Eligibility Requirements
In order to receive benefits under this program an applicant must:
- Be an Illinois National Guard member, defined as meeting one of these two criteria:
- be active in the Illinois National Guard or
- have been active in the Illinois National Guard for at least five consecutive years and have been called to federal active duty for at least six months and be within the 12-month period immediately following the applicant’s discharge from the Illinois National Guard.*
- Have completed one full year of service in the Illinois National Guard.
- Be enrolled at an Illinois public 2- or 4-year college.
- Not be in default on any educational loan or, if in default, have reinstated eligibility in accordance with ISAC Rules.
- Not owe a refund on any state or federal grant.
- Maintain an acceptable grade point average (GPA) according to the policy determined by the applicant’s college.
- File a complete application each academic year, indicating the college to be attended.
- No later than the last scheduled day of classes for the first term for which benefits have been requested, notify the institution at which the benefits will be used regarding their eligibility.
- Notify ISAC, in writing, of name, address or college choice changes as they occur.
* Those individuals who have been active in the Illinois National Guard for at least five consecutive years, had their studies interrupted by being called to federal active duty for at least six months, and meet eligibility requirements in addition to those listed above may be eligible to receive an additional year of Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program eligibility. Eligibility under these criteria is determined by the Education/Incentives Branch of the Department of Military Affairs Illinois (DMAIL) in Springfield, Illinois. Questions regarding individual eligibility status under this legislation should be directed to the applicant’s chain of command, or to the Education/Incentives Branch of DMAIL at 217.761.3782.