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Volume 18, Number 1
July 2008 - September 2008
Welcome to the July - September 2008 electronic ISAC Communiqué, which is a quarterly compilation of e-Messages sent through College Zone’s e-Messaging service throughout July, August and September. 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
Get Involved - CAP Committee Seeking Hosts and Volunteers
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and College Admission Counselors on
September 30, 2008. The College Awareness and Preparation (CAP) committee invites you to help us provide college-bound students and their parents with information regarding college access, admission, and financial aid application procedures. CAP is specifically looking for site coordinators for FAFSA Workshops and volunteers to help students complete the 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and get ready for the next school year.
Here's how you can get involved:
- Host a FAFSA Workshop in your community
CAP is requesting that those who are interested in hosting a workshop at their facility serve as a "Site Coordinator" and complete an Event Registration Form. These workshops are devoted to providing a location for students and parents who are seeking professional assistance to complete the FAFSA using FAFSA on the Web. For maximum assistance with your college access event, please return the Event Registration Form no later than November 15, 2008. We are committed to providing each site coordinator with the guidance and supplies necessary to help make your workshop a success. There will be three site coordinator training sessions to accommodate different areas of the state. November 19th at John A. Logan CollegeNovember 20th at Loyola University – ChicagoDecember 3rd at Carl Sandburg College During these sessions, site coordinators will meet with CAP Committee members to discuss organizing, marketing and evaluating their events. Please register for one of these training sessions on the Event Registration Form.
- Volunteer to help at a FAFSA Workshop
There are various challenges at each site that require volunteers from both the counseling and financial aid professions. It is not necessary to be a financial aid or FAFSA expert to help families at a FAFSA completion workshop. Please consider volunteering your time to assist the site coordinator at a location in your area. The Volunteer Form will be accepted through the month of February. Return to Top
"How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation - in Polish!" Online Registration is Now Available
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on September 29, 2008. Join us as we present How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation - in Polish, the newest addition to the annual series of Professional Development Opportunities provided by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
This interactive half-day session (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.) will help you speak "financial aid" and prepare a financial aid presentation in Polish. In addition to receiving ready-to-use presentations and printed materials that will complement your next financial aid or college night, you will gain insight on effectively communicating critical financial aid information to students and their Polish-speaking parents.
Currently, Polish is one of the prominent foreign languages spoken in Illinois. More than one million people are of Polish descent and Chicago is recognized as having the largest Polish population outside of Poland. Furthermore, among parents with limited English proficiency, it is common to find a lack of basic college knowledge, particularly regarding the financial aid process and programs available to help meet the rising cost of college. As a result, many of their children who may qualify for aid apply late or don't apply at all.
If you, or someone in your school or organization, speak Polish and are interested in learning more about the financial aid process in order to serve Polish-speaking families, plan to attend.
Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDU) will be provided to participants.
The program includes the following:
- a ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation complete with talking points;
- a review of printed materials available in Polish;
- an overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
- a question and answer period.
How to Register
Click here to be directed to online registration.
Details
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
(seminar registration opens at 8:30 a.m.)
Host site: Oakton Community College, Room 1604
1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Campus Map
Parking: Lot D
Cost: None
Notes: Continental breakfast will be provided.
For more information about the 2008-09 Professional Development Opportunities presented by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), visit the Training Calendar for Partners within the e-Library at collegezone.com or call Julie Henschel at 800.899.4722, ext. 3825. The calendar, particularly registration options, will be updated periodically; so be sure to check back regularly.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
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Educational Film Series DVD Available
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and Community Organizations on September 24, 2008. The College Access and Outreach Division at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is pleased to offer an original DVD as part of an educational film series. This series of short films, created in the style of Spanish-language telenovela, depicts attitudes and situations regarding college and financial aid in many communities. The disc was specifically created for potential first-generation college students and their families.
The content of the DVD encourages students to apply for financial aid, and is a perfect supplement to show at your College Admission and/or Financial Aid Night presentations. Because two of the four novelas are in Spanish with English subtitles, they can be used for both English- and Spanish-speaking audiences.
If you would like to order one of these DVD's, which are being offered free of charge, please submit your request via e-mail to Carol Stark at cstark@isac.org. Orders should include your name, the name of your school or organization, and the mailing address. There is a limit of one per school/organization while supplies last.
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HSSP Sixth Semester Roster Data Due October 31, 2008
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on September 17, 2008. HSSP 6th Semester Academic Information Rosters, Certification Forms and blank Rank-in-Class Rosters [used to identify students who may be eligible for the State Scholar, Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS), and/or Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship programs for the 2009-10 academic year] were sent on September 17th to Illinois high schools which did not submit a school-generated roster. When referred to collectively, these three programs are known as the High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP).
Reminders
As part of our continuing efforts to simplify the HSSP process, the following elements from previous years' HSSP cycles remain in effect:
- Schools need only provide information for those students in the top 50% of the class.
- Schools must use unweighted grade point averages (GPAs) only.
- Only finalists will be announced. There will be no roster of potential awardees.
Rosters Due On or Before October 31st
Completed rosters, which aid in the identification of State Scholar recipients, are due back to ISAC on or before Friday, October 31, 2008. Instructions for completing the rosters were included in the mailing, and are also available within the Sixth Semester Roster Packet section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area at collegezone.com.
If high schools prefer, they can still submit school-generated rosters which contain accurate sixth semester data. Special care should be taken to ensure that only sixth semester data (defined as the third semester prior to graduation) is submitted.
Announcement of Finalists To Take Place in November
We anticipate making final announcement data available to high schools in late November. In order to help us achieve this goal, please make every effort to return your school's completed rosters by the October 31st due date.
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Submit School-Generated HSSP Rosters on or before Friday, September 12th
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on September 8, 2008. We would like to take this opportunity to remind our high school partners that sixth semester data for the State Scholar, Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS), and Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship programs [collectively referred to as the High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP)] must be submitted to ISAC on or before September 12, 2008 to prevent ISAC from generating a roster at a later date.
If you have already submitted your school-generated roster, thank you for providing the information. If not, please consider doing so on or before September 12th. Student-specific sixth semester data is used in determining HSSP eligibility for students who will be college freshmen during the 2009-10 academic year.
Special care should be taken to ensure that only sixth semester data is submitted (sixth semester is defined as the third semester prior to graduation). Also, 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) must provide unweighted GPAs for any student who 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).
Instructions regarding school-generated sixth semester rosters, including required data and requested disqualification codes, are provided in the Required Sixth Semester Data section that is located within the Counselor Zone's ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area at collegezone.com.
As a reminder, HSSP rosters containing sixth semester academic data should be mailed to:
D2A, School Services
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
If you choose to fax your school's roster, you may do so at 847.831.8549.
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"The Consumer Economics of Higher Education" Online Registration Now Available
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, IllinoisMentor Counselors and Public Libraries on September 5, 2008. Plan to attend The Consumer Economics of Higher Education, an interactive workshop designed for counselors and college access professionals who are involved in assisting Illinois students and their families in the process of planning for, applying to, and paying for college.
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. More than just the basics are covered. Attendees will learn how to interpret a financial aid package; explore ways to manage cost; take an in-depth look at cost of attendance by degree and institution; and gain insight relevant to academic program ranks, graduation rates, and job opportunities and earning potential in Illinois.
Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDU) will be provided to participants.
For your convenience, these half-day sessions will be offered at two locations across the state at no cost to you.
How to Register
Click here to be directed to online registration.
Event Details
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (seminar registration
opens at 8:30 a.m.)
Cost: None
Notes: Continental breakfast will be provided.
Locations, Dates and Campus Maps
September 26, 2008
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Room 1106
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Map
November 21, 2008
Spoon River College
Engle Hall Smart Classroom
23235 N. County Highway 22
Canton, IL 61520
Map
For more information about the 2008-09 Professional Development Opportunities presented by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), visit the Training Calendar for Partners within the e-Library at collegezone.com or call Julie Henschel at 800.899.4722, ext. 3825. The calendar, particularly registration options, will be updated periodically; so be sure to check back regularly.
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"The FAFSA Made Easier" Online Registration Available
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, IllinoisMentor Counselors and Public Libraries on September 4, 2008. You're invited!
The FAFSA Made Easier is designed for counselors, mentors, and college access professionals who are involved in assisting Illinois students and their families in the process of planning for, applying to, and paying for college.
This interactive workshop focuses on the intricacies of the 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), student eligibility, and common mistakes. Developed as an intensive line-by-line review of the FAFSA, special emphasis will be placed on review of changes to elements on the FAFSA, dependency questions, and eligible non-citizens. The completion of a FAFSA has been incorporated into this year's session.
For your convenience, these half-day sessions will be offered at eight locations across the state at no cost to you.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
How to Register
Click here to be directed to online registration.
Event Details
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (seminar registration
opens at 8:30 a.m.)
Cost: None
Notes: Continental breakfast will be provided.
Locations, Dates and Campus Maps
September 26, 2008
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Room 3030
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Map
October 3, 2008
Rend Lake College
Student Center, Room 110
468 N. Ken Gray Parkway
Ina, IL 62846
Map
October 10, 2008
Triton College
Student Center, Room B-204/210
2000 Fifth Avenue
River Grove, IL 60171
Map
October 17, 2008
Richland Community College
Schilling Educational Center, Salon 1
One College Park
Decatur, IL 62521
Map
November 7, 2008
Kishwaukee Community College
Conference Center, Room A-225 (Use door 10 or 11)
21193 Malta Road
Malta, IL 60150
Map
November 21, 2008
Spoon River College
Engle Conference Center, Rooms A & B
23235 N. Co 22
Canton, IL 61520
Map
December 5, 2008
Olive Harvey College
Room TBA
10001 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60628
Map
January 15, 2009
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Room 3030
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Map
For more information about the 2008-09 Professional Development Opportunities presented by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), visit the Training Calendar for Partners within the e-Library at collegezone.com or call Julie Henschel at 800.899.4722, ext. 3825. The calendar, particularly registration options, will be updated periodically; so be sure to check back regularly.
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ISAC Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by Presenting "How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation - in Spanish!"
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, IllinoisMentor Counselors and Public Libraries on August 26, 2008. Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation – in Spanish, one of our most popular professional development opportunities for counselors, mentors, and college access professionals.
Developed on the basis of suggestions from the admission, guidance, and financial aid communities, this interactive half-day (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) training event will help you speak "financial aid" and prepare a financial aid presentation in Spanish. To complement your next financial aid night, you will be provided with ready-to-use presentations and Novelas Educativas - a series of short films created in the style of popular Spanish-language telenovelas.
Currently, Spanish is the second most popular language in the country and the primary language spoken in more American homes than any other foreign language. Yet, limited proficiency in the English language coupled with a lack of financial and college knowledge pose a substantial obstacle as many Spanish-speaking parents and their children grapple with college applications and questions of affordability. Too often they assume that college is beyond their reach and, as a result, students who may qualify for financial aid tend to apply late or don't apply at all.
If you, or someone in your school or organization, speak Spanish and are interested in learning more about the financial aid process in order to serve Spanish-speaking families, plan to join us.
The program includes the following:
- a ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation complete with talking points;
- an introduction to Novelas Educativas;
- a review of resources available in Spanish;
- an overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and
- a question and answer period.
How to Register
Click here to be directed to online registration
Event Details
Date: Friday, September 19, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (seminar registration opens
at 8:30 a.m.)
Host site: Malcolm X College, Room 2418
1900 W. Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60612
Campus Map
Parking: Jackson Street Lot
Cost: None
Notes: Continental breakfast will be provided.
For more information about the 2008-09 Professional Development Opportunities presented by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), visit the Training Calendar for Partners within the e-Library at collegezone.com or call Julie Henschel at 800.899.4722, ext. 3825. The calendar, particularly registration options, will be updated periodically; so be sure to check back regularly.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
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2008-09 Professional Development Opportunities Brought to You by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Community Organizations, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, IllinoisMentor Counselors and Public Libraries on August 19, 2008. You're invited!
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to announce that the staff in the Division of College Access and Outreach will once again present a series of professional development opportunities. These sessions are designed to help you and other high school counselors, college access professionals, and others who are involved in assisting Illinois students and their families in the process of planning for, applying to, and paying for college.
Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDU) will be provided to participants. For your convenience, these half-day (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) sessions will be offered at locations across the state at no cost to you. Online registration will begin the last week of August. In the mean time, listed below is a brief overview of the types of sessions that will be offered this year.
- "How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation - in Spanish!"
Spanish is the second-most popular language in the country and the primary language spoken in more American homes than any other foreign language. If you, or someone in your school or organization, speaks Spanish and are interested in learning more about the financial aid process in order to serve students and their Spanish-speaking parents, plan to attend. This interactive half-day session was created to help you speak "financial aid" and prepare a financial aid presentation in Spanish. In addition, you will be provided with ready-to-use presentations and Novelas Educativas - a series of short films created in the style of popular Spanish-language telenovelas.
Note: This session will be offered on September 19, 2008 at one location. Online registration starts August 25, 2008.
- "How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation - in Polish!"
Polish is a prominent foreign language spoken in Illinois. If you, or someone in your school or organization, speaks Polish and are interested in learning more about the financial aid process in order to serve Polish-speaking families, please join us. Based on feedback from the admission, guidance, and financial aid communities we have created a training event to help you speak "financial aid" and prepare a financial aid presentation in Polish. In addition to receiving ready-to-use presentations and printed materials that will complement your next financial aid or college night, you will gain insight on effectively communicating critical financial aid information to students and their Polish-speaking parents.
Note: This session will be offered on October 23, 2008 at one location. Online registration starts September 30, 2008.
“The FAFSA Made Easier” focuses on the intricacies of the 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), student eligibility, and common mistakes. Developed as an intensive line-by-line review of the FAFSA, this training will place special emphasis on changes to elements on the FAFSA, dependency questions, and eligible non-citizens. Several case studies, including the completion of a FAFSA, have been incorporated into this year's session.
Note: This session will be offered in September, October, November, and December at 8 locations. Online registration starts September 3, 2008.
This winter, the professional development series continues with our most popular session, "FAFSA Expert Training." This session builds on the information and case studies presented in “The FAFSA Made Easier” and goes far beyond the line-by-line review of the FAFSA. Complex tax, asset, eligibility and need analysis questions are discussed. Participants 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).
Note: This session will be offered in January and February at 8 locations. Online registration starts December 29, 2008.
- "The Consumer Economics of Higher Education"
This highly rated session provides an overview of the elements involved in financial aid packaging. It is complemented by comprehensive consumer education information designed to assist you as you help students prepare for the responsibilities associated with financing college. Attendees will learn how to interpret a financial aid package; explore ways to manage cost; take an in-depth look at cost of attendance by degree and institution; and, gain insight relevant to academic program ranks, graduation rates, and job opportunities and earning potential in Illinois.
Note: This session will be offered in September and November at 2 locations. Online registration starts September 5, 2008.
How to Register
Registration details, including dates and locations, will be available online from the Partner Training area of the e-Library at collegezone.com. For your convenience, we will be sending e-Messages with the latest information and updates about this series of year-round training sessions. If you have colleagues who are not already e-Messaging subscribers, encourage them to sign up through the front page of the Counselor Zone.
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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 August 8, 2008. From the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) ... information which may be of interest to you and/or your college-bound students and their families.
2008-09 ISAC Administrative Rules Available
ISAC Administrative Rules, which have been adopted for the 2008-09 academic year, are available within the e-Library at collegezone.com.
August 8th through August 17th: Illinois State Fair
Visit with ISAC staff in Campus Town at the 2008 Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Campus Town is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fair, which runs from August 8th through August 17th. The theme of this year's fair is "A Family Tradition."
September 12th: School Generated Sixth-Semester Rosters Due
In April, ISAC sent high schools an overview letter with the delivery process and timeframes for the upcoming 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 gathers information during 2008-09, including sixth-semester data from high schools, that is used in making student awards for the 2009-10 academic year. School-generated sixth semester rosters must be submitted to ISAC on or before September 12, 2008 to prevent ISAC from generating a roster at a later date (currently anticipated for September).
Holiday Schedules
September 1st: Labor Day
Due to the Labor Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, September 1st and will reopen on Tuesday, September 2nd.
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, 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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High School Counselors/Teachers
HSSP Electronic Delivery System
Sent on September 30, 2008 This summer, ISAC completed a pilot program with high schools participating in the Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Program. These high schools transmitted all of their High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP) data to ISAC using the Transcript Exchange. We are pleased to announce that this pilot program, known as the HSSP Electronic Delivery System, was successful and we are now offering this service to all Illinois high schools. Illinois is the first state in the Midwest and among the first in the nation to enable such data transmission.
Participation in the HSSP Electronic Delivery System is easy and adds only a few additional steps to the current process for sending electronic transcripts to colleges.
Benefits:
- No cost to schools
- Security of student records
- Reduce paper
- Free up high school guidance counselors and ISAC staff to better serve students
If your high school has not already submitted your HSSP 6th Semester Academic Information Roster, used to identify students from your high school who may be eligible for the State Scholar, the Merit Recognition Scholarship and the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship programs, it's not too late. There is still time to participate in the electronic process. If your high school has already submitted a paper roster for this year, but you would like to participate in the electronic process for next year, please let us know so we can begin preparations for your participation. The goal is for all Illinois high schools to transmit student scholar data electronically within the next three years.
Whether your high school is interested in participating in the HSSP Electronic Delivery System this year or next, please contact School Services by phone at 866.247.2172, or via e-mail at schoolservices@isac.org.
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ISAC Communiqué
New ISAC Communiqué Available at College Zone
Sent on July 1, 2008
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 April, May and June.
Topics covered in this electronic Communiqué include:
- Can We Exchange Information?
(sent June 20, 2008)
- Workforce Reduction at ISAC
(sent May 20, 2008)
- Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Informational Sessions - Register Now
(sent May 14, 2008)
- Continued Access to Student Loans
(sent May 9, 2008)
- Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
(sent May 7, 2008)
- Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Informational Sessions Being Offered in May
(sent April 29, 2008)
- New Cycle Underway for High School Scholarship Programs
(sent April 15, 2008)
- Don't Forget - Money Smart Week Chicago (April 20-26, 2008)
(sent April 15, 2008)
- April Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange Webinars - Register Now
(sent April 14, 2008)
- Student Video Contest
(sent April 8, 2008)
- Statewide Test Prep Resource Helps Illinois Students' ACT Preparation
(sent April 3, 2008)
- New ISAC Communiqué Available at College Zone (January - March 2008)
(sent April 1, 2008)
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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