JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

ISAC Update

VOL. 40, NO. 7F
January 2023

Messages sent to:   Multiple Subscription Groups
  ISAC Update

Welcome to the January 2023 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 January.

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

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 ECACE Administrators on January 30, 2023.

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:

2023-24 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024)

2022-23 (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023)

General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)

2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR

March 1: Illinois SETTW Application Deadline

Remind your students who plan to pursue a career in teaching that March 1, 2023 is the priority application consideration date for the 2023-24 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program. In order to complete the online application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).

Complete applications received after March 1 will be considered only if available tuition waivers remain after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.

March 31: MTI Scholarship Application Deadline

Remind your students who plan to pursue a career in teaching that March 31, 2023 is the priority application consideration date for the 2023-24 Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program. In order to complete the online application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).

In addition to the MTI application, a 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (if applicable) must also be submitted by March 31.

Complete applications – including the 2023-24 FAFSA (or Alternative Application, if applicable) – received after March 31 will be considered only if MTI funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded. All minority students and qualified bilingual minority applicants who meet the program's eligibility requirements should be encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

2023-24 FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available

The 2023-24 FAFSA remains 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, 2023 and June 30, 2024. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for several forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance, including the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant.

In addition, the 2023-24 Alternative Application is also available (in English and Spanish). Qualifying undocumented students may file the Alternative Application – which is patterned after the FAFSA – to apply for the MAP grant. Further details are provided at ISAC's Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act page.

2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR

Adopted Rules and Amendments Effective January 5, 2023

Adopted rules and amendments to ISAC's Administrative Rules in General Provisions (Part 2700) and MAP (Part 2735) were effective January 5, 2023. These amendments accommodate the expansion of MAP eligibility to students enrolled in short-term, credit-bearing certificate programs.

Also effective January 5 were the rules for the administration of the new Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program.

These rules and amendments replace emergency rules and amendments that had been in effect since August 8, 2022.

February 24: Second-term Priority Claim Deadline for ECACE, Golden Apple, and MTI

ISAC is accepting spring-term claims for the 2022-23 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship, MTI Scholarship, and Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Golden Apple) programs. The second-term priority claim deadline for these programs is Friday, February 24, 2023.

In addition, even though each program's priority claim deadline of December 30, 2022 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay first-term claims.

Further details are provided in a January 9 e-Message.

Continue Certifying MTI Eligibility

Continue using the MTI system to certify eligibility throughout the year, in order to ensure that your students will be included in any rounds of awarding that take place. Details regarding the certification process are provided in a May 11 e-Message.

February 28: Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program Application Deadline

February 28, 2023 is the priority application consideration date for the 2022-23 Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program. 2022-23 awards will cover all terms of the 2022-23 academic year (fall 2022, spring 2023, and summer 2023) for which the applicant is eligible and enrolled.

Complete online applications received after February 28 will be considered only if funds remain after all timely complete applicants have been awarded. Students who meet the program's eligibility requirements should be encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

March 1: Spring-Term Application Deadline for ING Grant

Remind your students that March 1, 2023 is the spring- and summer-term application deadline for the 2022-23 Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program. Students may access the online application via the Interactive Applications (Apply Online) section of the Applications page. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer term only awards.

March 1: Spring-Term Application Deadline for Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers

Remind your students that March 1, 2023 is the spring- and summer-term award deadline for the 2022-23 Grant Program for Dependents of Police, Fire, and Correctional Officers. Students may access the application via the Downloadable Applications (Printable PDF) section of the Applications page. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer term only awards.

March 10: MAP First- and Second-term Claims Due

In order to be considered timely, the following 2022-23 MAP payment requests (claims) must be submitted no later than 7 p.m. (CT) on Friday, March 10, 2023.

  • For second term:
    • initial claims, and
    • increases to previously-submitted claims.
  • For first term:
    • initial claims,
    • increases to previously-submitted claims, and
    • late claims (i.e., claims submitted after December 9, 2022).

Further details are provided in a December 21 e-Message. You will be notified via ISAC's usual communication methods (i.e., the MAP Program News page, the FAA Message Board, and this e-Messaging service) regarding any future 2022-23 MAP updates.

Continue Submitting Benefit Usage Data for ING Grant and IVG

ISAC is accepting spring-term benefit usage data for the 2022-23 ING Grant and Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) programs.

Deadline dates are as follows:

  • ING Grant data for the spring term is due Friday, April 7, 2023.
  • IVG data for the spring term is due Friday, May 26, 2023.
  • Even though the summer- (for the IVG Program) and fall-term (for the IVG and ING Grant programs) deadline dates have passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.

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, allowing colleges to 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 2022-23 ING Grant or IVG awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.

Further details are provided in a January 9 e-Message.

ECACE Scholarship Application Remains Available

The application for the 2022-23 ECACE Scholarship Program remains available. Although the priority consideration date for the 2022-23 application was July 15, 2022, untimely applications (i.e., those received after the priority consideration date) will continue to be considered for as long as funding remains available after all timely, qualified applicants have been awarded. Encourage students to complete and submit the application process – which also includes the 2022-23 FAFSA – as soon as possible.

2022-23 FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available

Students who are enrolled for the 2022-23 academic year but have not yet submitted their FAFSA (or, if applicable, Alternative Application) should be encouraged to do so as soon as possible. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial assistance.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Upcoming Webinars

Mark your calendar for these upcoming "ISAC Operational Update and Program News" webinars:

  • February 22 at 2 p.m. (CT)
  • March 29 at 2 p.m. (CT)

Further details, including instructions for participating in the webinars, are provided in a January 17 e-Message.

March 3: Priority Consideration Date for 2023 CCE Conference Interest Session Proposals

Mark your calendar for the 2023 College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference, an in-person event taking place on July 13, 2023 at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

Proposals for conference interest sessions are now being accepted. Complete session proposal forms that are submitted online by Friday, March 3, 2023 will receive priority consideration.

Further details are provided in a January 20 e-Message.

March 8: Illinois Education and Career Success Network Conference

If you've not yet done so, be sure to register for the 10th annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network Conference, taking place March 8, 2023, at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois. This one day, in-person conference will deliver an array of high-quality content and interactive opportunities centered on advancing equitable postsecondary attainment. Further details are provided in a January 25 e-Message.

March 13-15: ILASFAA Annual Conference

Mark your calendar for the upcoming Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA) annual conference. ILASFAA Perks will be an in-person event that takes place March 13-15, 2023 at the iHotel Illinois Conference Center in Champaign. For the latest updates, visit the ILASFAA website (ilasfaa.org).

April 13: Next Commission Meeting

The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 13, 2023. 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 2023.

Holiday Schedules

ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:

  • Monday, February 13, 2023 – Lincoln's Birthday
  • Monday, February 20, 2023 – Presidents' 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, all systems for ISAC-administered programs within the GAP Access portal (including 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 MAP 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).

Don't Delay – Register for Success Network Conference
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on January 25, 2023.

2023 Success Network Conference



10th Annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network Conference

March 8, 2023 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois

Don't Delay! Register Today!

Success Network Conference: Accelerating Equitable Success

If you haven't registered for the 10th annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network Conference, don't delay! Register today! This one day conference will deliver an array of high-quality content and interactive opportunities centered on advancing equitable postsecondary attainment. Join us in person as we celebrate our 10th anniversary as a Network, honoring the work our Leadership Communities have accomplished this past decade and looking toward a shared vision for the future. The conference registration fee is $35. Visit the conference website to view the full agenda and register for the conference.

We're pleased to announce a new breakout session – "Beyond the Pandemic: Learning Renewal and More Initiatives Supporting Our Students" – featuring a panel of state education leaders from the Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and a representative from the office of Governor JB Pritzker. This session will highlight learning renewal efforts and other student-centric initiatives taking place across the state and the resources available to help engage and support students.

Be sure to join us for our closing plenary, a conversation with state education and workforce leaders: Andy Manar, Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy; Martin Torres, Deputy Governor for Education; and Robin Steans, President of Advance Illinois.

Consultancy Protocol

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in one of the five interactive peer learning workshops listed below:

  • College and Career Pathway Endorsements
  • Dual Credit
  • Learning Renewal
  • Work-Based Learning
  • Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework

10th Anniversary Celebration

Conference attendees are invited to join us for a special reception in honor of our 10th anniversary on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 5 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn. Light appetizers will be served. Reservations are required; there is no additional cost for conference attendees.

Hotel Room Block

Limited hotel rooms are available at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn. We encourage you to reserve your room today to secure the discounted rate. The group code is ESCNIU.

If you have questions about the conference, please send an e-mail message to ISAC's Sam Nelson (Sam.Nelson@illinois.gov) or Ana Moya (Ana.Moya@illinois.gov).

The Illinois Education and Career Success Network (formerly the Illinois 60 by 2025 Network) is a growing network of communities in Illinois that are committed to advancing equitable postsecondary attainment. The Network was launched and is organized by: Advance Illinois, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems), and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

2023 CCE Conference: Save the Date & Call for Proposals
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers ECACE Administrators and NESP Schools on January 20, 2023.

2023 College Changes Everything Conference

Back in person July 13, 2023

2023 CCE Conference – DEIA: The Work We Need to Do

We hope you will join us for the 13th annual College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference live and in person on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, Illinois. The annual conference is the state's preeminent college access and success and career readiness event. Diverse stakeholders work together and learn from each other to help Illinois reach its Goal 2025 – to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025.

Since the first CCE conference, equity has been an underlying tenet of this annual convening as it brings together caring professionals who want to ensure all students have opportunities for college access and success and are career ready. As we continue to emerge from the global pandemic that disrupted the lives of our students and the way in which we support and serve them, it's vital we take this opportunity to examine and assess how we are doing in regards to our collective work around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) – e.g., what has been working and why; what hasn't worked and why not; what changes did the pandemic bring we want to keep. Why wait for another global event to push our DEIA work forward? Conference participants will have the opportunity for collaborative engagement where we draw upon each other's expertise, experience, and wisdom to contribute to a peer-to-peer learning environment.

Call for Proposals: Due March 3, 2023

We invite you to help make this conference a valuable professional development experience by submitting a conference interest session proposal. Please click here to access the session proposal form online, or it is also available via the conference website. Presenting at the CCE conference is a terrific way to support and engage in active learning with colleagues, share your knowledge and stories with a diverse audience, and enrich your own professional growth.

As the conference draws a broad group of professionals and stakeholders, we welcome proposals that cover a wide range of topics related to college access and completion and career readiness. Such topics might include and are not limited to: college and career readiness; student retention, persistence, and completion; programs and services for underrepresented students; educational equity; student wellness and emotional support; career and technical education; partnerships; career development experiences; education, business, and the economy; college costs, financial aid, and affordability; and community stakeholder engagement. In support of the conference theme, session proposals should also explain how the information will be shared through an equity lens.

  • Deadline – Priority consideration will be given to completed session proposal forms submitted by Friday, March 3, 2023. The online proposal form is on the conference website.
  • Non-Commercial Policy – Please note that sessions are to be non-commercial forums. Individuals should refrain from using brand names or endorsing specific products. Sessions are not to be used as a place for direct promotion of products and services.
  • Conference Registration – Presenters must register for the conference, and the registration fee is $40.00. Conference registration will open later this spring.
  • Presenter Compensation Policy – The CCE conference does not provide any compensation for individuals accepted to serve as conference interest session presenters. This includes compensation for travel-related expenses and hotel accommodations.

Please share the information in this e-Message with colleagues in your organization and other partners.

2023 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
  • ACT Now
  • Women Employed

The College Changes Everything® Conference is sponsored
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Helping Illinois reach its Goal 2025: to increase the proportion
of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and
postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025


CCE

ISAC Monthly Webinars for FAAs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators and NESP Schools on January 17, 2023.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will provide an Operational and Program Update Webinar for financial aid administrators (FAAs) on the last Wednesday of every month. Following are the webinar dates for the first quarter of 2023:

  • January 25 at 2 p.m.
  • February 22 at 2 p.m.
  • March 29 at 2 p.m.

To participate in these webinars, 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.

2022-23 Spring-Term Claims & Benefit Usage Submission
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, Business Officers, and ECACE Administrators on January 9, 2023.

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

The ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal – which includes the electronic processing systems for the ISAC programs discussed below – is available for submission of spring-term records. Colleges are encouraged to submit 2022-23 spring-term certifications, payment requests (claims), and/or benefit usage data as soon as possible.

You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section:

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship, Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois, and Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant and Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG)

ECACE Scholarship, Golden Apple, and MTI Scholarship

  • ISAC is accepting 2022-23 ECACE Scholarship, Golden Apple, and MTI Scholarship claims for the second (spring) term.
  • In order to be considered timely, second-term ECACE, Golden Apple, and MTI claims must be submitted on or before Friday, February 24, 2023.
  • Even though each program's priority claim deadline of December 30, 2022 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay first-term claims.
  • Colleges may submit first- and second-term claims by accessing the ECACE, Golden Apple, and MTI systems.
    • Colleges are always encouraged to submit claims as soon as they are able to do so.
    • The timely submission of claims and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC staff to monitor remaining funds and award other students, as applicable.
  • Colleges are reminded to continue certifying MTI eligibility throughout the year, in order to ensure that students will be included in any rounds of awarding that take place.
  • By submitting claims for the ECACE Scholarship or Golden Apple programs, the institution is certifying that the Scholar is enrolled and continues to meet all eligibility requirements for the program.
    • If not submitting a claim, the institution reports the reason for the student's ineligibility.
  • Submitting claims is a two-step process, which involves generating the request (either individually or in a batch) and then submitting the request.
  • ECACE, Golden Apple, and MTI claim results will be available via each program's online system.
    • Effective immediately, ECACE payment results are available twice per week (on Tuesdays and Fridays).
    • Golden Apple and MTI payment results continue to be available every weekday.
    • Colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report, which is available the day after claims are processed.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to the ECACE, Golden Apple, and MTI 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.
  • More information regarding online certification (for the MTI Scholarship Program) and payment functionality (for all three programs), including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations on ISAC's website:

ING Grant and IVG

  • ISAC is accepting spring-term benefit usage data for the 2022-23 ING Grant and IVG programs.
  • In order to be considered timely, spring-term benefit usage data must be submitted as follows:
    • by Friday, April 7, 2023 for the ING Grant Program, and
    • by Friday, May 26, 2023 for the IVG Program.
  • Even though the summer- (for the IVG Program) and fall-term (for the ING Grant and IVG programs) deadline dates have passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.
  • 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 online 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 2022-23 ING Grant or IVG awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
  • 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.
  • More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Watch for Future Updates

Future program updates will be shared with colleges via ISAC's standard methods of communication, including: the ECACE, Golden Apple, ING Grant, IVG, and MTI Scholarship "Program News" areas; the FAA Message Board; and, this e-Messaging service.

Help IllinoisCAN Expand Statewide
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on January 6, 2023.

You're invited to join the first meeting in 2023 of the Illinois College Access Network (IllinoisCAN), taking place on January 26th from 9-10 a.m. (CT). The meeting will be online, allowing for participation by colleagues across the state who are passionate about and dedicated to helping students prepare for life after high school. Please register/RSVP here to attend.

IllinoisCAN has always been about relationship building and supporting collaboration among its members. As we move into 2023, this meeting is the first of many opportunities to be provided for professionals all over Illinois to meet and learn from each other as we grow to a truly statewide network dedicated to improving postsecondary access and success for low-income and first-generation college students in Illinois. In addition to networking, IllinoisCAN provides you and your organization with opportunities for increased visibility of your work, professional development, and industry-related research and information. Visit the IllinoisCAN website to learn more about the network.

We look forward to seeing you on January 26th to share more on network plans and ways you can get involved with IllinoisCAN. If you have questions about the meeting or IllinoisCAN, please send an e-mail message to ISAC.IllinoisCAN@illinois.gov.

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ISAC UPDATE

December 2022 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on January 3, 2022.

The December 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 December 2022 ISAC Update include:

  • 2022-23 MAP Claims for 1st & 2nd Terms Due March 10
    (sent December 21, 2022)
  • Reminder: FAA Webinar on December 21
    (sent December 16, 2022)
  • 10th Annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network Conference
    (sent December 15, 2022)
  • NESP Transition Updates – December 13 Webinar
    (sent December 8, 2022)
  • Virtual Commission Meeting Thursday, December 8 – No Executive Briefing
    (sent December 2, 2022)
  • November 2022 Electronic ISAC Update
    (sent December 1, 2022)

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