021 priority consideration date has passed. Complete applications received after that date will be considered for the MTI Program only if funding remains after all applicants whose applications were timely and complete have been awarded. All minority students who meet the program's eligibility requirements should be encouraged to complete and submit the application as soon as possible.
Guidance on the 2021-22 Verification Process for ISAC Programs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, and Business Officers on July 16, 2021.
This message provides guidance regarding verification requirements for ISAC programs following the U.S. Department of Education's’s (ED) July 13th announcement that changes were made to the verification process for the 2021-22 award year to provide relief to students challenged by the pandemic and reduce barriers to enrollment.
According to ED's DCL GEN-21-05, effective July 13, 2021 and for the remainder of the 2021-22 FAFSA processing and verification cycle, ED is waiving verification requirements for most Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) information, except for the identity/statement of educational purpose and high school completion status under verification tracking groups V4 and V5. Institutions may apply the waiver to any applicant selected for verification for whom verification is not yet completed or has not been started. However, the waiver does not exempt institutions from reviewing all documents for conflicting information concerning a student's eligibility, nor does it exempt institutions from resolving student eligibility-related C-codes.
Consistent with ED's action, and effective July 13, 2021, ISAC is not requiring colleges to complete federal verification for students receiving ISAC program benefits for the 2021-22 award year, and advises schools to follow ED guidance in regard to when verification must be completed. However, colleges are still required to confirm Illinois residency for all students receiving ISAC program benefits for which Illinois residency is a requirement.
As a reminder, ISAC rules explain the two components to verification for ISAC programs – one confirms state residency and the other relates to verifying financial need and student eligibility.
From ISAC's General Provisions, Section 2700.50, Determining Applicant Eligibility:
- a) The evaluation of applicant eligibility is the responsibility of both ISAC and the institution.
- e) The institution is required to verify the residency of all applicants to ISAC gift assistance programs for which Illinois residency is a requirement.
- f) For all other eligibility criteria, if the institution has any information that indicates that the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements of ISAC-administered programs or if an applicant is selected for verification in conjunction with federal student assistance, that applicant shall be verified for ISAC-administered programs. A selected applicant must be verified for ISAC programs even if the applicant is ineligible for federal student assistance.
While it is the college's responsibility to ensure that all ISAC program recipients meet the residency requirement, this does not necessarily mean that additional documentation must be collected from every student, and colleges are encouraged to minimize the burden of requesting additional documentation whenever possible. Colleges can rely on the address information in GAP Access to confirm Illinois residency. Address data in GAP Access is provided by an applicant in online ISAC applications and is certified by the student signature. This is considered sufficient as long as there is no known conflicting information. Keep in mind, however, that in all cases, if the financial aid office is aware of or has conflicting information which suggests that a student applicant and/or a dependent student's parent(s) may not be meeting ISAC residency requirements, the financial aid office would want to request additional documentation to confirm residency status.
Guidance for verifying Illinois residency, including examples of situations in which verification is not necessary, is contained in the Illinois Residency and Verification FAQ. A list of acceptable documentation is also available on the site.
In summary, in regard to ISAC programs and the verification process for 2021-22, colleges administering ISAC programs:
- Are not expected to complete the verification process for students who have been selected by ED, with the same exceptions outlined by ED – those for whom you must confirm identity/statement of educational purpose and high school completion status under verification tracking groups V4 and V5;
- Are expected to confirm Illinois residency for ISAC programs that require it;
- Are expected to review documents when there is conflicting information concerning a student's eligibility and resolve student eligibility-related C-codes;
- May continue to accept expired government-issued documentation to confirm Illinois residency until further notice.
2020-21 Year-End Program Updates
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, and Business Officers on July 12, 2021.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).
The following information is being provided to assist colleges with year-end processing for the ISAC-administered programs referenced below.
- All 2020-21 MAP late payment requests (claims) received at ISAC through (including) Thursday, July 8, 2021 have been released for payment and results are now available in the MAP system.
- Information regarding how to access payment results is provided in the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
- ISAC will continue to accept 2020-21 MAP initial claims and increases to previously-submitted claims for all terms through (including) Thursday, July 15, 2021.
- ISAC will notify colleges if sufficient MAP funds remain available to pay late claims submitted through July 15.*
- Adjustments to cancel or reduce previously-submitted MAP claims will continue to be accepted through (including) Friday, August 6, 2021.
- Effective Monday, August 9, 2021, 2020-21 data in the MAP system will become available for historical view only.**
* Continue Reconciling MAP Data to Assist with Analysis of Available Funds
Colleges are encouraged to continue the process of reconciling 2020-21 MAP data, which assists ISAC staff in determining whether sufficient funds will be available to pay additional late claims. Remember, due to the payment offset process, only data reconciliation activities should take place at this time. After ISAC determines that all payment processing is final, colleges with an outstanding amount owed to ISAC will receive an e-mail notice indicating the total amount to be returned. Until then, no funds should be returned to ISAC.
Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program
- The ING Grant system will continue to accept 2020-21 benefit usage data for all terms through (including) Friday, August 6, 2021.
- Effective Monday, August 9, 2021, 2020-21 data in the ING Grant system will become available for historical view only.**
Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program
- The IVG system will continue to accept 2020-21 benefit usage data for all terms through (including) Friday, August 6, 2021.
- Effective Monday, August 9, 2021, 2020-21 data in the IVG system will become available for historical view only.**
** As a reminder, reports continue to be available for colleges to access after data has been moved to historical view. However, after submitting claims or adjustments, colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment/Benefits Results Exceptions report that is available the next business day.
Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers (PFC)
- 2020-21 PFC summer-term payment vouchers are anticipated to be e-mailed to colleges during the week of July 12, 2021.
Still Time to Register – CCE Conference
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, and FFELP Administrators 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 Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, and FFELP Administrators 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
2021-22 MAP Recompute Implemented
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users, and Business Officers on July 6, 2021.
Unless otherwise noted, all links in this message may be accessed via the Financial Aid Administrators area at isac.org.
The following information is being shared by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) in order to assist colleges in the administration of the Monetary Award Program (MAP).
2021-22 MAP Recompute Implemented – MAP System Available
ISAC staff has completed verification of system changes related to implementation of the recompute formula, and the MAP system is again available.
All 2021-22 Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) data received from the Central Processing System (CPS) through (including) Friday (July 2, 2021) is reflected in the MAP system, and we have returned to daily processing of ISIR data.
Online Resources
The 2021-22 MAP Formula section (located in the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area) and the "MAP Estimator" (which may be accessed by students via the Toolbox area of the ISAC Student Portal) have been updated to reflect the recompute formula.
Colleges may also want to visit the Calculating MAP Awards section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area to access the 2021-22 Hand Calculation Forms – Recompute, as well as for instructions on how to calculate awards for semester or quarter terms.
Watch for Future Updates
As updated information becomes available throughout the year, it will be shared with you via our usual methods of communication (i.e., MAP Program News, the FAA Message Board and this e-Messaging service).
Financial Aid 101: Workshops in July
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, and FFELP Administrators on July 2, 2021.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Program Services & Compliance Division is pleased to announce ISAC's upcoming Financial Aid 101 webinar series for new financial aid administrators. The content for the workshops has been transitioned into a series of virtual training sessions that will be offered via Webex in July.
A list of the dates and times for the July Financial Aid 101 sessions is provided below. To allow time for discussion during the sessions, registration will be limited. We will repeat sessions in the future, as needed.
To register for a specific session, click on its corresponding "Register Now" button and then complete the online registration form.
| Session | Description | Date | Time* | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Financial Aid and a Review of ISAC Resources | This session is designed to introduce financial aid professionals to types and sources of financial aid, the guiding principles and processes, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). It will give participants an in-depth overview of the resources offered through ISAC. It will explore the host of tools available on ISAC's website (isac.org). | Monday, July 19, 2021 |
10-11:30 a.m. |  |
| Need Analysis | This session will introduce participants to the general concepts of need analysis and the formulas used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). | Monday, July 19, 2021 |
1-2 p.m. | |
| An Overview of the Monetary Award Program (MAP) | This session will provide an overview of MAP, which is administered by ISAC. Attendees will learn about the eligibility criteria, payment processing and reports on GAP Access. | Tuesday, July 20, 2021 |
10-11 a.m. | |
| Overview of the RISE Act, RISE Act Resources and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid | During this session, participants will learn about the RISE Act eligibility criteria, and the Alternative Application process and other relevant updates. | Tuesday, July 20, 2021 |
1-2 p.m. | |
| An Overview of IVG and ING | This session will provide an overview of IVG and ING, which are administered by ISAC. Attendees will learn about the eligibility criteria, payment processing and reports on GAP Access. | Wednesday, July 21, 2021 |
10-11 a.m. | |
| An Overview of MTI, GA, SETTW, and PFC | This session will provide an overview of the MTI, GA, SETTW, and PFC programs, which are administered by ISAC. Attendees will learn about the eligibility criteria, payment processing and reports available on GAP Access. | Wednesday, July 21, 2021 |
1-2 p.m. | |
| Overview of Loan Repayment Programs | This session will review the types of educational loans available, with a focus on the federal student loan program and state loan repayment options. | Thursday, July 22, 2021 |
10-11 a.m. | |
| GAP Access Programs, Processes and Functionalities and FTP Processing | ISAC's Gift Assistance Programs Access (or GAP Access) is the portal through which online interactions are conducted for the purpose of data inquiries and submissions, eligibility announcements and payment requests for ISAC-administered programs. This session will provide an overview of the processes and functionalities of GAP Access and provide an overview of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) process. | Thursday, July 22, 2021 |
1-2 p.m. | |
* All times Central
2021-22 MAP Recompute to Be Implemented
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users, and Business Officers on July 1, 2021.
Unless otherwise noted, all links in this message may be accessed via the Financial Aid Administrators area at isac.org.
The following information is being shared by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) in order to assist colleges in the administration of the Monetary Award Program (MAP).
2021-22 MAP Recompute Implementation Anticipated for July 6
The 2021-22 MAP recompute formula, which was approved at the June 17, 2021 Commission meeting, is anticipated to be reflected in the MAP system on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
MAP System Temporarily Unavailable Beginning Friday, July 2
In order to prepare the system for the implementation of the 2021-22 recompute formula, the MAP system will be unavailable beginning on Friday morning (July 2, 2021). A follow-up e-Message will be sent when the MAP system is again available and reflecting the 2021-22 recompute formula (anticipated to be around noon on Tuesday, July 6, 2021).
At that time, all 2021-22 Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) data received from the Central Processing System (CPS) through (including) Wednesday, June 30, 2021, will be reflected in the MAP system and daily processing of ISIR data will resume.
Online Resources
The 2021-22 MAP Formula section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area has been updated to reflect the recompute formula, and the "MAP Estimator" (which may be accessed by students via the Toolbox area of the ISAC Student Portal) will soon be updated.
Colleges may also want to visit the Calculating MAP Awards section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area to access the 2021-22 Hand Calculation Forms – Recompute, as well as for instructions on how to calculate awards for semester or quarter terms.
Watch for Future Updates
As updated information becomes available throughout the year, it will be shared with you via our usual methods of communication (i.e., MAP Program News, the FAA Message Board and this e-Messaging service).
June 2021 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on July 1, 2021.
The June 2021 edition of the ISAC Update 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 version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent to financial aid administrators and business officers via ISAC's e-Messaging service over the past month.
Topics covered in the June 2021 ISAC Update include:
- FAFSA Simplification Act Impact on ISAC's Programs Under Review
(sent June 30, 2021) - ISAC Program FY22 Funding – Budget Bill Approved
(sent June 29, 2021) - Don't Miss Out on the 2021 CCE Conference
(sent June 28, 2021) - 2021-22 MAP Recompute Formula Approved
(sent June 22, 2021) - Register Today – 2021 CCE Conference
(sent June 21, 2021) - Reminder: ISAC's Monthly Webinar
(sent June 21, 2021) - Virtual Commission Meeting Thursday, June 17 – Executive Briefing Monday, June 21
(sent June 14, 2021) - Register for the 2021 CCE Conference!
(sent June 10, 2021) - 2020-21 MAP Late Claims
(sent June 9, 2021) - MAP Advising Data Collection Opens – Due August 6
(sent June 7, 2021) - May 2021 Electronic ISAC Update
(sent June 1, 2021)
