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)
ISAC Student Portal Provides MAP Resources
Be sure 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) – if you are planning on attending an Illinois college, use this tool to get an idea of your eligibility for the MAP grant, and
- MAP Paid Credit Hours Display (located in the Program Applications & Status Checks area) – if you are a MAP grant recipient, use this option to track the number of MAP Paid Credit Hours you 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.
Now Available: Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers Application
The application for the 2021-22 Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers and the 2021-22 Grant Program for Dependents of Correctional Officers is available to download and print via the Applications page of the Students & Parents area. Use the 2021-22 application to apply for the fall 2021, spring 2022 and summer 2022 terms.
ING Grant Application Remains Available
The interactive application for the 2021-22 Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program remains available to complete and submit online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. Use the 2021-22 application to apply for the fall 2021, spring 2022 and summer 2022 terms.
If you have not already done so, be sure to create a profile in the ISAC Student Portal. Once you have a profile, you can return to the Student Portal to check your application status, verify the number of ING Grant eligibility units you have remaining or, if necessary, print a duplicate copy of your ING Grant eligibility notification.
Because this is an entitlement program, eligible recipients will receive their benefits regardless of annual appropriations through the state budget process. Illinois public two- and four-year colleges are required to waive any eligible tuition and allowable fees that are not covered by state appropriations.
MTI Scholarship Applications Still Being Accepted
The 2021-22 Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program application continues to be accepted, even though the March 1, 2021 priority consideration date has passed. Complete applications received after that date will be considered for the MTI Program only if funding remains after all applicants whose applications were timely and complete have been awarded.
All minority students who meet the program's eligibility requirements are encouraged to complete and submit the application to ISAC as soon as possible. After entering and submitting their data using the online application, applicants should follow the on-screen instructions to print the completed application, sign it, and mail it to ISAC. Important: the application is not complete until the Application/Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note, with an original ink signature, is received at ISAC.
You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through the Students 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), sending an e-mail message to isac.studentservices@illinois.gov or chatting live with one of our representatives through the "Live Support-Online" button in the Students & Parents area of our website.
Get information anytime about the college-going process and ISAC programs on ISAC's website and Student Portal, both accessible at isac.org.
