JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

ISAC Update

VOL. 40, NO. 3F
September 2022

Messages sent to:   Multiple Subscription Groups
ISAC Update

Welcome to the September 2022 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 September.

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.

MULTIPLE SUBSCRIPTION GROUPS

Join us for Wednesday's Webinar
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators and MAP Users on September 26, 2022.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will provide an Operational and Program Update Webinar for financial aid administrators (FAAs) on Wednesday, September 28 at 2 p.m., and will also include a review of the 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the 2023-24 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, and the 2023-24 Monetary Award Program (MAP) Start-Up Formula.

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, and any specific topics or questions you would like a webinar to address may be submitted via e-mail to Kimberly.Eck@illinois.gov prior to the session.

2023-24 MAP Start-up Formula Approved
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users and Business Officers on September 23, 2022.

The following highlights some of the agenda items included at the September 22, 2022 meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and any action taken. A listing of the agenda items is provided in the September 22 Agenda Book, which can be accessed from the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area of ISAC's website.

FY24 (2023-24 Academic Year) MAP Start-up Formula Approved – Agenda Item 4

Because the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24) state budget process has not yet begun, when developing the proposed start-up formula, staff assumed that the Monetary Award Program (MAP) will receive $601.5 million, which is level with the FY23 appropriation. Following the FY23 recompute formula, staff recommended and the Commission approved using 2021-22 reported tuition and fees and the 2021-22 Pell Grant Payment Schedule for 2023-24 academic year MAP grants, with a maximum award of $7,200. The approved start-up formula is outlined in the MAP section within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area of the website.

Operational details regarding implementation of the FY24 MAP start-up formula will be communicated in a future e-Message.

Encourage Students to Submit 2023-24 FAFSA® or Alternative Application after October 1

Although decreasing application volume and higher appropriations have resulted in fewer awards left in suspense status in recent years, colleges should still encourage students to submit the 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as soon as possible after the applications become available on October 1, 2022. MAP eligibility being expanded to include credit bearing short-term certificate programs at public schools, the FAFSA mandate for high school seniors, and – at the federal level – early implementation of some issues related to FAFSA Simplification are all factors that will be monitored by ISAC staff to determine their impact on application volume and appropriated funds.

Continue to watch our established methods of communication, including the MAP Program News area and the FAA Message Board, for operational updates throughout the year.

2023-24 Priority Deadline Date for Returning MAP Recipients – December 1, 2022

The 2023-24 priority deadline date by which returning MAP recipients are to submit their FAFSA or Alternative Application in order to receive priority access to appropriated funds is December 1, 2022 (through and including). Returning recipients are students who received MAP funds during the previous academic year (i.e., for 2023-24 grants, students who received MAP during the 2022-23 academic year). All MAP eligibility requirements must continue to be met.

Additional Items

The following additional items were presented to and approved by the Commission:

Next Meeting

The next Commission meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

Reminder: Join ISAC for free Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Webinars
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers and ECACE Administrators on September 20, 2022.

This is a reminder that there are now less than two months remaining for federal student loan borrowers to take advantage of the temporary changes to the PSLF Program. These temporary changes end on October 31, 2022; don't miss out!

Over 175,000 public service employees across the country have received loan forgiveness under the PSLF Program and the temporary changes. Here in Illinois, over 6,000 public service employees have received loan forgiveness!

If you want to learn more about PSLF and the new temporary changes, or if you have applied for PSLF and been denied, these webinars are for you. In each webinar, we will discuss the existing PSLF Program and the new Limited Waiver for PSLF that will allow borrowers to receive credit for payments that previously did not qualify for PSLF.

Remaining September Webinar Dates:

Wednesday, September 21, 5-6 p.m. (CT)
Monday, September 26, 1-2 p.m. (CT)

Learn more and register: https://www.isac.org/pslf. For questions on the webinars, contact the Professional Development team at isac.pslf@illinois.gov.

Virtual Commission Meeting Thursday, September 22 - Executive Briefing Friday, September 23
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users and Business Officers on September 19, 2022.

The next regular meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will be conducted via videoconference and will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 22.

Some of the items on the tentative agenda for the meeting are:

  • FY24 Monetary Award Program (MAP) start-up formula
  • Proposed and emergency administrative program rules and amendments
  • College Illinois!® Prepaid Tuition Program investment and program updates

The Agenda Book, providing the complete listing of agenda items, is posted on the 2022 Agenda Books page. Instructions for connecting to the meeting via WebEx, including the WebEx link, are available on the Commission Meeting Schedule page. Both pages are located within the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area of isac.org. The online Agenda Book will be updated within 1-2 days following the meeting to reflect action taken.

Executive Briefing Conference Call – Friday, September 23

An Executive Briefing conference call is scheduled for Friday, September 23 from 11 a.m. to noon for institutional financial aid staff. Executive Director Eric Zarnikow and ISAC staff will provide information about activity that took place at the Commission meeting and other ISAC updates.

On the day of the briefing, you can gain access through the below link/information, or by visiting the Partner Training page pf the e-Library, where access will also be available.

For the audio portion, click on the Audio tab at the top of the page and select one of the available options:

  • For toll-free participation, select the "Call Me" option, enter your phone number, and you will be called. (This is the recommended option.)
  • For "Use computer audio" you will need to have a microphone to be able to interact with the briefing. Without a microphone, you will be in listen-only mode.
  • The "Call in" option is not a toll-free number, however, if you are not able to participate through the provided link and the "Call Me" option, but would like to participate only by phone, you can use this toll number: +1-415-655-0002 (USA Toll) and access code 806 754 783.

2022-23 MTI and Golden Apple Payment
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on September 15, 2022.

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

This message provides information regarding the 2022-23 payment cycle for the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program and the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program.

2022-23 MTI & Golden Apple First-Term Payment Requests Being Accepted

Initial payment request records are now available online via the MTI and Golden Apple systems, allowing 2022-23 payment processing to commence for these programs.

Submit First-Term Payment Requests

The first-term payment request deadline date for the 2022-23 MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple programs will be announced once determined.

  • Colleges are always encouraged to submit payment requests as soon as they are able to do so.
  • The timely submission of payment requests and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC staff to monitor remaining funds and award other students, as applicable.

Processing Reminders

  • By submitting a Golden Apple payment request, the institution is certifying that the Scholar is enrolled and continues to meet all eligibility requirements.
    • If not submitting a payment request, the institution reports the reason for the student's ineligibility.
  • The Golden Apple payment request process includes colleges providing each Scholar's academic level (e.g., Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior) via the "Academic Level" field.
    • As stated in a September 7 e-Message, verification of the "Year in Program" value is part of the initial certification process completed by the Golden Apple Foundation.
    • Each Golden Apple recipient's maximum annual award amount is based on the number of years that they have been a Golden Apple Scholar (i.e., "Year in Program"), not their academic level in college.
  • Submitting MTI and Golden Apple payment requests is a two-step process, which involves generating the request (either individually or in a batch) and then submitting the request.
  • MTI and Golden Apple results for payment requests received are provided via each program's online system (within the GAP Access portal).
    • After submitting payment requests, colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report that is available the next business day.
    • Voucher data is sent via e-mail to financial aid directors as it becomes available.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State of Illinois Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to MTI and Golden Apple, 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.

Available Resources

More information regarding online payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations on ISAC's website:

MTI

Golden Apple

GAP Access Reminders

  • Please verify that the GAP Access Administrator at your college has established the appropriate MTI and Golden Apple system access level for all impacted staff.
    • Instructions for establishing access to the appropriate system(s) may be found on the GAP Access page.
  • Payment functionality is available each day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (CT).
    • Payment requests submitted by 7 p.m. (CT) will be included in that night's processing, with payment results available the next business day.
    • Results for payment requests submitted after 7 p.m. (CT) will be included in the following night's processing.

Watch for Future Updates

Future program updates – including the first-term payment request deadline for the MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple programs, once determined – will be announced via ISAC's usual means of communication (e.g., the FAA Message Board, this e-Messaging system, and/or the MTI and Golden Apple "Program News" pages).

Join ISAC for Free Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Webinars
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers and ECACE Administrators on September 7, 2022.

There are only two months remaining for federal student loan borrowers to take advantage of the temporary changes to the PSLF Program. These temporary changes end on October 31, 2022; don't miss out!

Over 175,000 public service employees across the country have received loan forgiveness under the PSLF Program and the temporary changes. Here in Illinois, over 6,000 public service employees have received loan forgiveness!

If you want to learn more about PSLF and the new temporary changes, or if you have applied for PSLF and been denied, these webinars are for you. In each webinar, we will discuss the existing PSLF Program and the new Limited Waiver for PSLF that will allow borrowers to receive credit for payments that previously did not qualify for PSLF.

September Webinar Dates:

Friday, September 9, 1-2 p.m. (CT)
Thursday, September 15, 8-9 a.m. (CT)
Wednesday, September 21, 5-6 p.m. (CT)
Monday, September 26, 1-2 p.m. (CT)

Learn more and register: https://www.isac.org/pslf. For questions on the webinars, contact the Professional Development team at isac.pslf@illinois.gov.

2022-23 Golden Apple Eligibility Data
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on September 7, 2022.

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 Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program.

Student Records Available to View in the Golden Apple System

Effective immediately, colleges may view a listing of their institution's potential 2022-23 Golden Apple Scholars, as reported by the Golden Apple Foundation, via the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen within the Golden Apple system.

Reminders

  • Student eligibility is certified by the Golden Apple Foundation, rather than by the college.
  • Once a student has been certified as eligible by the Golden Apple Foundation, their award will immediately appear on the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen within the Golden Apple system.
  • To assist colleges as they administer the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program on their campuses, "Eligible Indicators" are available in the system.
  • Each recipient's maximum annual award amount is based on the number of years that they have been a Golden Apple Scholar, rather than their academic level in college.
    • The "Year in Program" column of the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen represents the number of years that a student has been a Golden Apple Scholar (for example, records for Scholars receiving their first award this year will have a value of "1" in the "Year in Program" field).
      • Values that the Golden Apple Foundation may provide for the "Year in Program" field are as follows:

        1 = 1st year as a Golden Apple Scholar
        2 = 2nd year as a Golden Apple Scholar
        3 = 3rd year as a Golden Apple Scholar
        4 = 4th year as a Golden Apple Scholar
        5 = 5th year as a Golden Apple Scholar

    • When payment processing begins in September, the "Academic Level" field on the "Payment Requests" screen will be available for colleges to provide each Scholar's academic level (e.g., Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior).
  • All users need a valid GAP Access ID and password to access the Golden Apple system.
    • ISAC relies on a designated Primary Administrator (usually, the financial aid director) at each institution to authorize users and provide them with the appropriate level of access for each ISAC program, including Golden Apple.
    • Further details may be found in the GAP Access User Guides, and questions may be directed to ISAC's School Services Department.

Resources Available Online

Resources regarding this program are available in the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area.

The Golden Apple User Guide may be accessed via the Golden Apple Electronic Processing page of the FAA – Processes area.

Watch for Future Updates

Future updates – including details regarding payment processing for 2022-23 Golden Apple Scholars (which is anticipated to take place by the end of September) – will be shared via the usual means of communication (i.e., the FAA Message Board, the Golden Apple Program News page, and/or ISAC's e-Messaging system).

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ISAC UPDATE

August 2022 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on September 1, 2022.

The August 2022 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 August 2022 ISAC Update include:

  • 2022-23 Program Updates: MAP Payment, IVG Benefit Usage, and MTI Awarding
    (sent August 31, 2022)
  • 2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium – One Week Left to Register!
    (sent August 25, 2022)
  • 2022-23 ECACE Scholarship Updates: Payment Implementation and Prequalification Reminders
    (sent August 19, 2022)
  • College Course Materials Task Force Upcoming Meeting
    (sent August 19, 2022)
  • 2022-23 IVG & ING Grant Benefit Usage Functionality Now Available
    (sent August 18, 2022)
  • 2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium – Call for Proposals Extended & Two Weeks Left to Register!
    (sent August 16, 2022)
  • Join ISAC for Free Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Webinars
    (sent August 9, 2022)
  • Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
    (sent August 4, 2022)
  • 2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium – Registration Open & Call for Proposals
    (sent August 3, 2022)
  • July 2022 Electronic ISAC Update
    (sent August 1, 2022)

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