ISAC Student PortalISAC Update
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| ISAC Update |
Welcome to the July 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 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.
ISAC Programs in the Wake of SCOTUS Decision
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on July 31, 2023.
ISAC is reaching out to financial aid administrators as a follow up to a joint letter from the higher education agencies sent to college and university leaders and financial aid directors on July 21, 2023.
The recent Supreme Court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) vs. Harvard and SFFA vs. University of North Carolina invalidating certain race-conscious practices in admissions have understandably raised questions and concerns for many students as well as for institutions. Even though these decisions focus squarely on race-conscious college admissions programs, questions have arisen about whether they invalidate other race-conscious programs and laws, including financial aid programs. Notably, the Court's majority opinion did not directly discuss scholarships or financial aid.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) delivers many financial aid and loan repayment programs, created by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by various governors. ISAC will continue to administer these programs as required by Illinois statute and concurrent rules. To the extent that any changes to these programs are needed in the future, ISAC, in partnership with other state agencies, will help financial aid officers navigate the changing landscape to help minimize potential interruptions to a student's studies.
The U.S. Department of Education, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Justice, is planning to release guidance in mid-August to support colleges and universities in developing admissions policies that follow the law and provide a path to creating a more inclusive higher education system. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators suggests that financial aid administrators review any race-conscious programs on their campuses and contact their own institutions' legal and leadership teams to evaluate their approach. As noted in the joint letter linked above, while we wait for additional guidance from the federal government, we urge institutions to please employ caution in any actions to alter programs as you consider the implications of the decision. Illinois' higher education agencies are committed to working with institutions to address the challenges as we collectively assess our ecosystem in the wake of the SFFA ruling.
ISAC will continue to review related court decisions and monitor for additional guidance. If any changes occur to the administration of ISAC programs, the agency will provide updates.
Encourage Your Colleagues to Sign Up for e-Messaging
ISAC's e-Messaging service is our primary means of communicating information to our partners.
Encourage your colleagues who have not done so to subscribe through the e-Messaging Sign-Up area at isac.org today, so that they won't miss future announcements or updates from ISAC.
Join Us to Learn about Preparing for Repayment of your Student Loans
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 July 31, 2023.
Millions of federal student loan borrowers have had their federal student loan and interest payments automatically paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The payment pause will end on August 30, 2023, with payments beginning in October 2023.
To help borrowers across the state of Illinois, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is hosting free webinars through December on how federal student loan borrowers can prepare for repayment! To learn how you can prepare for repayment, visit the Return to Repayment page.
For registration details, visit the Webinars page located within the Professional Development Opportunities area at ISAC's website (isac.org). For questions, contact isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.
Preparing for Federal Student Loan Repayments to Resume
Join us on one of these dates in August to learn about the steps you can take to prepare for repayment, what repayment options are available, and how to stay out of default.
- Monday, August 7, 12-1 p.m. (CT)
- Tuesday, August 15, 8-9 a.m. (CT)
- Thursday, August 24, 4-5 p.m. (CT)
If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, contact ISAC's Professional Development team at isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.
Final Payment of FY23 MAP Late Claims
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users and Business Officers July 14, 2023.
The following information is being provided to assist colleges in the close-out process for the 2022-23 Monetary Award Program (MAP).
Payment of Additional Late Claims
Throughout the year, ISAC staff has monitored both payment request (i.e., claim) rates and remaining funding levels in order to assist the greatest number of eligible students without overspending program appropriations.
Based on our final analysis, additional payment has taken place for 2022-23 MAP first- and second-term late claims received through the dates noted below. This payment run is in addition to late claim payments announced over the last several weeks, and is the final payment of 2022-23 MAP late claims that will take place.
Payment results are now available in the MAP system for:
- first-term initial claims and increases that were received from June 5, 2023 through (including) June 15, 2023; and
- second-term initial claims and increases that were received on July 12, 2023.
Information regarding how to access payment results is provided in the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
ECACE Application Data Now Available
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and ECACE Administrators on July 13, 2023.
The following is being shared to assist in the administration of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program.
Access Student Application Status via "Student List Eligibility: View" Screen
Information about 2023-24 ECACE Scholarship applicants is now available. Colleges may access student application status data via the ECACE component of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal. View a listing of students who have completed the 2023-24 online application process by accessing the ECACE system and selecting the Student tab to display the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen.
- The "Student List Eligibility: View" screen displays in a format similar to other programs that are processed via the GAP Access portal.
- Data is displayed for all applications listing the institution as the college the student plans to attend (i.e., complete, incomplete and ineligible based on student-reported data applications are included).
Prequalification Process to Take Place Mid-August
We anticipate that the process for determining students' prequalification status, based on the eligibility data reported by the applicants on their applications, will take place in mid-August, after the August 7th date for priority access to funding has passed. Here’s a quick overview of what happens during the prequalification process:
- A student's record will be considered prequalified if they have completed the online application process – which includes submitting a complete ECACE Scholarship Program application to ISAC and completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) that results in a valid expected family contribution (EFC) – and they meet all initial program eligibility requirements (i.e., requirements other than those that must be verified by the college).
- After the prequalification process has run, the award data fields on the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen will be populated.
- Applicants who are determined prequalified will be sent a Notice of Prequalified Eligibility by ISAC.
Join "ECACE Administrators" Subscription Group
If you work directly with your approved institution's administration of the ECACE Scholarship Program – or if you simply are interested in receiving general announcements and processing updates regarding the program – be sure to join the "ECACE Administrators" e-Messaging subscription group.
Existing e-Messaging subscribers may join this group by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link that appears at the bottom of all ISAC e-Messages, selecting the "ECACE Administrators" group in the listing that appears, and then clicking on "Update Profile."
Individuals who may be interested in the "ECACE Administrators" group, but do not currently subscribe to ISAC's e-Messaging service, may sign up at the Financial Aid Administrators (FAAs) e-Messaging page.
As additional information about 2023-24 ECACE processing becomes available it will be provided via ISAC's usual means of communication, i.e., the ECACE Scholarship Program News area, the FAA Message Board, and this e-Messaging system.
New Info: Additional Payment of FY23 MAP Late Claims
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users and Business Officers on July 13, 2023.
The following information is being provided to assist colleges in the close-out process for the 2022-23 Monetary Award Program (MAP).
Payment of Additional Late Claims
ISAC staff continues to monitor both payment request (i.e., claim) rates and remaining funding levels throughout the year in order to assist the greatest number of eligible students without overspending program appropriations.
Based on our current analysis, additional payment has taken place for 2022-23 MAP first-, second-, and third-term late claims received through the dates noted below. This payment run is in addition to late claim payments announced on December 21, May 26, June 6, June 14, June 22, June 30, July 7, and July 12. As a reminder, first-term claims are considered late if submitted after December 9, 2022, second-term claims are considered late if submitted after March 10, 2023, and third-term claims are considered late if submitted after May 5, 2023.
Payment results are now available in the MAP system for:
- first-term initial claims and increases that were received from May 24, 2023 through (including) June 4, 2023;
- second-term initial claims and increases that were received from July 8, 2023 through (including) July 11, 2023; and
- third-term initial claims and increases that were received from July 5, 2023 through (including) July 11, 2023.
Information regarding how to access payment results is provided in the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
Monitoring Will Continue
ISAC will continue to monitor institutions' claims and adjustments and the remaining appropriations and – based on the analysis of that data – decisions will be made regarding whether additional 2022-23 MAP late claims will be paid. Updated information will be shared with you via the usual means of communication (i.e., the MAP Program News page, the FAA Message Board, and ISAC's e-Messaging service).
2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users and Business Officers on July 12, 2023.
The following information is being provided to assist colleges in the close-out process for the 2022-23 Monetary Award Program (MAP).
Payment of Additional Late Claims
ISAC staff continues to monitor both payment request (i.e., claim) rates and remaining funding levels throughout the year in order to assist the greatest number of eligible students without overspending program appropriations.
Based on our current analysis, additional payment has taken place for 2022-23 MAP first- and second-term late claims received through the dates noted below. This payment run is in addition to late claim payments announced on December 21, May 26, June 6, June 14, June 22, June 30, and July 7. As a reminder, first-term claims are considered late if submitted after December 9, 2022, and second-term claims are considered late if submitted after March 10, 2023.
Payment results are now available in the MAP system for:
- first-term initial claims and increases that were received from April 5, 2023 through (including) May 23, 2023; and
- second-term initial claims and increases that were received from July 5, 2023 through (including) July 7, 2023.
Information regarding how to access payment results is provided in the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
Monitoring Will Continue
ISAC will continue to monitor institutions' claims and adjustments and the remaining appropriations and – based on the analysis of that data – decisions will be made regarding whether additional 2022-23 MAP late claims will be paid. Updated information will be shared with you via the usual means of communication (i.e., the MAP Program News page, the FAA Message Board, and ISAC's e-Messaging service).
Submit 2023-24 MTI Certification Data
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on July 11, 2023.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance (ISAC) website (isac.org).
The following provides important updates regarding the 2023-24 Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program.
2023-24 Certification Data Being Accepted
Effective Monday, July 10, 2023, colleges may certify eligibility for the 2023-24 MTI Scholarship Program using the MTI system.
There have been no functional or operational changes made with the 2023-24 MTI Scholarship certification process.
Reminders
- Colleges are encouraged to continue certifying eligibility for MTI Scholars on a daily basis throughout the year, to ensure that your students will be included in the awarding process.
- Separate notification will not be sent when new records are made available in the MTI system.
- The schedule for awarding 2023-24 MTI Scholars will be announced once determined.
- All certification records available in the MTI system must be completed, regardless of whether the college certifies a student as eligible or ineligible and regardless of whether the student is currently enrolled.
- The only way applicants will receive notification from ISAC regarding their eligibility status is if their colleges have submitted the certification data via the MTI system.
- The MTI system is available each day from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. (CT).
Applications Still Being Accepted
The 2023-24 MTI Scholarship Program application continues to be accepted, even though the March 31, 2023 priority consideration date has passed. Complete applications – including the 2023-24 FAFSA (or Alternative Application, if applicable) – received after this date will continue to be considered for the MTI Scholarship Program for as long as 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 complete and submit their applications as soon as possible.
Future Updates
Watch for future updates regarding the 2023-24 MTI Scholarship Program – including information about payment processing, once available – via our usual methods of communication (including the MTI Program News area, the FAA Message Board, and ISAC's e-Messaging service).
2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users and Business Officers on July 7, 2023.
The following information is being provided to assist colleges in the close-out process for the 2022-23 Monetary Award Program (MAP).
Payment of Additional Late Claims
ISAC staff continues to monitor both payment request (i.e., claim) rates and remaining funding levels throughout the year in order to assist the greatest number of eligible students without overspending program appropriations.
Based on our current analysis, additional payment has taken place for 2022-23 MAP first-, second- and third-term late claims received through the dates noted below. This payment run is in addition to late claim payments announced on December 21, May 26, June 6, June 14, June 22, and June 30. As a reminder, first-term claims are considered late if submitted after December 9, 2022, second-term claims are considered late if submitted after March 10, 2023, and third-term claims are considered late if submitted after May 5, 2023.
Payment results are now available in the MAP system for:
- first-term initial claims and increases that were received from March 10, 2023 through (including) April 4, 2023;
- second-term initial claims and increases that were received from June 9, 2023 through (including) July 4, 2023; and
- third-term initial claims and increases that were received from June 23, 2023 through (including) July 4, 2023.
Information regarding how to access payment results is provided in the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
Monitoring Will Continue
ISAC will continue to monitor institutions' claims and adjustments and the remaining appropriations and – based on the analysis of that data – decisions will be made regarding whether additional 2022-23 MAP late claims will be paid. Updated information will be shared with you via the usual means of communication (i.e., the MAP Program News page, the FAA Message Board, and ISAC's e-Messaging service).
ISAC Summer Training Events 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 Adminstrators and NESP Schools on July 5, 2023.
Financial Aid 101 and 201 Workshops
Registration is now available for ISAC's Financial Aid 101 and 201 Workshops being offered in July and August at upstate and downstate locations. These free, in-person workshops cover a variety of financial aid topics, including the phased implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act and changes going into effect for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 award years.
The Financial Aid 101 Workshop (FA 101) provides an introduction to basic financial aid concepts, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), need analysis formulas for the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the Student Aid Index (SAI), as well as an overview of state and federal financial aid programs. The Financial Aid 201 Workshop (FA 201) covers the topics of verification, professional judgment, satisfactory academic progress, and state and federal program reviews, as well as changes related to implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act.
To register for the dates and locations that work best for your schedule, click on the corresponding "Register Now" button(s) below. A more detailed agenda and directions to workshop locations are provided on the registration page for each workshop.
| Workshop | Date | Time* | Location | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(Ina) |
 |
|||
(Ina) |
|
|||
(Deerfield) |
|
|||
(Deerfield) |
|
|||
(Joliet) |
|
|||
(Joliet) |
|
|||
(Springfield) |
|
|||
(Springfield) |
|
*All times Central
ISAC Monthly Webinars for FAAs
ISAC's Program Services & Compliance Division will continue to provide an operational and program update webinar for financial aid administrators on the last Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. (CT). Be sure to mark your calendar for the following dates for the third quarter of 2023:
- July 26
- August 30
- September 27
Registration is not required for these monthly webinars. To participate, 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. If you have specific topics or questions you would like a webinar to address, please submit them via e-mail to Kimberly.Eck@illinois.gov prior to the session.
2023 CCE Conference: Time Is Running Out to Register
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Adminstrators and NESP Schools on July 5, 2023.
July 13, 2023 – Tinley Park Convention Center
CCE 2023 – DEIA: The Work We Need to Do
We look forward to seeing you in-person next week at the 2023 College Changes Everything® conference as we focus attention on addressing the various Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) issues our students are facing and creating a culture where everyone feels they belong. One of the key strengths of this conference is that it brings together a diverse audience of stakeholders from across the state for a day of dialogue and sharing information, ideas, and best practices promoting student success. At all levels of the education system and across all workforce sectors we have a shared responsibility to be equity designers for our students. We are approaching our attendance limit and will be monitoring to see when we will have to close registration. So don't delay, register today! Registration is $40.00, and only credit card payments are accepted via Eventbrite.
During the morning general session, we'll be hearing from Dr. Susie Wise, author of Design for Belonging: How to Build Inclusion and Collaboration in Your Communities. Dr. Wise is a design leader with experience in the education, tech, and social sectors. She coaches leaders in equity design and innovation practices. She teaches at the d.school at Stanford University and coaches with the Mira Fellowship. Previously she founded and directed the K12 Lab at the d.school and co-created Liberatory Design.
The CCE annual conference is the state's preeminent college access and success and career readiness event and brings together stakeholders 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 in 2011, equity has been an underlying tenet of the 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. Please share this e-Message with your colleagues and others in your network so they can register, too. More information about the conference is available on the conference website. See you in Tinley Park!
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
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and
postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025
June 2023 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on July 3, 2023.
The June 2023 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 2023 ISAC Update include:
- 2023 CCE Conference: Space Is Filling Up Fast!
(sent June 30, 2023) - 2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
(sent June 30, 2023) - Join Us to Learn about Preparing for Repayment of Your Student Loans
(sent June 26, 2023) - 2023-24 MAP Recompute Implemented
(sent June 26, 2023) - 2023 CCE Conference: Be Our Guest and RSVP Now!
(sent June 23, 2023) - 2023-24 MAP Recompute Formula Approved – System Implementation this Weekend
(sent June 23, 2023) - Registration Reminder for June Financial Aid 101 & 201 Workshops
(sent June 22, 2023) - 2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
(sent June 22, 2023) - Commission Meeting Thursday, June 22 – Executive Briefing Friday, June 23
(sent June 20, 2023) - 2022-23 Year-End Program Updates
(sent June 16, 2023) - MAP Advising Data Collection Opens – Due August 18
(sent June 16, 2023) - Update: 2023-24 ISAC Gift Assistance Programs
(sent June 16, 2023) - ISAC Program FY24 Funding – Budget Bills Approved
(sent June 15, 2023) - 2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
(sent June 14, 2023) - NESP Third Term Certification Opens – Still Missing Some Previous Term Certifications
(sent June 8, 2023) - 2023 CCE Conference Preliminary Agenda Available
(sent June 7, 2023) - Announcing ISAC's June Financial Aid 101 & 201 Workshops for FAAs
(sent June 6, 2023) - 2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
(sent June 6, 2023) - May 2023 Electronic ISAC Update
(sent June 1, 2023)
