ISAC Student PortalMonetary Award Program (MAP)
Program News
(last updated May 26, 2023)
2023-24 Award Announcements
2023-24 File Layout Specifications
2023-24 Alternative Application Student Record School File Layout Specifications
2023-24 Operational Guide for Alternative Application Processing
2023-24 Start-up Implementation
2022-23 Program Funding
2022-23 Payment
2022-23 Recompute Formula
2022-23 Award Announcements
2022-23 File Specifications
2022-23 Alternative Application Student Record School File Layout Specifications
2022-23 Operational Guide for Alternative Application Processing
2022-23 Start-up Implementation
Additional MAP References
2023-24
Award Announcements
Colleges are required to announce MAP awards to eligible students enrolled at their institutions. Refer to the MAP Award Announcements area for details regarding college requirements, including the 2023-24 Required School-Issued Award Notification Language.
File Layout Specifications
The MAP file specifications have been updated for the 2023-24 processing cycle, and are pertinent to schools utilizing the file extraction features of the MAP system or for sending MAP payment requests to ISAC via File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The 2023-24 MAP 160-Byte File Layout Specifications document is available via the Electronic Tools page within the e-Library.
Alternative Application Student Record School File Layout Specification
An Alternative Application Student Record is created for each student who completes an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). The application data that is critical to determining eligibility for MAP is provided to schools in the GAP Access portal for each student who has listed that college as a school choice on the student’s Alternative Application. The 2023-24 Alternative Application Student Record School File Layout Specifications document is available via the Electronic Tools page within the e-Library.
Operational Guide for Alternative Application Processing
A 2023-24 Operational Guide for Alternative Application Processing is available to assist schools with resolving MAP eligibility questions, dealing with conflicting information, correcting data and managing Alternative Application student records in GAP Access, as well as other issues. The Guide provides ISAC's guidance for each issue and the applicable regulatory and/or rules reference.
Start-up Implementation
Both the 2023-24 FAFSA and Alternative Application (English and Spanish) became available on October 1, 2022.
2023-24 MAP records – reflecting the start-up formula that was approved at the September 22, 2022 Commission meeting – are available to access via the MAP system. All 2023-24 Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and Alternative Application Student Records received by ISAC through (including) Friday, October 7, 2022 are available with their accompanying eligibility status information. Daily processing of 2023-24 ISIR, Alternative Application, and eligibility status information has commenced. Further details are provided in an October 11 e-Message.
The 2023-24 priority deadline date by which returning MAP recipients are to submit their FAFSA or Alternative Application in order to receive priority access to appropriated funds is December 1, 2022 (through and including). Returning recipients are students who received MAP funds during the previous academic year (i.e., for 2023-24, students who received MAP for 2022-23). All MAP eligibility requirements must continue to be met.
Also available in the 2023-24 MAP Formula area are the 2023-24 Start-up Hand Calculation Forms and information regarding rounding and calculating term awards.
2022-23
Program Funding
The 2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) appropriation for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) is $601,566,200.
Payment
Important dates and reminders for 2022-23 MAP payment processing:
- A May 26, 2023 e-Message announces that payment of 2022-23 MAP held late claims has been processed for:
- second-term initial claims and increases that were received from March 11, 2023 through (including) March 20, 2023; and
- third-term initial claims and increases that were received from May 6, 2023 through (including) May 15, 2023.
- A December 21, 2022 e-Message announced the payment of increases to previously-submitted claims and late claims (i.e., initial claims submitted after December 9, 2022) for the first term that were submitted on or before March 10, 2023.
- Although the priority payment request deadline dates for all terms of the 2022-23 academic year have passed, claims continue to be accepted and held for increases to previously-submitted claims and late claims.
- Future payment of additional held claims will be dependent upon ongoing analysis of institutions' claims and adjustments and the remaining appropriations.
- When available funds allow for the payment of some (but not all) late claims, such payment is processed on a first-come, first-served basis – therefore, colleges are encouraged to submit all claims as soon as possible.
- Colleges are encouraged to continue submitting cancellations and/or adjustments to decrease previously-submitted claims for all terms.
- Remember, due to the payment offset process, only data reconciliation activities should take place at this time.
- After ISAC determines that all payment processing is final, colleges with an outstanding amount owed to ISAC will receive an e-mail notice indicating the total amount to be returned – until then, no funds should be returned to ISAC.
- Remember that claims may be submitted no more than 10 days prior to the start of classes for the term for which they being requested.
- Colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report in the Reports section of the MAP system the day after submitting payment requests to see which requests, if any, did not process as expected.
Colleges can submit 2022-23 MAP payment requests (claims) by accessing the MAP system, as well as by File Transfer Protocol (FTP). Payment requests are processed on a nightly basis as they are received from colleges, and then submitted to the State Comptroller for payment per standard operating procedures.
Details regarding the MAP payment process – including information regarding the new Short-Term Certificate Program indicator – can be found on the 2022-23 MAP Payment page and in the "Payment" chapter of the MAP User Guide.
Information about a report for tracking payment vouchers and warrants is also provided at the 2022-23 MAP Payment page.
Recompute Formula
The FY23 MAP recompute formula has been implemented and – effective June 27, 2022 – all 2022-23 Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) data received from the Central Processing System (CPS) through (including) June 22, 2022 is reflected in the MAP system. Daily processing of ISIR data has resumed.
At its June 16, 2022 meeting, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission approved a recompute formula that increases the maximum 2022-23 MAP award from $5,496 to $7,200, uses 2021-22 reported tuition and fees, and uses the 2021-22 Pell Grant Payment Schedule.
The approved FY23 recompute formula is outlined in the June 16, 2022 Agenda Book (Item 4), as well as on the 2022-23 MAP Formula page within this section. Also available within the MAP section is information regarding calculating a term award for both semester and quarter schools, guidance for rounding, and access to information about MAP electronic processing.
Award Announcements
Colleges are required to announce MAP awards to eligible students enrolled at their institutions. ISAC will mail letters only to students who are in a default status on an ISAC-guaranteed student loan. A copy of the Default Resolution Options document, outlining how to regain federal and state student aid eligibility, is enclosed with each Default Status notification. Notifications are dated and mailed after ISAC processes ISIRs.
Refer to the MAP Award Announcements area for details regarding college requirements, including the 2022-23 Required School-Issued Award Notification Language.
File Specifications
The MAP file specifications have been updated for the 2022-23 processing cycle, and are pertinent to schools utilizing the file extraction features of the MAP system or for sending MAP payment requests to ISAC via File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The 2022-23 MAP 160-Byte File Specifications document is available via the Electronic Tools page within the e-Library.
Alternative Application Student Record School File Layout Specification
An Alternative Application Student Record is created for each student who completes an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). The application data that is critical to determining eligibility for MAP is provided to schools in the GAP Access portal for each student who has listed that college as a school choice on the student’s Alternative Application. The 2022-23 Alternative Application Student Record School File Layout Specifications document is available via the Electronic Tools page within the e-Library.
Operational Guide for Alternative Application Processing
A 2022-23 Operational Guide for Alternative Application Processing is available to assist schools with resolving MAP eligibility questions, dealing with conflicting information, correcting data and managing Alternative Application student records in GAP Access, as well as other issues. The Guide provides ISAC's guidance for each issue and the applicable regulatory and/or rules reference.
Start-up Implementation
Both the 2022-23 FAFSA and Alternative Application (English and Spanish) became available on October 1, 2021.
2022-23 MAP data – reflecting the start-up formula that was approved at the September 16, 2021 Commission meeting – are available to access via the MAP system. All 2022-23 Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and Alternative Application Student Records received by ISAC through (including) Thursday, October 7, 2021 are available with their accompanying eligibility status information. Daily processing of 2022-23 ISIR, Alternative Application, and eligibility status information has commenced. Further details are provided in an October 7 e-Message.
The 2022-23 priority deadline date by which returning MAP recipients are to submit their FAFSA or Alternative Application in order to receive priority access to appropriated funds is December 1, 2021 (through and including). Returning recipients are students who received MAP funds during the previous academic year (i.e., for 2022-23, students who received MAP for 2021-22). All MAP eligibility requirements must continue to be met.
Also available in the 2022-23 MAP Formula area are the 2022-23 Start-up Hand Calculation Forms and information regarding rounding and calculating term awards.
Additional MAP References
To access general information about the MAP program, click on one of the links in the right-hand menu. To access the page within the MAP section that addresses the topics listed below, click on the topic.
