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Volume 17, Number 3
January 2008 - March 2008
Welcome to the January - March 2008 electronic ISAC Communiqué, which is a quarterly compilation of e-Messages sent through College Zone’s e-Messaging service throughout January, February and March. 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
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 March 27, 2008. 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.
Mapping Your Future Web Site Redesign
As you know, implementation of the Mapping Your Future Web site redesign is scheduled to take place during the evening of Friday, March 28, 2008. The redesign will occur in conjunction with a new Web domain (MappingYourFuture.org), changing the site's file structure and navigation. While the new site is being implemented on March 28th, visitors may encounter periodic Web site outages between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. (CT). Information regarding how you can ensure that your school's or organization's Web site is ready for the redesigned Mapping Your Future site was provided in a February 11th e-Message.
All links to Mapping Your Future that appear at collegezone.com will be updated to the new Web domain on Monday, March 31st.
The above is based on information from a Mapping Your Future E-Update. Mapping Your Future is a national collaborative public service project of the financial aid industry, including ISAC - bringing together the expertise of the industry to provide free college, career, financial aid, and financial literacy services for schools, students, and families.
Upcoming Commission Meetings
The next regularly scheduled meetings of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will take place as follows:
- Friday, April 4, 2008, at the University of Illinois at Springfield
- Friday, June 27, 2008, at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg
A listing of tentative agenda items will be available prior to each meeting via the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the e-Library. Dates and locations for all meetings scheduled in 2008 are available at the e-Library's Commission Meeting Schedule page. Agenda and meeting schedule information can also be accessed by selecting the link that appears beneath the "Resource Center" heading at the College Zone home page.
April: Details Will Be Provided for New HSSP Cycle
During the month of April, ISAC will announce pertinent dates for the new processing cycle of the State Scholar, Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS), and Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship programs [collectively referred to as the High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP)]. ISAC will soon begin accepting sixth semester data from high schools, which is used in determining eligibility for students who will be college freshmen during the 2009-10 academic year.
As a reminder, sixth semester data is to be reported for only those students in the top 50% of the class. This means that, if a school ranks, rankings should be provided for the top 50% of students. If a school does not rank, unweighted grade point averages (GPAs) should be provided for the top 50% of students. In addition, all schools (both ranking and non-ranking) should provide unweighted GPAs for any student who is not in the top 50% of the class but has an Illinois Standard Test Score (ISTS) of 31 or greater (this data is used in the determination of Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship awards).
Visit the High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP) section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area for future updates.
By May 1st: 2008-09 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholars Will Be Announced
Be sure to regularly visit the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area for updates regarding the announcement of 2008-09 new and renewal awards.
Holiday Schedules
May 26th: Memorial Day
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, May 26th and will reopen on Tuesday, May 27th.
July 4th: Independence Day
Due to the Independence Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Friday, July 4th and will reopen on Monday,
July 7th.
For Assistance
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).
A complete listing of 2008 holidays on which ISAC staff will be unavailable is provided at the ISAC Events Calendar.
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Money Smart Week Chicago: April 20-26, 2008
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and College Admission Counselors on March 26, 2008.
Money Smart Week (MSW) Chicago 08 will occur April 20th – 26th in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is partnering with The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for the fourth consecutive year to promote financial literacy through this weeklong event, which is designed to help consumers learn to better manage their personal finances.
This year, ISAC will be presenting the topic Consumer Economics of Higher Education twice on Monday, April 21st. 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 students prepare for the financial responsibilities associated with financing college. The morning session will be presented at
9:30 a.m. at ISAC's Deerfield office in Room 3030, and the afternoon session will be presented at the James R. Thompson Center (located downtown at 100 W. Randolph) in the Assembly Hall Auditorium at 1 p.m.
The official Money Smart Week calendar of events is available online at moneysmartweek.org (click on Chicago, and then choose the online calendar of events) to search over 350 financial education events by date, topic or neighborhood.
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March Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars - Register Now
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on March 24, 2008. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to take this opportunity to remind you that, in partnership with Xap Corporation, we will be offering a set of Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars for high school counselors and transcript administrators on Thursday, March 27th. Choose from the following times, based on what best fits your schedule.
- Thursday, March 27th at 9 a.m. (CT)
- Thursday, March 27th at 1 p.m. (CT)
All Webinars are provided at no cost, but do require online registration.
Details on how to register online are provided in a
March 4th e-Message.
Questions regarding the Webinars, or how to participate in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange program, may be directed to the dedicated IllinoisMentor High School Support Staff by phone at 800.899.4722, ext. 3840, or via e-mail at ILTE@isac.org.
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Schools Adopting Electronic Transcripts Continue to Rise
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on March 21, 2008.
Are you among the schools on the transcript superhighway? Over 50 Illinois schools and colleges are already connected to IllinoisMentor's Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange, with more regularly joining. Aurora University is the latest addition to the growing list that includes some of the state's largest colleges, including University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of DuPage, and Northern Illinois University, as well as:
- Chicago State University
- College of Lake County
- Eastern Illinois University
- Illinois Central College
- Illinois State University
- Loyola University of Chicago
- Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
- and many more
Benefits of Electronic Transcript Exchange for high schools:
No cost to high schools
Easy to implement and use
Set up and training in less than an hour
Secure and accurate exchange of transcripts
Time and money savings
Enhanced services for students
The Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange is an efficient and easy process for sending your students' electronic high school transcripts to the college(s) of their choice. This new tool, offered at no cost courtesy of Illinois Student Assistance Commission and powered by Xap Corporation, helps expedite the electronic transcript process between high schools and colleges. Mindful of the limited time counselors have, our all-new PDX™ Lite extract, takes as little as 1 hour to set-up and train. Think of it - faster, more efficient and secure transcripts at significant time and cost savings.
Further details, including a Q & A document, an Illinois Transcript Exchange flyer, and the Illinois Transcript Exchange Institution Agreement for Secondary Schools, can be found at the IllinoisMentor Resources page located in the Job Aids & Reference Materials area of the e-Library at collegezone.com.
If your high school is not currently participating in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange program and would like more information on how to enroll in this no-cost service, please contact the dedicated IllinoisMentor High School Support Staff by phone at 800.899.4722, ext. 3840, or via e-mail at ILTE@isac.org.
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Don't Forget to Register for an Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinar
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on March 10, 2008. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to take this opportunity to remind you that, in partnership with Xap Corporation, we will be offering a second series of Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars for high school counselors and transcript administrators. Choose from the following dates and times, based on what best fits your schedule.
- Thursday, March 13th at 9 a.m. (CT)
- Thursday, March 13th at 1 p.m. (CT)
- Thursday, March 27th at 9 a.m. (CT)
- Thursday, March 27th at 1 p.m. (CT)
All Webinars are provided at no cost, but do require online registration.
Details, including how to register online, are provided in a March 4th e-Message.
Questions regarding the Webinars, or how to participate in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange program, may be directed to the dedicated IllinoisMentor High School Support Staff by phone at 800.899.4722, ext. 3840, or via e-mail at ILTE@isac.org.
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Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars - March 2008
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on March 4, 2008. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), in partnership with Xap Corporation, is excited to announce a second series of upcoming Webinars designed to help high school counselors and transcript administrators send transcripts electronically, with the help of the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange, to Illinois colleges and universities. All Webinars are provided at no cost, but do require online registration.
Short for Web-based seminar, a Webinar is an online training delivered to you via the Internet. No travel is required and participants will be able to ask questions and get answers in real time. Each session will last approximately 45 minutes and site registration allows up to 25 participants to attend.
The Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars will demonstrate how easy it is, using the Xap Portable Document Extract, to select student transcripts, upload these transcripts to the Counselor Center, and release them to participating colleges and universities. Further details are provided in an Illinois Transcript Exchange flyer, which may be accessed via the Job Aids & Reference Materials area of the e-Library at collegezone.com.
Whether your high school has already signed an Institution Agreement or is interested in participating in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange program, all are welcome to attend.
If you are at a high school that is not currently participating in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange program and would like more information on how to enroll in this 'at no cost' service, please contact the dedicated IllinoisMentor High School Support Staff by phone at 800.899.4722, ext. 3840, or via e-mail at ILTE@isac.org.
Registration Details
To register, please select from one of the Webinars listed below:
Registration closes the day before a scheduled Webinar, so please register early. Please note that you may need to have Acrobat Connect set up on your computer prior to the Webinar.
Thank you for your interest in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange and we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming Webinars.
About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State's centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education.
About Xap
Xap Corporation, the trusted industry choice for one-stop integrated education and career solutions, empowers successful lifelong transitions through market-leading innovations and smart, flexible tools that are reliable, valid and secure. Xap's products have helped over eleven million students in the past decade and are presently available in over 15,000 North America schools and agencies.
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ISAC Releases "A Year in Review" Publication
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on February 19, 2008.
ISAC recently released "A Year in Review," a publication chronicling the activities and achievements of the agency during our anniversary year of 2007. Copies were distributed to our higher education partners, community and professional organizations, state and federal legislators, ISAC Commissioners and other interested parties. You can access "A Year in Review" through our collegezone.com Web site home page in two places. Link to it by clicking on Miscellaneous Publications under Publications and Applications, or on the Research & Statistics link in the Resource Center. Once on the Research & Statistics page, click on Research and Reports in the right menu.
"A Year in Review" is a celebration of ISAC's 50th year of providing access to higher education. We hope you'll take a few moments to look through it and share our pride in all that, together, we accomplished for the families of Illinois.
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Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on February 12, 2008.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), in partnership with Xap Corporation, is excited to announce upcoming Webinars designed to help high school counselors and transcript administrators send transcripts electronically, with the help of the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange, to Illinois colleges and universities. All Webinars are provided at no cost, but do require online registration.
Short for Web-based seminar, a Webinar is an online training delivered to you via the Internet. No travel is required and participants will be able to ask questions and get answers in real time. Each session will last approximately 45 minutes and site registration allows up to 25 participants to attend.
The Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars will demonstrate how easy it is, using the Xap Portable Document Extract, to select student transcripts, upload these transcripts to the Counselor Center, and release them to participating colleges and universities.
Whether your high school has already signed an Institution Agreement or is interested in participating in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange program, all are welcome to attend.
If you are at a high school that is not currently participating in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange program and would like more information on how to enroll in this no-cost service, please contact the dedicated IllinoisMentor High School Support Staff by phone at 800.899.4722, ext. 3840, or via email at ILTE@isac.org.
Registration details
To register, please select from one of the Webinars listed below:
February 27, 2008 at 9 AM CST
Register online for this event.
February 27, 2008 at 1 PM CST
Register online for this event.
Registration closes the day before a scheduled Webinar, so please register early. Please note that you may need to have Acrobat Connect set up on your computer prior to the Webinar.
Thank you for your interest in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange and we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming Webinars.
About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State's centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education.
About Xap
Xap Corporation, the trusted industry choice for one-stop integrated education and career solutions, empowers successful lifelong transitions through market-leading innovations and smart, flexible tools that are reliable, valid and secure. Xap's products have helped over eleven million students in the past decade and are presently available in over 15,000 North America schools and agencies.
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Prepare for March 28th Implementation of Mapping Your Future Web Site Redesign
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on February 11, 2008. As you know, implementation of the Mapping Your Future Web site redesign is scheduled to take place during the evening of Friday, March 28, 2008. The redesign will occur in conjunction with a new Web domain (MappingYourFuture.org), changing the site's file structure and navigation.
Details Provided in Special Issue of Early Awareness E-News
To assist high school counselors in ensuring that their own school's Web sites are ready for the redesigned Mapping Your Future site, a special issue of the Early Awareness E-News (dated February 7, 2008) is available online. Please take the time to carefully review this newsletter, which provides important information regarding topics such as the site's design and content, linking to the redesigned site, and staff e-mail addresses.
College Zone Updates
In preparation for the March 28th implementation, ISAC staff members are in the process of reviewing collegezone.com to identify Mapping Your Future links that will need to be updated with the new URLs. We encourage our high school and community organization partners to do the same.
Questions?
Questions regarding the Mapping Your Future Web site redesign may be directed to Mapping Your Future staff by sending an e-mail message to feedback@mappingyourfuture.org.
Mapping Your Future is a national collaborative public service project of the financial aid industry, including ISAC - bringing together the expertise of the industry to provide free college, career, financial aid, and financial literacy services for schools, students, and families.
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Summary of January 25th Commission Meeting
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and College Admission Counselors on January 28, 2008. The following is a summary of action taken at Friday's meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Details regarding several of the topics discussed are provided in the January 25th Agenda Book, which can be accessed from the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission page within the
e-Library at collegezone.com.
Partial Payment of Federal Default Fee for 2008-09 Approved - Agenda Item 10
For the 2008-09 academic year, ISAC will continue to pay 50% of the federally-mandated default fee for ISAC-guaranteed loans, thus reducing the cost to students and parents of borrowing through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). This borrower benefit is made possible using funds from the Student Loan Operating Fund (SLOF). ISAC will continue to encourage lenders to pay the other 50% of the default fee on behalf of borrowers. As a resource for students and parents who are FFELP borrowers, a List of ISAC's Participating Lenders (displayed in descending order of loan volume guaranteed through ISAC, and identifying which lenders have agreed to pay the other 50% of the default fee on behalf of borrowers) is available within the Student Zone at collegezone.com.
Proposed Rules Amendments - Agenda Item 14
Rules amendments are being proposed for the 2008-09 academic year to nine existing Parts. The full text of the proposed rules amendments and notices will be made available via the
e-Library's ISAC Administrative Rules section, following publication in the Illinois Register. The anticipated effective date of these proposed rules amendments is July 2008.
Next Meeting
The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting is set for Friday, April 4, 2008 at University of Illinois at Springfield.
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2008-09 FAFSA Available, and Upcoming Important Dates
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on January 3, 2008. 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.
College Awareness & Preparation (CAP) Resources Available for 2008-09 FAFSA Cycle
The 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycle, including FAFSA on the Web and Corrections on the Web, opened on January 1, 2008. The Central Processing System (CPS) began processing 2008-09 FAFSA data on Wednesday, January 2nd. Details regarding the 2008-09 application cycle are provided within the Applying for Financial Aid section of the e-Library.
Check out the College Awareness & Preparation (CAP) page at collegezone.com for information regarding resources that are available to help your college-bound students complete the financial aid process. Several events, including FAFSA completion seminars, will take place across the State of Illinois from now through March. Encourage families to attend the event that best fits their schedule.
CAP is a comprehensive effort of the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA), Inc., the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) and ISAC. Formerly known as Financial Aid Admission/Awareness Month (FAAM), CAP strives to fulfill its mission through a series of workshops, seminars and statewide support with partners from all sectors of education in the State of Illinois.
January - February: FAFSA Expert Training
As was announced in December, "FAFSA Expert Training" & "Understanding Financial Aid Packaging" sessions are being held throughout the state in January and February. These free all-day sessions (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) are designed to go beyond the basic line-by-line walkthrough of the FAFSA and delve into the more complex tax, asset, eligibility, and need analysis questions. Space is limited so register today!
Next Commission Meeting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will take place on Friday, January 25, 2008, at Loyola University in Chicago. A listing of tentative agenda items will be available prior to the meeting via the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the e-Library. Information can also be accessed by selecting the link that appears beneath the "Resource Center" heading at the College Zone home page.
State Scholar Program Appeals, and Availability of Finalist Lists/Mailing Labels
January 28, 2008 is the deadline by which student appeals regarding the 2008-09 State Scholar Program must be received at ISAC. After January 28th, forms will be available to order a listing or set of mailing labels of State Scholar Finalists.
Holiday Schedules
January 21st: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, January 21st and will reopen on Tuesday, January 22nd.
February 18th: Presidents' Day
Due to the Presidents' Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, February 18th and will reopen on Tuesday, February 19th.
For Assistance
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).
A complete listing of 2008 holidays on which ISAC staff will be unavailable is provided at the ISAC Events Calendar.
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ISAC Communiqué
New ISAC Communiqué Available at College Zone
Sent on January 2, 2008
The latest 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 October, November and December.
Topics covered in this electronic Communiqué include:
- Happy Holidays from ISAC
(sent December 17, 2007)
- College Zone Web Site Temporarily Unavailable on December 18th
(sent December 14, 2007)
- "FAFSA Expert Training" & "Understanding Financial Aid Packaging" - Register Now
(sent December 13, 2007)
- 2008-09 Teacher Program Applications Available - Due on or before March 1, 2008
(sent December 11, 2007)
- Illinois State Scholar Program Information
(sent December 5, 2007)
- CAP Committee Seeking Your Help to Make a Difference
(sent November 29, 2007)
- College Zone Web Site Temporarily Unavailable on November 30th
(sent November 28, 2007)
- Default Fee Change Approved and Other Action Taken at November 16, 2007 Commission Meeting
(sent November 19, 2007)
- "The Financial Aid Process" PowerPoint Presentation Available
(sent November 14, 2007)
- College Illinois! Enrollment Open
(sent November 7, 2007)
- ISAC Announces Workforce Reduction
(sent November 6, 2007)
- New Sections Added to Student Zone: "Medical Professions" and "Loan Repayment/Forgiveness Programs"
(sent November 2, 2007)
- Additional "The FAFSA Made Easy" Site Added
(sent November 1, 2007)
- Important Update - Default Fee Policy
(sent October 30, 2007)
- Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
(sent October 15, 2007)
- Financial Literacy Resources Available for Your Students
(sent October 15, 2007)
- New ISAC Communiqué Available at College Zone (July - September 2007)
(sent October 1, 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.
Encourage Your Colleagues to Sign Up for e-Messaging
College Zone's e-Messaging service has replaced printed newsletters and special e-mail lists as ISAC's primary means of communicating information to Counselor Zone partners.
Encourage your colleagues to visit the College Zone Counselor e-Messaging Sign-up page today, so that they won't miss any future announcements or updates from ISAC.
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