ISAC Student PortalUpcoming Important Dates from ISAC
07/22/2021
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make you aware of the following information, which may be of interest to students and their families.
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:
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
2021-22 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022)
Parent-Specific Resources Available at ISAC's Website
If you are a mom or dad with a student who is college-bound or already in college, you will find information in the Parents section to assist you in helping your child navigate the college process. Examples of the parent-specific resources that are available include a college planning guide, information about saving for college, and specifics regarding federal PLUS loans.
Remember, too, that much of the college-related information you need to know is located in the Before College, During College and After College sections of the Students & Parents area.
ISAC Student Portal Provides MAP Resources
Encourage your student to visit the ISAC Student Portal to access these helpful resources related to Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants:
- MAP Estimator (located in the Toolbox area) – students planning to attend an Illinois college may use this tool to get an idea of their eligibility for the MAP grant, and
- MAP Paid Credit Hours Display (located in the Program Applications & Status Checks area) – MAP grant recipients may use this option to track the number of MAP Paid Credit Hours they have used to date.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Monday, September 6 – Labor Day
- Monday, October 11 – Columbus Day
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
For Assistance
Access ISAC's website anytime, or send an e-mail message to the ISAC Call Center. 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.
State Budget
The Illinois General Assembly passed a fiscal year 2022 (FY22) state budget in late May, and it was signed into law by the governor in late June. With the exception of MAP – for which the approved 2021-22 appropriation is $479,566,200, reflecting an increase of more than $28.2 million over the FY21 appropriation – the FY22 budget provides ISAC-administered programs and services with funding that is essentially level to FY21 amounts.
Be sure to regularly visit the Grants, Scholarships, and Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs portions of the Students & Parents area, where a "Processing Updates" section for each program provides the most up-to-date information.
FAFSA® and Alternative Application Still Available
The 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the 2021-22 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (see note, below) are still 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, 2021 and June 30, 2022. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for several forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance, including the Illinois MAP grant.
ISAC is dedicated to helping educate students and parents about all aspects of financial aid. We devote resources to public outreach activities to help families plan for college. Public awareness and education regarding our programs is our priority as we provide students and their families with the most current information available. For example, the ISACorps – ISAC's group of recent college graduates – are trained to serve as near peer mentors to high school students. Please note that, until otherwise indicated, all outreach events will continue to be done virtually.
NOTE: Undocumented students meeting the criteria of the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity (RISE) Act may file the Alternative Application – which is patterned after the FAFSA and available in English and Spanish – to apply for the MAP grant. Further details are provided at ISAC's RISE Act page.
You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through the Parents subscription group.
If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact the ISAC Call Center by calling toll free at 800.899.ISAC (4722) or sending an e-mail message to isac.studentservices@illinois.gov.
