ISAC Student PortalISAC Update
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| ISAC Update |
Welcome to the November 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 November.
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.
Join us to Learn about Repaying 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 NES Schools on November 30, 2023.
of your repayment plan!
Millions of federal student loan borrowers had their loans and interest payments automatically paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of October 1, federal student loan payments have resumed.
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 register for a webinar, visit the Return to Repayment page.
Navigating Federal Student Loan Repayments
Join us on one of these dates in December to learn about navigating repayment, what repayment options are available, and how to stay out of default.
- Tuesday, December 5, 4-5 p.m. (CT)
- Thursday, December 14, 10-11 a.m. (CT)
- Tuesday, December 19, 9-10 a.m. (CT)
For questions, contact isac.borrowersupport@illinois.gov.
2023-24 NES Awards Announced
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Business Officers, and NES Schools on November 29, 2023.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).
2023-24 Nursing Education Scholarships (NES) have been announced. All renewal applicants who have been certified as eligible by their college received priority consideration, followed by eligible new applicants.
Further information regarding the priority order used for determining 2023-24 NES awards, as well as how award amounts are established, is provided on the Award Determination for Nursing Education Scholarships page (located within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area).
Award notifications will be mailed to awarded students by ISAC today (November 29, 2023).
Online Resources
Resources regarding the awarding process may be accessed via the NES Electronic Processing area, as well as on the Award Determination for Nursing Education Scholarships page.
Reminder: Upcoming Changes Related to Payment
As originally shared in a September 21 e-Message, the following changes will be in effect when 2023-24 NES payment processing functionality becomes available (anticipated by mid-December):
- Awarded living allowance funds that had been disbursed directly to students as a "stipend" in the 2022-23 and earlier academic years will now be included in the scholarship amount requested by and paid to the college (i.e., NES awards will no longer have a stipend component).
- If the recipient is enrolled, the institution may credit the scholarship funds to the recipient's account for expenses due and payable.
- If appropriate, any balance is to be returned to the recipient.
- Funds resulting from each payment request submitted via the NESP system will be delivered to the college in a lump sum (either electronically or as a check, depending on how the college has set up their payments), rather than as individual checks for each student that are co-payable to the student and school.
- Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures now apply to Nursing Education Scholarships.
- 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 NES User Guide will be updated to reflect the 2023-24 payment process.
Watch for Updates
Program updates – including the start of the 2023-24 NES payment cycle (which will be processed by term, with the ability for colleges to submit payment requests for the fall term anticipated by mid-December) – will be announced via our usual means of communication: the FAA Message Board, the NES Program News page, and/or this e-Messaging system.
11th Annual Illinois Education and Career Success Nework Conference
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on November 29, 2023
Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Illinois
Early Bird Registration Now Open – Register Today!
Awareness to Action: Promoting Equity in Education and Careers
Please join us and register today to attend the eleventh annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network Conference. From now through December 31, 2023, the registration fee is $40. Starting January 1, 2024, registration will increase to $50. This one-day event provides a variety of high-quality interest sessions and engaging learning opportunities for leaders from secondary and postsecondary education, local and state government, community-based organizations, policy advocates, grantmakers, employers, and other stakeholders interested in equitably increasing postsecondary attainment in Illinois. Visit the registration site for an overview of the conference agenda and interest sessions.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kenyatta Lovett
Kenyatta Lovett, Ph.D. serves as Principal of Postsecondary Attainment at the Education Strategy Group leading strategies to set goals and improve attainment, noncredit-to-credit strategies, adult attainment, and credit mobility. Previously Dr. Lovett served as the Managing Director for Higher Education and Workforce at Educate Texas, and as the Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Services at the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. In 2016, he helped launch the nation's first education advocacy group focused on increasing postsecondary attainment, Complete Tennessee, serving as Executive Director. He has also served as an Assistant Vice Chancellor at the Tennessee Board of Regents and worked in different roles at Volunteer State Community College.
Don't delay, register today before the early bird registration rate expires!
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).
Session Materials are Now Available
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 NES Schools on November 15, 2023
The 2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium planning committee at ISAC thanks everyone who attended the fifth annual symposium, including the presenters for sharing their knowledge, expertise, and time.
We thank Illinois Central College and Moraine Valley Community College for their partnership in hosting the FAFSA Symposium!
We are pleased to share that session materials are now available on the FAFSA Symposium page.
To learn more about upcoming professional development opportunities, visit the Professional Development Opportunities page. For questions, contact isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.
November 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 NES Schools on November 9, 2023.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will offer the following webinars for financial aid administrators during the month of November.
- Tuesday, November 14, 10 a.m. – Policies & Procedures Webinar about the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant & Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG)
- Wednesday, November 22, 10 a.m. – Monthly Operational Update and Program News
- Please note the date change for the holiday.
To participate, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library on the day of the event to access the webinar link and presentation materials.
First Gen Symposium - Coming Spring 2024
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 NES Schools on November 8, 2023.
Dear ISAC Partners,
While we are excited to host the first annual First Gen Symposium, due to unforeseen circumstances, we will no longer be able to host it this November. In the coming weeks, we will send out a "save the date" notification for spring 2024.
The First Gen Symposium will provide an opportunity for you to share and learn best practices for supporting first-generation students in postsecondary preparation and planning. We hope that the new date will give you more time to plan to join us and allow anyone interested in presenting to submit a session proposal. Call for proposals, registration, and more information will be available in early 2024.
For more information and updates, visit the First Gen Symposium page. If you have questions about the symposium, you can reach us at isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov.
Thank you,
ISAC Training Team
isac.outreachtraining@illinois.gov
October 2023 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on November 1, 2023.
The October 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 October 2023 ISAC Update include:
- Teacher Program Enrollment Verification Update
(sent October 30, 2023) - Join Us to Learn about Repaying Your Federal Student Loans
(sent October 26, 2023) - ISAC Monthly Webinars for FAAs
(sent October 23, 2023) - ISAC File Layouts for 2024-25 FAFSA and Alternative Application Processing
(sent October 19, 2023) - Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
(sent October 13, 2023) - Only One Week Left to Register for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Symposiums!
(sent October 12, 2023) - October Webinars for FAAs
(sent October 3, 2023) - September 2023 Electronic ISAC Update
(sent October 2, 2023)
