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Volume 17, Number 2
October 2007 - December 2007
Welcome to the October - December 2007 electronic ISAC Communiqué, which is a quarterly compilation of e-Messages sent through College Zone’s e-Messaging service throughout October, November and December. This e-Messaging service has replaced both printed newsletters and special e-mail lists as ISAC’s primary means of communicating information to you.
The articles in this electronic Communiqué have been organized according to the Counselor Zone subscription groups to which the messages were distributed via College Zone’s e-Messaging service.
Questions?
Questions regarding information in this electronic Communiqué can be directed to School Services at 866.247.2172 or at schoolservices@isac.org. On occasion, you may be directed to a specific contact person or area; when this occurs, we will provide the appropriate information in the individual article or message.
Multiple Subscription Groups
Happy Holidays from ISAC
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on December 17, 2007.
Our entire organization would like to wish all of our high school, college, community organization and library partners a safe and very happy holiday season.
We appreciate having the opportunity to serve the citizens of Illinois, and look forward to working with you throughout the next year.
May 2008 be a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous year for all.
Holiday Schedules
Due to the holidays, ISAC staff will be unavailable on the following dates:
- After 2 p.m. (CT) on Monday, December 24, 2007
- All day on Tuesday, December 25, 2007
- After 2 p.m. (CT) on Monday, December 31, 2007
- All day on Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Remember that you can access collegezone.com anytime, or send an e-mail message to ISAC's School Services Department. With the exception of holidays (such as those indicated above), ISAC staff will review and respond to messages during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT).
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College Zone Web Site Temporarily Unavailable on December 18th
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on December 14, 2007. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the College Zone maintenance that had originally been scheduled to take place on November 30th has been rescheduled for December 18th. Consequently, the College Zone Web site (collegezone.com) will be temporarily unavailable on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, beginning at 7 p.m. (CT) and continuing until approximately 1 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday, December 19th.
The following Internet applications will remain available during the temporary College Zone outage, and will be accessible via the URLs indicated:
- IllinoisMentor (illinoismentor.org) - note that, although the IllinoisMentor site will be available, links within the site that launch College Zone pages will result in error messages until all scheduled maintenance has been completed on the College Zone Web site
- College Illinois! (collegeillinois.com)
- Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program (IDAPP) (idapp.com)
We apologize for any inconvenience this rescheduling may cause you. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as we perform required maintenance on the College Zone Web site.
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"FAFSA Expert Training" & "Understanding Financial Aid Packaging" - Register Now
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, and Community Organizations December 13, 2007. Please join us as we start the new year continuing our series of professional development opportunities with the "FAFSA Expert Training" & "Understanding Financial Aid Packaging" sessions, designed especially for high school counselors, college admission counselors and community organization professionals. All events are free and require online registration through collegezone.com.
Beginning with our most popular session, the "FAFSA Expert Training" builds on the information and case studies presented in "The FAFSA Made Easy" and goes far beyond the line-by-line review of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complex tax, asset, eligibility and need analysis questions are discussed. You will complete a hand calculation of the Federal Need Analysis Methodology and learn how the information provided on the FAFSA is used to determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
In response to feedback from high school counselors and community based organization members, an afternoon session has also been added to this training event. Last year we introduced "Understanding Financial Aid Packaging." This highly rated session provides an overview of the elements involved in financial aid packaging as well as comprehensive consumer education information designed to assist you as you help your students prepare for the financial responsibilities associated with financing college.
These free sessions (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) will be offered at 11 locations throughout the state. Counselor Professional Development Units can be earned at each session.
Space is limited, so choose from the following dates and locations below and register online:
Dates & Locations
January 18, 2008
Chicago State University, 9501 South King Drive, Chicago, IL
University Library, Sun Room
Campus Map
January 24, 2008
DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus, 2250 North Sheffield Avenue, Chicago, IL
Student Center, 3rd Floor, Room 314 A & B
Campus Map
January 25, 2008
Lincoln Land Community College, Capital City Center, 130 West Mason, Springfield, IL
Lower Level Conference Center
Campus Map
January 25, 2008
ISAC Deerfield Office, 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL
Room 3030
Driving Directions
January 29, 2008
Rock Valley College, North Mulford Road, Rockford, IL
Woodward Technology Center, Rooms 141 & 142
Campus Map
January 30, 2008
Lake Land College, 5001 Lake Land Boulevard, Mattoon, IL
Webb Hall, Room 081
Campus Map
February 1, 2008
Joliet Junior College, Joliet Junior College, 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet IL
Room To Be Determined (Check before date)
Campus Map
February 4, 2008
College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, IL
Room SRC 2800
Campus Map
February 5, 2008
John A. Logan College, 700 Logan College Road; Carterville, IL
Main Facility First Floor, Room F119
Campus Map
February 8, 2008
Harry S. Truman College, 1145 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL
Faculty Dining Room, First Floor
Campus Map
February 11, 2008
Eureka College, 300 East College Avenue Eureka, IL
Cerf Center, Terrill Room
Campus Map
Continental breakfast will be provided and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming sessions.
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2008-09 Teacher Program Applications Available - Due on or before March 1, 2008
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, and Community Organizations December 11, 2007. 2008-09 TESP Interactive Application Launched
The interactive application for 2008-09 Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (TESP), used to apply for the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program and the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program, is available at collegezone.com. This online application offers such benefits as providing program information at the applicant's fingertips, performing online edits to prevent errors, allowing faster delivery time, and generating immediate confirmation that the application has been received.
As a reminder, only applicants with a valid digital ID from the State of Illinois will be able to access the online application. Applicants who had obtained a digital ID for a previous year's TESP application process will use that same digital ID this year. Additional information regarding the IFTC Program and the MTI Scholarship Program and the application process, including 2008-09 teacher shortage disciplines for the IFTC Program, is available within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area. These resources will assist you with questions you receive from students regarding the TESP application process.
The Student Zone provides applicants with direct access to details about the IFTC Program and MTI Scholarship Program. Applicants will have access to information regarding the application process, including instructions for specific application fields, once they access the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs area and launch the application.
2008-09 Illinois SETTW Program Application Available
The 2008-09 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Application is now available to print, complete and submit. Students pursuing a degree in special education who are willing to commit to teaching in Illinois after completing their degrees may be eligible to apply. Details about this program, including eligibility requirements, are provided in the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area.
2008-09 Nurse Educator Scholarship Program Application Available
The 2008-09 Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP) Application is now available to print, complete and submit. Graduate-level students pursuing a career in professional or practical nursing education who are willing to commit to teaching in Illinois after completing their degrees may be eligible to apply. Details about this program, including eligibility requirements, are provided in the Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP) section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area.
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CAP Committee Seeking Your Help to Make a Difference
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors and Community Organizations on November 29, 2007.
The College Awareness and Preparation (CAP) committee invites high school counselors and college admission and financial aid professionals across the state to participate in the 2008 FAFSA Workshops this coming winter. With your help, our goal this year is to continue raising the awareness about college financial aid for the thousands of families who will be filing their 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You're needed. Here's how you can make a difference!
Host a FAFSA Workshop in your community.
You may already host a traditional financial aid information night, reviewing the aid process and types of aid available. Take the next step for your local families by hosting a FAFSA Workshop. This Workshop will focus on assisting families with the application process and with the completion of the FAFSA itself. By making your facility available as a Host Site to the local area, you will have the flexibility to design a format appropriate for your community. Your site should be able to accommodate one-on-one assistance, Internet access to FAFSA on the Web, and/or a walk-through of the financial aid process once the form is filed.
The CAP committee is seeking volunteers to host an on-site Workshop and serve as a Site Coordinator. We will provide each Site Coordinator with the guidance and supplies necessary to help make your Workshop a success. Each Site Coordinator will have the support of a CAP committee member who will act as a liaison to the committee. The Site Coordinator and CAP liaison will work together to evaluate the facility to determine the most suitable presentation format, necessary resources, publicity needs, and the number of volunteers needed to help with the event. If you're interested in offering a FAFSA Workshop for your community, please complete and return the Event Registration form at least four weeks before your event.
The CAP Committee will also hold a Training Workshop for all Site Coordinators in December to help organize and plan for your Workshop. You will have the opportunity to meet with members of the CAP committee and have any questions answered to host a successful event.
| 12/7 |
ISAC Office, Room 3030 - Deerfield (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.) |
| 12/11 |
Eastern Illinois University, Martinsville Room - Charleston
(9 a.m. - 1 p.m.) |
| 12/14 |
Southwestern Illinois College - Belleville
(9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) |
Register now via e-mail at outreachtraining@isac.org and include your name, institution and the location you want to attend, and you will receive room and parking details. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration will be open up to three days before the training.
Volunteer to help at a FAFSA Workshop.
You may not be able to hold a Workshop at your site, but there's bound to be one near you. Each site needs volunteers that can help with a wide variety of tasks, such as greeting and guiding participants, presenting information, answering FAFSA questions and helping in a PC lab with FAFSA on the Web. Please consider being a volunteer, and copy and distribute the Volunteer Form among your colleagues as soon as possible and encourage them to volunteer as well. The Volunteer Committee is eager to begin organizing the volunteers and will contact each at a later date. The deadline for returning the Volunteer Form is January 15, 2008.
The 2008 CAP Committee would like to thank you in advance for your continued support of the annual FAFSA Workshops and other CAP activities. Please do not hesitate to contact Janet Ingargiola at 217.443.8760 or jingarg@dacc.edu with any questions you may have. Let us continue to work together to help Illinois students and families achieve their higher education goals.
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College Zone Web Site Temporarily Unavailable on
November 30th
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on November 28, 2007.
In order to perform necessary maintenance, the College Zone Web site (collegezone.com) will be temporarily unavailable during the evening of Friday, November 30, 2007, beginning at 7 p.m. (CT) and continuing until approximately 1 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, December 1st.
The following Internet applications will remain available during the temporary College Zone outage, and will be accessible via the URLs indicated:
- IllinoisMentor (illinoismentor.org) - note that, although the IllinoisMentor site will be available, links within the site that launch College Zone pages will result in error messages until all scheduled maintenance has been completed on the College Zone Web site
- College Illinois! (collegeillinois.com)
- Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program (IDAPP) (idapp.com)
Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as we perform required maintenance on the College Zone Web site.
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"The Financial Aid Process" PowerPoint Presentation Available
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on November 14, 2007.
ISAC is pleased to announce the availability of "The Financial Aid Process," a PowerPoint presentation created to help you present a financial aid workshop for your college-bound students and their families. In addition to the presentation, we've also provided suggested talking points to aid you in identifying the key pieces of information to highlight when speaking to students and parents about the financial aid process. The talking points that accompany the PowerPoint presentation may be used alone or in conjunction with the presentation.
Created with input from high school counselors, financial aid professionals and community organization representatives, this presentation focuses on need-to-know basics, discussed in the following sections:
- The Financial Aid Process - This section walks a student through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, including electronic filing through FAFSA on the Web (FOTW). The Personal Identification Number (PIN) feature is addressed, as is the Renewal FAFSA on the Web.
- Grant Programs - Students can learn about the federal and state grant programs and their applications.
- Scholarship Programs - The qualifications for federal and state scholarship programs are reviewed, as well as those for scholarships available for special programs.
- Employment - This section helps answer the questions that many students have about working while in college and how it impacts their financial aid.
- Federal Loan Programs - The three largest educational loan programs are outlined in simple, easy-to-understand language for students and parents.
- Other Financial Aid Sources - This is an overview of students' other options for paying for college, such as programs through their employer and/or civic organizations. Searching for scholarships on the Internet is also discussed.
The presentation, which may be accessed via the Ready-to-Use Presentations page within the e-Library at collegezone.com, is available to be downloaded in English and Spanish, and with narrated slides.
Please take advantage of this comprehensive presentation to assist your students and their families through the college planning process.
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College Illinois! Enrollment Open
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and Community Organizations on November 7, 2007.
College Illinois!, the state's prepaid tuition program, recently launched its 10th annual enrollment period. Designed for families who are seeking ways to ease the cost of a college education for their children, a College Illinois! plan locks in a price that will cover future tuition and fees, eliminating the impact of tuition inflation.
Although the family who purchases a College Illinois! plan early in their child's life will recognize a greater cost savings than those who wait until a child is older, College Illinois! can still be a great investment for families with children of all ages. Those of you who are counselors for children in lower grades may want to consider sharing information about College Illinois! with their families.
College Illinois! brochures (in English and Spanish), with details about the program, and a supply of Enrollment Kits, can be requested through the Counselor Zone Order Materials area of collegezone.com. Complete program information and enrollment guidelines are available at the College Illinois! Web site or by calling the toll-free number at 877.877.3724.
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ISAC Announces Workforce Reduction
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on November 6, 2007.
Like so many of our partners who also administer Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans, ISAC will suffer a substantial impact from the recent passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (CCRAA). As a result of the revenue reduction imposed by the CCRAA, coupled with an unstable credit market, the agency has made the difficult decision to eliminate 68 positions from its payroll. Fifty positions are currently held by employees; the remainder are vacant.
In determining how to reduce headcount, the priority was to identify positions that, although critical when created, are no longer crucial to the agency's mission, due to changes in the operation over the years. A structured and consistent process was used to identify those non-mission critical positions throughout the agency.
ISAC staff remain committed to serving the students and families of Illinois as they pursue their higher education goals. As stated by Executive Director Andy Davis in a press release announcing this action, "Through this restructuring, we can focus our efforts on core operations that ISAC does so well: providing outreach and other services to Illinois students to ensure they have the financial tools they need to achieve a college education."
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Additional "The FAFSA Made Easy" Site Added
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors and Community Organizations on November 1, 2007.
Due to an increased demand, we have added an additional site to our Professional Development Opportunities, "The FAFSA Made Easy" & "Planning a Successful Financial Aid Event" sessions. These free one-day sessions (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) are designed to help high school counselors, community organization members, financial aid administrators and other professionals involved in assisting Illinois students and their families along the path to college. Counselor Professional Development Units can be earned at each session.
"The FAFSA Made Easy" portion of the session focuses on the intricacies of the 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), student eligibility, and common mistakes students make when completing the form. Developed as an intensive line-by-line review of the FAFSA, this training will place special emphasis on the dependency questions, financial aid worksheets, and eligible non-citizens. Several case studies, including the completion of a FAFSA, have been incorporated into this year's session.
In addition, based on feedback from high school counselors and community organization members, a second training opportunity, "Planning a Successful Financial Aid Event" has been added to the day's agenda. Participants may now attend an afternoon session designed to help with the planning, promotion, and execution of successful financial aid presentations or other college outreach events. Those new to outreach event planning will be provided with tips, tools, and techniques for everything from cost to marketing to logistics. Experienced counselors are also invited to attend to share ideas, advice and best practices.
Space is limited so choose from the remaining dates and locations below and register here.
Dates & Locations
November 9, 2007
Southeastern Illinois College, 3575 College Rd,
Harrisburg, IL
B137 - Private Dining Room
Campus Map
November 16, 2007
Kishwaukee Community College, 21193 Malta Rd, Malta, IL
A-225
Campus Map
November 30, 2007
Parkland College, 2400 West Bradley Ave, Champaign, IL
Conference Room D244
Campus Map
December 6, 2007
John Wood Community College, 1301 S. 48th St, Quincy, IL
Paul Heath Center and Fine Arts Center – Room D022
Campus Map
December 7, 2007
Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Pkwy, Palos Hills, IL
Moraine Room 2 & 3
Campus Map
December 14, 2007
Black Hawk College, 6600 34th Ave, Moline, IL
Building 4, Lecture Room 1&2
Campus Map
Continental breakfast will be provided and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming sessions.
Make sure you submit your registration and print the confirmation page for your records.
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Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on October 15, 2007.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make you aware of the following information, which may be of interest to you and/or your college-bound students and their families.
October 19th: ISAC-Generated Sixth Semester Rosters Due
ISAC-generated High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP) Sixth Semester Academic Information Rosters (used for 2008-09 academic year processing) are due back to ISAC on or before Friday, October 19, 2007. Details are available at the Sixth Semester Roster Packet page, located within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area at collegezone.com.
October 29th: 2007-08 College Illinois! General Enrollment Period Opens
The 2007-08 general enrollment period for the College Illinois! 529 prepaid tuition plan opens on Monday, October 29, 2007 and continues through April 29, 2008. Families can pre-enroll between now and October 29th.
Continuing through Mid-February: 2007-08 Professional Development Opportunities
ISAC is hosting a series of professional development opportunities designed to help high school counselors, community organization members, financial aid administrators and other professionals involved in assisting Illinois students and their families along the path to college. More information, including dates/locations and registration details, is available within the e-Library's Partner Training area at collegezone.com.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC offices will be closed on the following dates:
- Monday, November 12, 2007 (Veterans Day Observation)
- Thursday, November 22, 2007 (Thanksgiving Day)
- Friday, November 23, 2007 (Day after Thanksgiving)
- Tuesday, December 25, 2007 (Christmas Day)
- Tuesday, January 1, 2008 (New Year's Day)
Remember that you can access collegezone.com anytime, or send an e-mail message to ISAC's School Services Department. With the exception of holidays (such as those indicated above), ISAC staff will review and respond to messages during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT).
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High School Counselors/Teachers
Illinois State Scholar Program Information
Sent on December 5, 2007
Press Release Available
A sample press release, usable by high schools to announce this year's State Scholars, is now available at collegezone.com. The press release indicates that 18,178 Illinois high school seniors were named winners this year, and describes the selection process, which is a combination of exemplary college entrance examination scores and high school achievement.
The release can be customized with the high school name and the number of Illinois State Scholars at the school, and used to announce the winners' names to local media, including school and community newspapers, and television and radio stations. There is also an area that will accommodate quotes from the high school principal and/or guidance counselor.
Please take advantage of this avenue to recognize the hard work and resulting success of your most accomplished students.
Program Reminders
High Schools that need to request a corrected Certificate of Achievement (for example, to correct the spelling of a Scholar's name) can do so via an e-mail message to School Services at schoolservices@isac.org. A new Certificate will be provided upon request.
Student-written letters of appeal for those students who the counselor feels should have been designated as State Scholars, but weren't, are due to ISAC by January 28, 2008. After the end of the appeal period, forms to order a State Scholar finalists listing and/or set of mailing labels will be made available.
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Default Fee Change Approved and Other Action Taken at November 16, 2007 Commission Meeting
Sent on November 19, 2007.
At its November 16th meeting, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) took action on several items as part of the agenda.
Revised Federal Default Fee Payment Policy for 2007-08 Academic Year Approved
The Commission approved a revised policy effective for Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans guaranteed on or after December 1, 2007. ISAC will pay one-half of the 1% federally-mandated default fee on behalf of the borrower, with the remaining half to be paid by either the lender or the student borrower.
This is a change from what the Commission had approved at its September 2007 meeting, at which time ISAC had indicated that only those loans for which the lender agreed to pay the remaining 50% of the fee would be guaranteed. The change in policy is the result of a decision by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), as was previously communicated to our partners in an
October 30th e-Message.
Please Note: Because ISAC will continue to guarantee loans regardless of whether the lender pays one-half of the default fee, a listing of those lenders opting to pay the remaining half of the fee will not be posted at College Zone (this is a change from what had originally been indicated following the September Commission meeting). Student borrowers and financial aid administrators will need to learn from lenders whether the remaining one-half of the default fee is to be paid by the lender or by the borrower.
Reminder for Lenders: Lenders are to return their completed Default Fee Data Sheet to Lender Services on or before November 28th.
Other Action Items Approved
The following items were also approved at the November 16th Commission meeting:
- Proposed administrative rules for the Veterans' Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program
- Selection of a College Illinois! Investment Manager
- Methodist College of Nursing's application to participate in gift assistance programs administered by ISAC
Information Items
These items were presented to the Commissioners for informational purposes (no action was required):
- FY2009 Grant Program Budget Issues
- Changes in Affordability of a College Education for Dependent Students in Illinois, FY1997 – FY2007
Future Meetings
Once the 2008 Commission meeting schedule has been finalized, it will be posted to the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the e-Library at collegezone.com.
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New Sections Added to Student Zone: "Medical Professions" and "Loan Repaymnet/Forgiveness Programs"
Sent on November 11, 2007. ISAC is pleased to announce the addition of two new sections within the Student Zone at collegezone.com. The information and links provided within each section will assist Illinois students in achieving their goals, both during college and after graduation.
Be sure your college-bound students are aware that these resources are available.
Medical Professions
Information for college-bound Illinois students who plan to become medical professionals - including how to become licensed, and salary outlooks - is provided within the Student Zone. Topics covered include nursing, allied health, and physician programs. Students will also find details regarding programs that can help pay for college.
Loan Repayment/Forgiveness Programs
Although loan repayment may seem a long way off for college-bound students, they can benefit from understanding available forgiveness options before they borrow. Students can learn about programs designed to help with student loan repayment (for Illinois residents who qualify based on certain eligibility requirements, such as making a commitment to work in Illinois for a specific amount of time as a teacher or nurse) within the Financing area of the Student Zone. Applicants also are now able to download and print applications for the new Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program and the Veterans' Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program from within the Student Zone.
These new sections, along with all the resources available at collegezone.com, are part of ISAC's ongoing commitment to ensuring that the students and families of Illinois have access to affordable educational opportunities.
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Important Dates - Default Fee Policy
Sent on October 30, 2007 The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is revising the recently announced default fee policy for ISAC-guaranteed Federal Stafford and PLUS loans for the remainder of the 2007-08 academic year. As many of you have been made aware, due to a decision by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), communicated to ISAC on October 29, 2007, ISAC will no longer require lenders to pay one-half of the 1% federally-mandated default fee.
Effective December 1, 2007, ISAC will, as announced earlier this fall, pay one-half of the default fee on behalf of borrowers. However, we have revised the requirement that the lender pay the remaining half of the fee, and will continue to guarantee loans for lenders currently participating in our guaranty program. The Commission will consider the revised policy at its November 16th meeting.
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Financial Literacy Resources Available for Your Students
Sent on October 15, 2007 The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to announce that free financial literacy resources are available for you and your students.
The cost of college has nearly doubled over the past two decades, and students are borrowing even more than before to help pay for their higher education. Now, perhaps more than ever, students need to become financially literate so they can make informed decisions that will positively affect their futures.
ISAC offers a free high school literacy program, which includes personal finance seminars and materials for your students. Many of you have already contacted us to schedule this presentation at your school. If you haven't yet done so, consider taking advantage of this opportunity to have ISAC staff visit during the spring 2008 term and provide a one-hour interactive session on personal finance education. For those who prefer to present their own session, the Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation created and used by ISAC staff is available online via the Ready-to-Use Presentations area of the e-Library at collegezone.com.
Financial literacy is an essential tool for students, to help them plan for an economically stable and prosperous future and avoid credit and debt problems. ISAC can provide the resources needed to assist your students in reaching their goals.
Help your students learn about borrowing responsibly and protecting their credit, before they attend college. Contact Patrick Elliott, Financial Literacy Program Coordinator, to discuss the proper session for your school by calling 847.948.8500 (extension 3827) or sending an e-mail message to pelliott@isac.org.
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ISAC Communiqué
New ISAC Communiqué Available at College Zone
Sent on October 1, 2007
The latest “electronic-only” edition of the ISAC Communiqué is now available for your review within the ISAC Publications section of College Zone's e-Library. This electronic version of ISAC's newsletter is a quarterly compilation of information provided to Counselor Zone partners via College Zone's e-Messaging service during the months of July, August and September.
Topics covered in this electronic Communiqué include:
- Important Information from Commission Meeting
(sent September 24, 2007)
- HSSP Sixth Semester Roster Data Due October 19, 2007
(sent September 18, 2007)
- "The FAFSA Made Easy" & "Planning a Successful Financial Aid Event" Sessions - Register Now
(sent September 11, 2007)
- Deadline to Submit HSSP School-Generated Rosters Extended
(sent August 31, 2007)
- 2007-08 Professional Development Opportunities Offered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
(sent August 28, 2007)
- ISAC Kicks Off 2007 Hispanic Heritage Month: Conducting a Financial Aid Presentation - in Spanish
(sent August 28, 2007)
- Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
(sent August 14, 2007)
- New ISAC Communiqué Available at College Zone (April - June 2007)
(sent July 2, 2007)
Electronic newsletters are available at the beginning of each quarter (January, April, July, and October), and are the compilation of information announced via an e-Message to any of the Counselor Zone subscription groups during the previous quarter.
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