JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

ISAC Update

VOL. 41, NO. 2F
August 2023

Messages sent to:   Multiple Subscription Groups
  ISAC Update

Welcome to the August 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 August.

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

2023-24 Golden Apple Eligibility Data
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on August 31, 2023.

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 2023-24 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 (anticipated for mid-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).
  • If a potential Golden Apple Scholar has been awarded a Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship or Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW), indicators will appear in the MTI system and/or SETTW system.
    • A student cannot receive benefits from more than one ISAC teacher program in the same academic year.
  • 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 2023-24 Golden Apple Scholars (which is anticipated to begin in mid-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).

Submit a Proposal by September 8, 2023, for the 2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium
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 August 31, 2023.

ISAC FAFSA Symposium

To accommodate the level of interest, we are excited to offer the 2023 FAFSA Symposium at TWO locations this fall. We look forward to seeing you there!

  • October 25, 2023, at Illinois Central College
  • November 7, 2023, at Moraine Valley Community College

We thank Illinois Central College and Moraine Valley Community College for their partnership in hosting this year's FAFSA Symposiums! Registration will open in mid-September, please save the dates.

Call for Proposals

As a reminder, we encourage college access partners who support students and families through the financial aid process to submit a session proposal for one or both symposium dates. Session proposals must be received by Friday, September 8, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. (CT).

Session Proposal Form

For questions about this e-mail, contact isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.

2023-24 MTI Payment Implementation
Sent to Financial Aid Directors,  and Financial Aid Administrators on August 28, 2023.

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 2023-24 payment cycle for the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program.

2023-24 MTI First-Term Payment Requests Being Accepted

Initial payment request records are now available online via the MTI system, allowing 2023-24 MTI payment processing to commence.

Submit First-Term Payment Requests by December 29th

  • In order to be considered timely, first-term payment requests for the 2023-24 MTI Scholarship Program must be submitted on or before Friday, December 29, 2023.
  • 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

  • Submitting MTI payment requests is a two-step process, which involves generating the request (either individually or in a batch) and then submitting the request.
  • 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.
  • Results for payment requests received are provided via the MTI system.
    • The Payment Result Summary and Invoice Detail Report can be viewed or printed by selecting the Report tab in the MTI system the day after a payment request has been processed.
      • The report includes Payment Results, Payment Exceptions and Invoice Detail about the payment claim.
      • Be sure to review the report to see which requests, if any, did not process as expected.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State of Illinois Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to the MTI Scholarship Program, 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.

Resources Available Online

Certification Reminder

The recent Supreme Court decisions pertaining to college admission practices had no impact on financial aid, meaning ISAC continues to administer all of our programs, including MTI, with no changes and in accordance with our administrative rules. Consequently, in order to ensure qualified applicants are considered for available program funding, be sure to continue certifying records for both renewal and new applicants so they are included in future rounds of awarding and receive the appropriate notifications.

Watch for Future Updates

Future program updates will be announced via ISAC's usual means of communication (e.g., the FAA Message Board, the MTI Program News page, and/or this e-Messaging system).

2023-24 Golden Apple Payment Anticipated for Mid-September

Separate communications will be sent to announce when eligiblity data becomes available for the 2023-24 Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, as well as when the Golden Apple payment processing cycle begins (anticipated for mid-September).

Join Us to Learn about Preparing for Repayment of Your Federal 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 August 25, 2023

If you have federal student loans, there are steps you can take now to prepare for repayment!

Millions of federal student loan borrowers have had their loans and interest payments automatically paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The payment pause will end on August 30, 2023. Starting September 1, interest will begin to accrue, with payments being due in October.

To help borrowers across the state of Illinois, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is hosting free webinars on how federal student loan borrowers can navigate 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 September to learn about the steps you can take to prepare for repayment, what repayment options are available, and how to stay out of default.

  • Thursday, September 7, 9-10 a.m. (CT)
  • Wednesday, September 13, 12-1 p.m. (CT)
  • Friday, September 22, 10-11 a.m. (CT)

For any questions regarding this e-Message, contact isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.

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, ECACE Administrators, and NESP Schools on August 23, 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:

2024-25 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025)

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

General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)

2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR

By End of December 2023: 2024-25 FAFSA® Available

As part of implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the 2024-25 federal process for requesting financial assistance is anticipated to reflect the changes outlined below. Because these changes will take time to properly implement, the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is expected to be available in December 2023 (rather than in October). ISAC anticipates availability of the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid for the 2024-25 academic year to coincide with the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA.

With the 2024-25 FAFSA:

  • up to 20 different colleges can be listed on the online FAFSA and have information sent to them (in prior years, only ten colleges could be listed);
  • due to a change in the methodology used to determine aid, a Student Aid Index (SAI) – rather than an expected family contribution (EFC) – is used to measure the student's (and, if applicable, the family's) ability to pay for college;
  • the new need analysis formula no longer factors the number of family members attending college into the calculation;
  • separate criteria to determine eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant Program, linking eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level, make program funds available to more students; and,
  • revisions to several of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid are required, including a new interface to directly receive federal tax information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The e-Library's 2024-25 FAFSA Completion area is updated on a regular basis as details are released regarding the 2024-25 federal process for requesting financial aid.

Students and families seeking information can be directed to the Financial Aid: Completing the FAFSA area of ISAC's website – which will also be regularly updated as new information becomes available – and the Federal Student Aid studentaid.gov website.

FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant, as well as several other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance.

September 8: Session Proposals Due for FAFSA Symposium

ISAC invites college-access professionals to submit a session proposal to present at the 2023 FAFSA Symposium, which will be offered in central Illinois and the Chicagoland area in October and November (specific dates will be announced once finalized). Further details, including access to the Session Proposal Form (which will be available through Friday, September 8, 2023), are provided at the FAFSA Symposium page and an August 16 e-Message.

2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR

August 28: Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program Applications Due

The application for the 2023-24 Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program is available to complete and submit online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. The priority application consideration date for the 2023-24 academic year is August 28, 2023. Complete applications submitted after that date will be considered only if available funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.

September 29: Summer-Term Deadline to Report Benefit Usage Data for IVG

An August 16 e-Message announces that ISAC is accepting summer-term benefit usage data for the 2023-24 Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program.

IVG data for the summer term is due on or before Friday, September 29, 2023.

IVG benefit usage data is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within the IVG 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 2023-24 IVG awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.

November 15: Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Applications Due

The application for the 2023-24 Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program is available to complete and submit online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. The priority application consideration date for the 2023-24 academic year is November 15, 2023.

December 29: Fall-Term Deadline to Report Benefit Usage Data for IVG and ING Grant

An August 16 e-Message announces that ISAC is accepting fall-term benefit usage data for the 2023-24 IVG and Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant programs.

Deadline dates are as follows:

  • IVG data for the fall term is due on or before Friday, December 29, 2023.
  • ING Grant data for the fall term is due on or before Friday, December 29, 2023.

Benefit usage data for the IVG and ING Grant 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 2023-24 IVG or ING Grant awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.

Now Available: Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Application

The application for the 2023-24 Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program is available to complete and submit online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. Students may use the 2023-24 application to apply for the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 terms. The application priority consideration date for full-year and fall-only awards is October 1, 2023.

Now Available: Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers Application

The application for the 2023-24 Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, and Correctional Officers is available for students to access via the Applications page of the Students & Parents area. Students may use the 2023-24 application to apply for the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 terms. The application priority consideration date for full-year and fall-only awards is October 1, 2023.

Now Available: Grant Program for Exonerees Application

The application for the 2023-24 Grant Program for Exonerees is available to complete and submit online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. Students may use the 2023-24 application to apply for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 terms (the grant is not available for summer terms). Applications are processed in date-received order ("first come, first served"). Because program funds are limited, students meeting the program's eligibility requirements should be encouraged to complete and submit the application as soon as possible.

Now Available: ING Grant Application and Eligibility Data

The interactive application for the 2023-24 ING Grant Program is available for students to complete and submit online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal.

2023-24 ING Grant eligibility data is available for colleges to access via the ING Grant system. Specific details regarding the ING Grant system, including important reminders and guidelines, are provided at the ING Grant Electronic Processing page.

A June 16 e-Message outlines changes that have taken effect with the 2023-24 ING Grant application process, including the elimination of priority consideration dates by term and the requirement that applicants have a profile in the ISAC Student Portal.

Submit ECACE First-term Claims

An August 21 e-Message announces that ISAC is accepting 2023-24 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program payment requests (claims) for the first term. Information regarding the payment process is available on the ECACE Payment page.

As a reminder, colleges may access 2023-24 prequalification data via the ECACE system.

Submit MAP First-term Claims

An August 21 e-Message announces that ISAC is accepting 2023-24 MAP claims for the first term. Information regarding the payment process is available in the MAP Payment area.

MAP Recompute Formula

As payment requests are submitted, remember that – at its June 22, 2023 meeting – the Illinois Student Assistance Commission approved a recompute formula that increases the maximum 2023-24 MAP award from $7,200 to $8,400 and the living allowance from $5,020 to $5,200. Additional details regarding the formula and its implementation are provided via e-Messages dated June 23 and June 26.

Continue Certifying Eligibility for MTI Scholarships Throughout the Year

Colleges are encouraged to continue certifying eligibility for 2023-24 Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholars on a daily basis.

As a reminder, the Golden Apple Foundation certifies eligibility for the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program. The college's role for the Golden Apple Scholars program starts with payment processing.

Further details are provided via the Certification Procedures for MTI page, the MTI User Guide, and a July 11 e-Message.

MTI Scholarship 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.

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 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.

GENERAL INFORMATION

ISAC Programs in the Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A July 31 e-Message provides a follow up to the joint letter from the Illinois higher education agencies, which was recently sent to college and university leaders and financial aid directors regarding the Supreme Court decisions invalidating certain race-conscious practices in admissions.

August 24: "Return to Repayment" Webinar

The U.S. Department of Education has announced that interest on student loans will resume starting on September 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October.

Join us from 4-5 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, August 24, 2023 for a free webinar regarding how student loan borrowers can prepare for repayment to resume. Further details – including how to register – are provided in a July 31 e-Message.

Further details and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on ISAC's Return To Repayment page.

August 30: Monthly Webinar

Plan to attend the following webinar for financial aid administrators:

  • August 30 at 2 p.m. (CT) – ISAC Operational Update and Program News

To participate in this webinar, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library at isac.org to access the webinar link and presentation materials, both of which will be posted on the day of the session. Registration is not required for the webinar.

September 21: Next Commission Meeting

The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 21, 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.

2023 College Changes Everything® (CCE) Conference Presentations Available Online

An August 3 e-Message announces that presentations and other materials from the 2023 College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference are available on the conference website. Additional presentations will be posted as they are received, so be sure to check back later if you do not find the presentation for a particular session.

First Generation Scholars Network

Encourage your incoming students who will be the first in their family to earn a college degree to join the First Generation Scholars Network to get support and resources from ISAC, their peers, and colleges across the state. Students heading to their first year of college this fall will find events and programs that provide tools, resources, mentoring, and connections that can help make the transition easier.

Campus Partnerships

ISAC and our First Generation Scholars Network mentors are available to work with colleges and universities to support existing campus programming for first generation college students and to collaborate to develop new student supports. Contact ISAC.FirstGen@illinois.gov to start the conversation on ways ISAC can partner with your campus for student success.

Further details are provided in a March 27 e-Message.

Holiday Schedules

ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:

  • Monday, September 4 – Labor Day
  • Monday, October 9 – Columbus Day
  • Friday, November 10 – Veterans Day (observed)
  • Thursday, November 23 – Thanksgiving Day
  • Friday, November 24 – Day after Thanksgiving
  • Monday, December 25 – Christmas
  • Monday, January 1 – New Year's 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).

2023-24 Program Updates: ECACE Scholarship and MAP Payment Implementation
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users, Business Officers, and ECACE Administrators on August 21, 2023.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is sharing the following information to assist colleges in the administration of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program and the Monetary Award Program (MAP).

Click on one of the following links to be taken directly to the selected topic.

Submit ECACE First-term Claims
Submit MAP First-term Claims

Submit ECACE First-term Claims

Effective immediately, colleges may submit 2023-24 ECACE Scholarship first-term payment requests (i.e., claims) for students who have completed the prequalification process.

  • Within the ECACE system, submit claims for individual prequalified ECACE Scholarship recipients via the "Student Detail: Payment" screen or in batches for a group of prequalified students via the "Payment Request Entry" screen.
  • The maximum award amount that may be claimed during the academic year populates in the "Max Annual Award Amount" field of the ECACE system as part of the prequalification process.
    • Colleges must determine the term award amount(s) based on other financial aid the student is receiving, keeping in mind that the ECACE Scholarship is last payer, is not need-based aid, and can be used for any cost of attendance component.
  • Applications with Timely New, Timely Renewal, Untimely New and Untimely Renewal designations are all considered complete.
    • Schools are encouraged to submit payment requests for complete prequalified students as soon as possible.
    • Because ECACE prequalification results are available twice each week (on Wednesday and Friday mornings), regularly monitor whether there are new records for which payment can be requested.
    • The timely submission of payment requests allows ISAC staff to monitor program funding levels and ensure that available dollars are best leveraged to award as many scholarships as possible without exceeding the appropriation.
  • Submitting claims is a two-step process, which involves generating the request and then submitting the request.
  • By submitting a payment request to ISAC, a college is certifying that the student is enrolled and continues to meet all eligibility criteria.
  • Payment results are available in the ECACE system each morning (e.g., results for claims submitted through the end of the day on Tuesday, August 22 will be available in the ECACE system the morning of Wednesday, August 23).
  • A Payment Result Summary and Invoice Detail Report can be viewed or printed by selecting the Report tab in the ECACE system the day after a payment request has been processed.
    • The report includes Payment Results, Payment Exceptions and Invoice Detail about the payment claim.
    • Be sure to review the report to see which requests, if any, did not process as expected.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office, and payments are made on a monthly basis.
    • Allow four to six weeks for payment processing (i.e., from the date a claim is submitted until funds are received at the college).
    • Refer to the State Comptroller's Website page for information on how to track payment.
  • The first-term priority payment request deadline date for this program will be announced once it has been determined.

Access Prequalification Data via "Student List Eligibility: View" Screen

As a reminder, colleges may access 2023-24 prequalification data via the ECACE system.

  • View a listing of students who have completed the 2023-24 ECACE Scholarship online application process by selecting the Student tab in the ECACE system, which will display the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen.
  • ECACE prequalification results are available twice each week: on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
  • Data is displayed for applications that have been reviewed by ISAC staff and list the institution as the college the student plans to attend [i.e., complete, incomplete and ineligible (based on student-reported data) applications may be included].
    • If an applicant submits additional documentation for a previously-listed incomplete or ineligible application, that record will be removed from the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen until after ISAC staff has reviewed the new documentation.
  • Only records for students who 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 who meet all initial program eligibility requirements (i.e., requirements other than those that must be verified by the college) are considered for prequalification.

Resources Available Online

More information is available at the following locations on ISAC's website:

GAP Access Data Protection and System Authorization

The availability of prequalified applicant data in the ECACE system provides a means by which this information may be shared with colleagues in other areas of the college who are working with prospective and current students. Reports listing ECACE applicants may be generated and edited, and then made available to other departments at your institution. All personally identifiable information (PII), such as an applicant's Social Security number (SSN), date of birth, and expected family contribution (EFC), should be removed from the report before the information leaves the financial aid office.

As a reminder, so that the proper level of security is maintained for administering ISAC programs, financial aid staff must have the appropriate level of access in order to view prequalification records, view payment request data, and/or submit claims. The school's primary administrator or a designated administrator is responsible for authorizing access levels.

Submit MAP First-term Claims

The 2023-24 MAP payment cycle has begun, allowing first-term claims to be submitted.

  • Colleges can submit first-term claims by accessing the MAP system, as well as by File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
  • First-term payment requests will be processed on a nightly basis as they are received from colleges, and then submitted to the State Comptroller for payment per standard operating procedures.

Program Reminders

  • A Payment Result Summary and Invoice Detail Report can be viewed or printed by selecting the Report tab in the MAP system the day after a payment request has been processed.
    • The report includes Payment Results, Payment Exceptions and Invoice Detail about the payment claim.
    • Be sure to review the report to see which requests, if any, did not process as expected.
  • Any 2023-24 payment requests that were submitted via FTP prior to today (August 21, 2023) will not be processed, and will need to be resubmitted by the college.
    • In order to prevent having to resubmit data in the future, never submit payment requests via FTP until after ISAC announces it is accepting the data for that academic year.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to MAP, 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.
  • The first-term priority payment request deadline date for this program will be announced once it has been determined.

Online Resources

More information regarding the payment process is available via:

2023-24 MTI Awarding Has Commenced
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on August  18, 2023.

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

Awarding has taken place for all 2023-24 Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program timely renewal applicants who have been certified as eligible. Award notifications will be mailed to awarded students by ISAC today.

Future rounds of awarding will follow the priority order outlined in the Award Determination for MTI section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area, with timely renewal applicants first in the order.

Award Information Available via the MTI System

Colleges may now access 2023-24 eligible award information, including funded or unfunded status, using the MTI system, where all online processing for the MTI Scholarship Program is done. Award results may be viewed using the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen of the MTI system.

Online Resources

Resources regarding the awarding process, including the MTI User Guide, may be accessed via the MTI Electronic Processing area, as well as in the Award Determination for MTI section.

Continue Certifying Records – No Impact from Recent Legal Decisions

The recent Supreme Court decisions pertaining to college admission practices had no impact on financial aid, meaning ISAC continues to administer all of our programs, including MTI, with no changes and in accordance with our administrative rules. Consequently, in order to ensure qualified applicants are considered for available program funding, be sure to continue certifying records for both renewal and new applicants so they are included in future rounds of awarding and receive the appropriate notifications.

Watch for Updates

Program updates – including the start of the 2023-24 MTI payment cycle (anticipated for late August) – will be announced via our usual means of communication: the FAA Message Board, the MTI Program News page, and/or this e-Messaging system.

Call for Proposals Now Open for the 2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium
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 August 16, 2023.

Join us at one of two locations this year!

ISAC FAFSA Symposium

We are excited to announce our fifth annual FAFSA Symposium!

The FAFSA Symposium is a one-day symposium for attendees to learn about best practices for supporting students in completing a financial aid application. We look forward to welcoming attendees to Central Illinois and the Chicagoland area in October and November!

For more information about the symposium, visit the FAFSA Symposium page. Watch for future announcements with specific dates and additional details.

Call for Proposals

We invite school counselors, college and career staff, financial aid administrators, community-based organizations, and other college-access professionals who support students and families through the financial aid process to submit a session proposal to present at one or both locations for the FAFSA Symposium!

Session Proposal Form

Our session proposal form is now open and will close Friday, September 8, 2023. Session guidelines can be found on the FAFSA Symposium page, as well as on the session proposal form.

For questions, contact isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.

2023-24 Program Updates: IVG & ING Grant Benefit Usage and MAP Payment
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, and Business Officers  on August 16, 2023.

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 benefit usage reporting cycle for the 2023-24 Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) and Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant programs, as well as an update regarding the 2023-24 Monetary Award Program (MAP) payment cycle.

IVG and ING Grant Benefit Usage Data Being Accepted

Effective today (Wednesday, August 16, 2023), ISAC is accepting benefit usage data for the 2023-24 IVG summer and fall terms and the 2023-24 ING Grant fall term.

In order to be considered timely:

  • IVG benefit usage data for the summer term must be submitted on or before Friday, September 29, 2023;
  • IVG benefit usage data for the fall term must be submitted on or before Friday, December 29, 2023; and,
  • ING Grant benefit usage data for the fall term must be submitted on or before Friday, December 29, 2023.

Reminders

  • Benefit usage data for the IVG and ING Grant 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 2023-24 IVG or ING Grant 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 IVG and ING Grant user guides.
  • 160-byte specifications for the 2023-24 IVG and ING Grant programs, describing the file layout to be used to send data for each program to ISAC via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), are available within the Electronic Tools section of the e-Library for Partners.
  • Any 2023-24 benefit usage data that was submitted via FTP prior to August 16, 2023 will not be processed, and must be resubmitted by the college.
    • In order to prevent having to resubmit data in the future, never submit benefit usage data via FTP until after ISAC announces it is accepting the data for that academic year.

Resources Available Online

2023-24 MAP Payment Anticipated for August 21

ISAC anticipates that the 2023-24 MAP payment cycle will begin on Monday, August 21, 2023, allowing first-term payment requests (i.e., claims) to be submitted.

  • At that time, colleges will have the ability to submit first-term claims by accessing the MAP system, as well as by File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
  • From that point forward, first-term payment requests will be processed on a nightly basis as they are received from colleges, and then submitted to the State Comptroller for payment per standard operating procedures.

Program Reminders

  • Any 2023-24 payment requests that are submitted via FTP prior to August 21, 2023 will not be processed, and will need to be resubmitted by the college.
    • In order to prevent having to resubmit data in the future, never submit payment requests via FTP until after ISAC announces it is accepting the data for that academic year.
  • Once the payment cycle begins, a Payment Result Summary and Invoice Detail Report can be viewed or printed by selecting the Report tab in the MAP system the day after a payment request has been processed.
    • The report includes Payment Results, Payment Exceptions and Invoice Detail about the payment claim.
    • Be sure to review the report to see which requests, if any, did not process as expected.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to MAP, 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.

Online Resources

System Reminders

  • Please verify that the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access Administrator at your college has established the appropriate program system (IVG, ING Grant, and/or MAP) access level for all impacted staff.
    • Instructions for establishing access to the appropriate system(s) may be found on the GAP Access page.
  • The IVG, ING Grant and MAP systems are available each day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (CT).
  • 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/), making encryption (password protection) of files unnecessary.

Watch for Future Updates

Future updates regarding these programs will be shared via our usual means of communication: the FAA Message Board; the IVG, ING Grant, and MAP "Program News" pages; and/or this e-Messaging system.

2023-24 ISAC Administrative Rules Available
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, and Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs on August 9, 2023.

The 2023-24 ISAC Administrative Rules, effective July 1, 2023 for the 2023-24 academic year, are now available for reference at the ISAC website. The rules are accessible in two locations:

The online rules are posted in two formats: alphabetical by program and by program type/topic.

Amendments were made to three Parts: General Provisions, Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program and Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program, effective July 1, 2023. Also included in the newly published 2023-24 rules are Parts that were amended [Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program] and added [Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program, School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program, and Nursing Education Scholarships (transferred from the Illinois Department of Public Health)] earlier in the year.

While most of the amendments were of an administrative nature, more substantive changes were made to these areas.

  • IVG Program (Part 2733) – was amended based on legislation that requires only the most recent period of federal active duty service to be classified as honorable (effective February 6, 2023).
  • General Provisions (Part 2700) – was amended to delete the section of the rules (2700.30(h)) that outlined the requirement for colleges to provide annual notification to students regarding their education loans. This section of the rules was deleted due to the repeal of the law on June 1, 2023. Additionally, the definition of distance education was updated, and the "High School Equivalency Certificate" definition was updated to "State of Illinois High School Diploma", based on legislation making that change (effective July 1, 2023).
  • ING Grant Program (Part 2730) – amendments were made to delete term deadlines and update applicants' responsibilities to be consistent with those under other programs (to notify the institution of their eligibility no later than the last scheduled day of classes for the term for which a grant is requested) (effective July 1, 2023).

2023 CCE Conference Presentations Online
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 August 3, 2023.

2023 College Changes Everything Conference

Presentations and other materials from the 2023 College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference are available on the conference website. We appreciate all the equity designers who were able to attend in support of the conference theme – DEIA: The Work We Need to Do. Even if you weren't able to attend, we hope the conference session presentations will inform and inspire you to address Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) issues Illinois students face and to consider how do we increase educational equity for our students.

We have gathered most of the presentations and other session materials and have posted them on the conference website. As other presentations are received, we will post them to the website, so check back if a session's presentation hasn't been posted.

Thank you.

2023 CCE Conference Planning Committee

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

2023-24 ECACE Scholarship Update: Prequalification Process on August 8
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and ECACE Administrators on August 2, 2023.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is sharing the following information to assist colleges in the administration of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program. If you do not work directly with the ECACE Scholarship Program, please forward this message to the appropriate colleague(s) at your institution and encourage them to sign up for the "ECACE Administrators" e-Messaging subscription group.

Prequalification Process to Take Place on August 8

ISAC anticipates the process for determining students' prequalification status, based on the eligibility data reported by the applicants on their applications, taking place on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Reminders

  • 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).
    • As announced in a July 13 e-Message, colleges may 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.
  • 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.
  • Further details about the prequalification process may be accessed via the ECACE Scholarship Program Prequalification area.
  • The ECACE User Guide, which may be accessed via the ECACE Electronic Processing page, will soon be updated to reflect the 2023-24 processing cycle.
  • The release of prequalified applicant data into the ECACE system provides a means by which this information may be shared with colleagues in other areas of the college who are working with prospective and current students.
    • Reports listing ECACE applicants may be generated and edited, and then made available to other departments at your institution.
    • All personally identifiable information (PII), such as an applicant's Social Security number (SSN), date of birth, and expected family contribution (EFC), should be removed from the report before the information leaves the financial aid office.
  • To ensure that the proper level of security is maintained for administering ISAC programs, school staff must have the appropriate level of access in order to view prequalification records.

Looking Ahead

  • 2023-24 ECACE Scholarship payment processing is anticipated to commence during the month of August 2023.
  • As additional information becomes available – including announcement of when 2023-24 payment requests are being accepted – 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).

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.

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ISAC UPDATE

July 2023 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on August 1, 2023.

The July 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 July 2023 ISAC Update include:

  • ISAC Programs in the Wake of SCOTUS Decision
    (sent July 31, 2023)
  • Join Us to Learn about Preparing for Repayment of Your Student Loans
    (sent July 31, 2023)
  • Final Payment of FY23 MAP Late Claims
    (sent July 14, 2023)
  • ECACE Application Data Now Available
    (sent July 13, 2023)
  • New Info: Additional Payment of FY23 MAP Late Claims
    (sent July 13, 2023)
  • 2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
    (sent July 12, 2023)
  • Submit 2023-24 MTI Certification Data
    (sent July 11, 2023)
  • 2022-23 MAP Late Claims: Additional Claims Paid
    (sent July 7, 2023)
  • ISAC Summer Training Events for FAAs
    (sent July 5, 2023)
  • 2023 CCE Conference: Time Is Running Out to Register!
    (sent July 5, 2023)
  • June 2023 Electronic ISAC Update
    (sent July 3, 2023)

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