FAA Message Board
The FAA Message Board is updated regularly – check back often for the latest information
Applications for the 2026-27
Displaced Energy Worker Transition Scholarship are now being accepted. The date by which an application must be submitted is based on the first term for which the applicant wishes to receive funds for the 2026-27 academic year.
Applications for the 2026-27
Grant Program for Exonerees and their Dependents are now being accepted.
Make sure your students know that
applications for the 2026-27
Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program are now being accepted. The application priority consideration deadline is September 18, 2026.
As announced in a
July 15 e-Message, ISAC's next Monthly Program & Operation Updates webinar will take place at 2:00 p.m. on July 29. Future webinars are scheduled for August 26 and September 23. Participate by accessing the webinar link and presentation materials at the
Partner Training page in the
e-Library on the day of the event.
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July 14 e-Message provides several updates regarding Workforce Pell, including: the application for State-level program approvals becomes available on July 15; a webinar featuring an application walk-through will be held on July 21; and State and Federal resources and support are available. Additional Illinois-specific Workforce Pell guidance and resources can be found at the
Illinois Workforce Pell hub.
As of
July 9, 2026, ECACE certification data is being accepted. The certification process must be completed before awarding can take place later this summer. Colleges should regularly check the ECACE system for new student records.
The Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its spring 2026 session on June 1, approving a $55.9 billion FY27 budget that largely mirrors the Governor’s proposal and maintains level funding for most ISAC-administered programs, including MAP. View the full legislative update
here.
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July 1 e-Message provides updates on FY27 program funding. Overall, the FY27 funding levels for ISAC-administered programs are very similar to the current year’s budget, including MAP, which will be held at its current level. With the approval of the budget, program implementation and operational activities for the 2026-27 academic year will begin to move forward. As always, we will regularly provide updates and processing details regarding each of our programs as we proceed through the year.
ISAC is a member of the Illinois State Attainment Working Group, established by Governor Pritzker, to set an attainment goal for postsecondary degrees and credentials of value. You are invited to participate in two engagement stakeholder opportunities: A brief survey and a regional engagement session (offered July 7 - September 1). A
June 30 e-Message provides additional details.
At its
June 25, 2026 meeting, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
approved a 2026-27 MAP recompute formula that is the same as the 2026-27 start-up formula. Refer to the
2026-27 MAP Formula page and a
June 26, 2026 e-Message for further information.
First, second, and third-term claims received through (and including) June 29, 2026 have been approved for payment. Claims submitted after June 29 will be held as late, to be considered for payment later in the year.
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June 2 e-Message provides information to assist colleges with year-end processing for 2025-26
ISAC gift assistance programs.
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May 28 e-Message provides information, updates, and important dates that may be of interest to FAAs.
As announced in a
May 11 e-Message, colleges may
certify 2026-27 NES eligibility using the
NES System. All certification records available in the system must be completed.
As announced in an
April 20 e-Message, April 23, 2026 will be the last day for students to apply for 2026-27 MAP grants by submitting an initial 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or, for qualifying students, an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Announcements of awards for students whose FAFSAs are received by the federal processor or whose Alternative Applications are received by ISAC after that date will be put "
in suspense" – basically, a waiting list for 2026-27 MAP. Further details are provided on the
MAP page. Suspended records are anticipated to be visible in GAP Access by late April.
The 2025 collection period for MAP advising data has opened. Colleges may now submit the required information via the GAP Access portal. Advising data is due by
Thursday, July 30, 2026. Please note, starting this year, the MAP Advising process has moved to a biennial collection process. Further details are provided in an
April 9 e-Message.
College Illinois!®
