ISAC Student PortalISAC Update
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| ISAC Update |
Welcome to the December 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 December.
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.
2021-22 MAP Payment Updates
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users, and Business Officers on December 21, 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 shared to assist colleges in the administration of the 2021-22 Monetary Award Program (MAP).
Payment of All First-Term Claims
As indicated in a December 20 e-Message, ISAC has released the suspense status for eligible applicants whose initial Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid was received from August 27, 2021 forward.
We are pleased to inform you that all first-term payment requests (claims) – including initial claims, increases to previously-submitted claims, claims for awards released from suspense, and late claims – are being paid and will continue to be paid through the second-term priority claim deadline (which will be announced once determined).
Specific details regarding the payment process are provided in the MAP Payment area, as well as in the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
Coming Soon: Second-Term MAP Payment Processing
ISAC anticipates accepting 2021-22 MAP claims for the second term beginning the week of January 3, 2022.
Colleges will be notified when second-term claims may be submitted via the MAP system and File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
Watch for Future Updates
Future MAP updates – including when second-term claims are being accepted, as well as the second-term priority claim deadline – will be shared with colleges via ISAC's standard methods of communication (i.e., the MAP Program News area, the FAA Message Board, and this e-Messaging service).
Release of 2021-22 MAP Suspense
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users, and Business Officers on December 20, 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 shared to assist colleges in the administration of the Monetary Award Program (MAP).
Award Announcements Being Released from Suspense
Since the opening of 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid filing, ISAC staff has been monitoring and analyzing MAP application volume and projected claim rates. As a result of that analysis, the current 2021-22 MAP suspense date of August 27, 2021 was announced earlier this year.
As outlined in a June 29, 2021 e-Message, the fiscal year 2022 (FY22) state operating budget that was signed into law in June includes a MAP appropriation of $479,566,200, which is a $28 million increase over the FY21 MAP appropriation.
With the 2021-22 MAP first-term priority claim deadline having passed on December 10, 2021, and current data analysis reflecting decreases in both application volume and projected claim rates, ISAC is releasing from suspense status the 2021-22 MAP award announcements for students with initial Central Processing System (CPS) FAFSA receipt dates, or initial ISAC Alternative Application receipt dates, from August 27, 2021 forward. These released records may be viewed in the MAP system starting on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Although at this time we are not announcing a date through which suspended awards are being released, we expect to set that date once further analysis of application and claim data has been completed after the first of the year. Students who have not yet filed a financial aid application for the current academic year (2021-22) should still be counseled to do so and may still be awarded MAP.
The 2021-22 MAP Applicant Award Announcement Status Chart has been updated to reflect the release of award announcements in suspense status.
Identifying Student Records – MAP Filter/Report
Colleges will want to identify released student records for a variety of reasons (i.e., file review and repackaging, etc.). The MAP Student List Eligibility: View screen contains filters that allow you to identify those student records.
To identify student records released from suspense, create a list using a date range. For example, you can create a report that identifies students by application receipt date (i.e., the initial FAFSA or Alternative Application receipt date) using the 2021-22 release from suspension dates (August 27, 2021 through the current date) to identify the records in that range.
The filter will also allow the user to create a report of those records that remain in suspense status, once a new suspense date is set.
Further details regarding identifying student records are provided at the Suspension of MAP Award Announcements page (located within the MAP section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area), as well as in the "Student Eligibility" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
A Holiday Wish 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 December 8, 2021.
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) staff wish our college partners a safe and peaceful holiday season.
As we look forward to the start of a new year, we remain committed to serving your college and students by providing access to the information and financial assistance that can help students achieve their educational goals.
Best wishes for a healthy and successful 2022.
ISAC's Holiday Schedule
In observance of the holidays, ISAC staff will be unavailable as indicated below:
Christmas
- After 2 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, December 23, 2021
- Friday, December 24, 2021
New Year's
- After 2 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, December 30, 2021
- Friday, December 31, 2021
Staff will again be available on the first business day immediately following each holiday.
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 announced as unavailable (such as the above dates), staff will review and respond to messages during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT.
Processing Schedules
Click on the following link to access holiday processing schedules for Monetary Award Program (MAP) records.
MAP Records [System Availability (via GAP Access) and Payment Request Data]
Submit 2021-22 Fall Term Claims and Benefit Usage Data
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, and Business Officers on December 3, 2021.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).
Colleges are reminded to submit 2021-22 fall-term payment requests (i.e., claims) and benefit usage data for the following programs as soon as possible, and no later than the applicable deadline dates listed below.
MAP Claims
In order to be considered timely, 2021-22 Monetary Award Program (MAP) fall-term claims must be submitted – either via the MAP system or by File Transfer Protocol (FTP) – on or before Friday, December 10, 2021.
Processing Reminders
- When preparing 2021-22 payment requests, remember that ISAC has suspended the announcement of MAP grants for all students 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 August 27, 2021.
- Be sure to review the Payment Results/Exceptions report in the Reports section of the MAP system the day after submitting payment requests to see which requests, if any, did not process as expected.
Online Resources
More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:
- MAP Electronic Processing (including the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide)
- MAP Program News
- MAP Payment
MTI and Golden Apple Claims
Effective with the 2021-22 payment cycle, and as part of our ongoing efforts to best leverage appropriated funds to award as many eligible students as possible, Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship and Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois priority claim deadline dates are being established for each term.
- The first-term claim deadline date for the 2021-22 MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple programs is Friday, December 10, 2021.
- Colleges are encouraged to submit fall-term claims as soon as they are able to do so.
- Timely submission of payment requests and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC staff to monitor remaining funds and award other students, as applicable.
Processing Reminders:
- Initial payment request records are available online via the MTI and Golden Apple systems.
- MTI and Golden Apple results for payment requests received are available via each program's online system at GAP Access. After vouchers are generated, they are sent via e-mail to financial aid directors.
Online Resources
More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:
- MTI
- MTI Electronic Processing (including the MTI User Guide)
- MTI Program News
- MTI Payment
- Golden Apple
ING Grant and IVG Benefit Usage Data
In order to be considered timely, 2021-22 Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant and 2021-22 Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) fall-term benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Friday, December 31, 2021.
Note: Although 2021-22 IVG benefit usage data for the summer term was due on September 30, 2021, colleges that have not yet done so are encouraged to submit summer-term data as soon as possible.
Processing Reminders
- Benefit usage data for the ING Grant and IVG programs is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within each program's system. Colleges report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data.
- Although ISAC is not able to reimburse institutions for 2021-22 ING Grant or IVG awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
- 160-byte file layout specifications for the 2021-22 ING Grant and IVG programs, describing the file layout to be used to send data for each program via FTP, are available within the Electronic Tools section of the e-Library for Partners.
- Colleges are encouraged to regularly check their Benefits Results report for each program. Further details are provided in the ING Grant and IVG user guides.
Online Resources
More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:
- ING Grant
- IVG
GAP Access Reminders
- Please verify that, for each impacted staff member, the GAP Access Administrator at your college has established the appropriate system access level for all applicable gift assistance programs. Instructions for establishing access to the appropriate system(s) may be found on the GAP Access page.
- The two-factor authentication process requires a valid user ID, password and single-use verification code each time a user logs in to the GAP Access portal.
- A valid GAP Access user ID and password are required in order to submit files via ISAC's Secure File Transfer System (located at https://transfer.isac.org/). As a result, encryption (password protection) of files is not necessary.
- Additional information and instructions are provided in the FTP Process Using GAP Access Credentials Guide.
- Functionality to submit claims and benefit usage data, via systems within the GAP Access portal, is available each day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (CT).
- Requests and data submitted by 7 p.m. (CT) will be included in that night's processing, with results available the next business day.
- Results for requests and data submitted after 7 p.m. (CT) will be included in the following night's processing.
- The disbursement of funds is processed by the State of Illinois Comptroller's Office. Refer to the State Comptroller's Website page, located within the Processes section of the Financial Aid Administrators area, for information on how to track payment.
- Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to the MAP, MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple programs, refund checks should not be sent for cancellations/adjustments made throughout the award year. Funds should only be returned to ISAC after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.
Watch for Future Updates
Future program updates – including details regarding availability and deadline dates for the submission of spring-term claims and data – will be announced via ISAC's usual means of communication (e.g., the FAA Message Board, this e-Messaging system, and/or the MAP, MTI, Golden Apple, ING Grant, and IVG "Program News" pages).
Early Childhood Scholarship Application Launches
Sent to Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs and ECACE Private Institutions on December 3, 2021.
NOTE: If you are not the person at your institution who will be working with the ECACE Scholarship Program, please forward this message to the appropriate colleague(s).
ISAC is pleased to announce the launch of the 2021-22 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program application. This new scholarship program is part of a collaborative effort among numerous Illinois agencies that established the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity through P.A. 102-0174. The goal of the Consortium is to address the shortage of early childhood educators by encouraging the pursuit of credentials and advancement of already-held degrees in early childhood education with an aim towards building a strong, well-prepared workforce.
Scholarship program details – including eligibility requirements – are available on our website, along with a link to the online application. As always, we ask our partners to encourage those who may be interested in applying to learn about the program before completing the application.
Here is a high-level look at some of those details. Be sure to access the information on our site for the complete overview.
Institutional Eligibility
- Community colleges and public universities are automatically considered participating institutions.
- Non-profit private institutions that signed an agreement with the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) are also eligible to participate.
Applicant Eligibility
- Member of "incumbent workforce" – defined as working or having worked in the early childhood field, including family child care and center-based care settings, Preschool for All school-based settings and Head Start, that serve children from birth to age 5 and includes teachers, assistant teachers, directors, family child care providers and assistants.
- Membership in the Gateways to Opportunity® Registry – proof of eligible work position(s) is required and will be verified through the Eligibility Verification Form obtained from the Registry by the applicant.
- Enrollment in an undergraduate course of study leading to either a postsecondary credential or undergraduate degree in the early childhood field or a Professional Educator's License in early childhood education.
- In addition to completing the ECACE application, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) must be filed for the same academic year. The ECACE-participating college the applicant plans to attend must be listed on the FAFSA. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but the FAFSA results (expected family contribution) will be used to prioritize awards among the neediest of applicants.
General Program Information
- Although there is no teaching commitment connected to the award, recipients are expected to continue or return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood care and education field after they complete their program of study.
- Recipients at community colleges and public universities may receive awards to cover the total cost of attendance for the academic year (including summer) after subtracting other financial aid received.
- Recipients at participating non-profit private institutions may receive an amount no more than the cost of the most expensive program of study in the early childhood education field at an Illinois public college.
- The priority consideration date for submitting an ECACE application for the 2021-22 academic year is March 1, 2022. Applications received after that date will be considered if funding remains after all timely, complete qualified applicants have been awarded.
- Navigators based at regional child care centers will be made available to assist applicants with the financial aid and application processes. Applicants will then be "handed off" to a program coach/mentor.
- Institution-based staff will act as program coaches/mentors to support and advise students as they persist in completing their studies.
Our Collaboration Partners
- Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)
- Illinois Community College Board (ICCB)
- Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
- Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS)
- Illinois Network of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)
- Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development
November 2021 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on December 1, 2021.
The November 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 November 2021 ISAC Update include:
- Virtual Commission Meeting Thursday, December 2 – No Executive Briefing
(sent November 24, 2021) - October 2021 Electronic ISAC Update
(sent November 1, 2021)
