 |
Volume 21, Number 1
July 2011 - September 2011
Welcome to the July - September 2011 electronic ISAC Communiqué, which is a quarterly compilation of e-Messages sent through College Illinois! e-Messaging service throughout July, August and September.
The articles in this electronic Communiqué have been organized according to the Counselor Subscription groups to which the messages were distributed.
Questions?
Questions regarding information in this electronic Communiqué can be directed to School Services at 866.247.2172 or at ISAC.schoolservices@isac.illinois.gov. 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
2011-12 Financial Aid Certification Program (New) Online Registration Is Now Open for Fall Sessions! Brought to You by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, What's Next Illinois Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on September 15, 2011.
It is critical that professionals who interact with Illinois students during the financial aid and college application processes are knowledgeable about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and financial aid. This year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is integrating its professional development opportunities, highly acclaimed by new and seasoned counselors and mentors, into a formalized annual certification series that gives professionals a detailed understanding of financial aid programs and systems. For the first time, ISAC will be providing participants session-specific knowledge assessments to measure their comprehension of the financial aid content and trusted resources presented. Session participants that successfully pass each knowledge assessment will receive an official certificate of completion from ISAC via e-mail.
ISAC also awards Professional Counselor/Clinical Counselor Continuing Education (CE) credits and Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) to session participants at a rate of one per contact hour. In order to earn these units and/or credits, it is necessary to attend each session in its entirety and complete one Session-Specific Knowledge Assessment, an ISAC and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Evaluation Form, and an ISBE Evidence of Completion at the end of each session.
Plan to participate in one or several of these opportunities brought to a location near your home or office by ISAC's Division for College Access and Outreach. All sessions are offered at no cost to counselors, mentors, and members of the general public.
Below is an overview of the fall sessions that will be offered this year. Online registration is now available via collegeillinois.org/FinancialAidCertification/.
- FALL SESSIONS
Sessions will be offered in October, November, and December at 19 locations.
Fall sessions will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with an hour break for lunch at noon. Registration opens at 8 am.
Fall Morning Sessions
Session 1: Nuts and Bolts of Financial Aid
This presentation is designed to introduce participants to how financial aid works and provide a big picture overview, as well as an introduction to key terms and concepts.
Session 2: State and Federal Scholarship, Grant, and Loan Programs
The Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) and the Federal Pell Grant are two of the largest sources of need-based aid for Illinois students. During this presentation, learn about these grants and the key requirements for other Illinois and federal aid programs. Also covered are the fundamentals of student loan borrowing, borrower rights and responsibilities, and insight on ways to maximize available resources to help students and their families make informed decisions about borrowing for education.
Fall Afternoon Sessions
Session 3: FAFSA Made Easier
Need answers to your students' questions? This workshop provides an insightful line-by-line review of the FAFSA. Special emphasis is placed on dependency questions, untaxed income, issues of student eligibility, and how to avoid common mistakes in completing the form.
Session 4: FAFSA on the Web
Not sure how FAFSA on the Web is different from completing the paper FAFSA? Attend this session and learn how to navigate through the FAFSA on the Web to make corrections, check application status, and learn how the IRS data retrieval process works.
Fall 2011 Sites Include:
| October 4 |
ISAC, Deerfield |
| October 6 |
Black Hawk College, Moline |
| October 7 |
Highland Community College, Freeport |
| October 11 |
Elgin Community College, Elgin |
| October 14 |
Danville Area Community College, Danville |
| October 21 |
Prairie State College, Chicago Heights |
| October 25 |
Wilbur Wright College, Chicago |
| October 26 |
John Wood Community College, Quincy |
| October 27 |
Illinois Central College, East Peoria |
| October 28 |
Robert Morris University, Chicago |
| November 9 |
Olney Central College, Olney |
| November 10 |
Lake Land College, Mattoon |
| November 15 |
Rock Valley College, Rockford |
| November 16 |
Triton College, River Grove |
| November 22 |
Oakton Community College, Skokie |
| December 8 |
SIU-Edwardsville, Edwardsville |
| December 13 |
South Suburban College, South Holland |
| December 15 |
DePaul University (Lincoln Park Campus), Chicago |
| December 16 |
Heartland Community College, Normal |
How to Register
Registration details, including dates and locations, are available online at collegeillinois.org/FinancialAidCertification/ and from the Partner Training area of ISAC's e-Library (which may be accessed via collegeillinois.org/counselor). For your convenience, we will be sending e-Messages with the latest information and updates about this series of year-round sessions. If you have colleagues who are not already e-Messaging subscribers, encourage them to sign up at collegeillinois.org/application/registration/.
Additional Questions
Send us your questions via e-mail at ISAC.OutreachTraining@isac.illinois.gov.
Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, What's Next Illinois Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on September 13, 2011. 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.
Available Now: College Illinois Transcript Exchange Registration
The registration portal for the College Illinois Transcript Exchange (CITE) is open, and high schools are encouraged to sign-up to participate. Informational webinars about the CITE process are being offered each Wednesday at 10 a.m. (CT). Further details are provided in an August 15 e-Message.
As a reminder, a July 20 e-Message introduced "Docufide Receiver," which is the process that participating colleges utilize to access transcripts that are sent by high schools via the CITE process.
September 16: Next Commission Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2011 in Room 2-025 of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. Details are provided at the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission area at collegeillinois.org.
By September 30: Submit HSSP Sixth Semester Data to Avoid Receiving an ISAC-Generated Paper Roster
ISAC is currently accepting High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP) sixth semester data from high schools, which is used in determining eligibility for the State Scholar Program for students who will be college freshmen during the 2012-13 academic year. Further details, including instructions regarding an interim process for the electronic submission of this data, are provided in a June 27 e-Message. To avoid receiving the ISAC-generated paper rosters that will be mailed in early October, be sure to submit your school-generated sixth semester data - either electronically or on paper - no later than September 30, 2011.
Continuing through March: 2011-12 Financial Aid Certification Program
ISAC is integrating its professional development opportunities into a formalized annual certification series that gives professionals a detailed understanding of financial aid programs and systems. All sessions are offered at no cost to counselors, mentors, and members of the general public. Details regarding the Financial Aid Certification Program fall, winter and spring sessions - including locations, dates, and online registration - are provided in a September 9 e-Message, and also within the e-Library's Partner Training area (which may be accessed via collegeillinois.org/counselor).
Upcoming Days When ISAC Offices Will Be Closed
ISAC offices will be closed on the following dates:
- Monday, October 10, 2011 (Columbus Day)
- Friday, November 11, 2011 (Veterans Day)
- Thursday, November 24, 2011 (Thanksgiving Day)
- Friday, November 25, 2011 (Day after Thanksgiving)
- Monday, December 26, 2011 (Christmas Holiday Observation)
- Monday, January 2, 2012 (New Year's Holiday Observation)
Remember that you can access collegeillinois.org/counselor anytime, or send an e-mail message to ISAC's School Services Department (if you have not already done so, be sure to update your records to reflect the current School Services e-mail address: isac.schoolservices@isac.illinois.gov). With the exception of days when the ISAC offices are closed, ISAC staff will review and respond to messages during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT).
2011-12 Financial Aid Certification Program (New) - Brought to You by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, What's Next Illinois Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on September 9, 2011.
It is critical that professionals who interact with Illinois students during the financial aid and college application processes are knowledgeable about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and financial aid. This year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is integrating its professional development opportunities, highly acclaimed by new and seasoned counselors and mentors, into a formalized annual certification series that gives professionals a detailed understanding of financial aid programs and systems. For the first time, ISAC will be providing participants session-specific knowledge assessments to measure their comprehension of the financial aid content and trusted resources presented. Session participants that successfully pass each knowledge assessment will receive an official certificate of completion from ISAC via e-mail.
ISAC also awards Professional Counselor/Clinical Counselor Continuing Education (CE) credits and Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) to session participants at a rate of one per contact hour. In order to earn these units and/or credits, it is necessary to attend each session in its entirety and complete one Session-Specific Knowledge Assessment, an ISAC and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Evaluation Form, and an ISBE Evidence of Completion at the end of each session.
Plan to participate in one or several of these opportunities brought to a location near your home or office by ISAC's Division for College Access and Outreach. All sessions are offered at no cost to counselors, mentors, and members of the general public.
Below is an overview of the fall, winter and spring sessions that will be offered this year.
- FALL SESSIONS
Sessions will be offered in October, November, and December at 19 locations. Online registration becomes available on September 12, 2011 at collegeillinois.org/FinancialAidCertification/.
Fall sessions will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with an hour break for lunch at noon.
Fall Morning Sessions
Session 1: Nuts and Bolts of Financial Aid
This presentation is designed to introduce participants to how financial aid works and provide a big picture overview, as well as an introduction to key terms and concepts.
Session 2: State and Federal Scholarship, Grant, and Loan Programs
The Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) and the Federal Pell Grant are two of the largest sources of need-based aid for Illinois students. During this presentation, learn about these grants and the key requirements for other Illinois and federal aid programs. Also covered are the fundamentals of student loan borrowing, borrower rights and responsibilities, and insight on ways to maximize available resources to help students and their families make informed decisions about borrowing for education.
Fall Afternoon Sessions
Session 3: FAFSA Made Easier
Need answers to your students' questions? This workshop provides an insightful line-by-line review of the FAFSA. Special emphasis is placed on dependency questions, untaxed income, issues of student eligibility, and how to avoid common mistakes in completing the form.
Session 4: FAFSA on the Web
Not sure how FAFSA on the Web is different from completing the paper FAFSA? Attend this session and learn how to navigate through the FAFSA on the Web to make corrections, check application status, and learn how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data retrieval process works.
- WINTER SESSIONS
Sessions will be offered in January and February at 10 locations. Online registration becomes available on November 22, 2011 at collegeillinois.org/FinancialAidCertification/.
Winter sessions will run from 8:30 am to noon.
Session 1: Expert Guide: FASFA Relevant Documents
Get your hands on a printed resource designed specifically for counselors and mentors. We review a collection of documents that are references for the FAFSA.
Session 2: FAFSA Expert Training: Need Analysis and EFC Calculations
How do they come up with the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)? Learn how factors such as parents' age, income, savings and family size are used in the federal methodology to determine the EFC. Using lifelike scenarios, participants complete guided calculations to learn the intricacies of determining financial need.
- SPRING SESSIONS
Sessions will be offered in March at 5 locations. Online registration becomes available on January 12, 2012 at collegeillinois.org/FinancialAidCertification/.
Spring sessions will run from 8:30 am to noon.
Session 1: Corrections, Verification and Special Circumstances
There are situations where estimates or the information first reported on the FAFSA may need to be changed. Learn how to correct information, what it means when a student is selected for verification, and what the financial aid administrator can and cannot do to help students with special circumstance.
Session 2: Financial Aid Packaging and University Billing Cycle
Want to know how to evaluate those confusing award letters? This workshop will teach you how to parse information in award letters and you will receive the Financial Aid Comparison Worksheet that you can use when working with students. Of course, students ask for help once they get to college too, and this workshop serves as a primer on who students can turn to on-campus when they have trouble.
How to Register
Registration details, including dates and locations, will be available online at collegeillinois.org/FinancialAidCertification/ and from the Partner Training area of ISAC's e-Library (which may be accessed via collegeillinois.org/counselor). For your convenience, we will be sending e-Messages with the latest information and updates about this series of year-round sessions. If you have colleagues who are not already e-Messaging subscribers, encourage them to sign up at collegeillinois.org/application/registration/.
Additional Questions
Send us your questions via e-mail at ISAC.OutreachTraining@isac.illinois.gov.
Important Reminders Regarding the College Illinois Transcript Exchange
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants and Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants on September 7, 2011.
As has been previously communicated, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is working in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to facilitate a new system which will enable the electronic exchange of transcripts for Illinois students. Parchment™ is providing the College Illinois Transcript Exchange (CITE), which is free for all qualifying participants.*
With the new school year underway, the following reminders are intended to assist high school and college counselors in providing an electronic transcript exchange for their students.
Attention High School Counselors: Registration Now Available
In order to register your high school to participate in the College Illinois Transcript Exchange, visit the online registration page located at https://securetranscript.docufide.com/schoolreg/ISAC. Complete the information and, when prompted, electronically sign the User Services Agreement for your school. Once you have completed the registration process, a confirmation screen will appear that will provide you with the phone number to call in order to schedule your installation appointment, bringing your high school one step closer to sending transcripts electronically.
Informational Webinars Offered each Wednesday at
10 a.m. (CT)
If you have not already done so, we encourage you to learn more about the College Illinois Transcript Exchange by participating in one of the webinars being offered each Wednesday at 10 a.m. (CT). You can register online for the webinar (if you are a first-time visitor, you will need to complete the "User Registration" section prior to selecting the session date). After you have registered, you will receive an e-mail message with the call-in phone number, instructions for accessing the webinar, and a link to the PowerPoint presentation.
If you have any questions about any of the information required to complete the registration or attend the webinar, please complete a Contact Us form (select "Account Setup" as the subject).
Attention College Counselors: Sign Up for "Docufide Receiver"
"Docufide Receiver" is the process that participating colleges will utilize to access (or, "receive") transcripts that have been sent by high schools via the College Illinois Transcript Exchange. It is a standards-compliant, secure module for the receipt of electronic education credentials (including academic transcripts) from K-12 and postsecondary institutions worldwide. Further details, including how to register, are provided in a July 20 e-Message.
Additional Information about the College Illinois Transcript Exchange
To protect the privacy and confidentiality of transcript data, all documents are sent through Docufide's secure transcript service in a manner compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
An informational page is available for your reference collegeillinois.org, and you can also get to know Docufide® by Parchment™ by visiting their website. Any questions you have may be directed either to an ISAC School Services Representative (by phone or e-mail as noted below) or to Parchment's customer support area.
* The service is free of charge for all Illinois students and high schools when sending transcripts electronically to Monetary Award Program (MAP)-approved Illinois colleges and to participating colleges in the Midwest Higher Education Compact (MHEC) states. Although a cost will be incurred for sending transcripts electronically to non MAP-approved Illinois colleges and to all other destinations, the rate is discounted for Illinois students.
New Student & Parent Call Center Launched
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and College Admission Counselors on September 6, 2011.
We are pleased to announce the launch of a newly redesigned call center for the students and parents who look to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) for answers about going to college. Building on the theme of Before College, During College and After College from our website (collegeillinois.org), the comprehensive design of the new ISAC Call Center ensures that callers' questions can all be answered in one place, regardless of their stage in the college experience. The call center is staffed by individuals experienced in all areas of planning and paying for college.
The ISAC Call Center replaces what was previously known as the College Zone Counselor Unit. While the toll-free number for students and parents (800.899.4722) remains the same, the e-mail address has changed to isac.studentservices@isac.illinois.gov. Please make a note of the new e-mail address and share the information with the students and families you counsel.
College Illinois Transcript Exchange Registration Now Open
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants and Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants on August 15, 2011.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to announce that, effective today (Monday, August 15, 2011), the registration portal for the highly anticipated College Illinois Transcript Exchange (CITE) is officially open. As has been previously communicated, Parchment™ is providing the College Illinois Transcript Exchange, which will enable your students to request the electronic exchange of transcripts in preparation for their college attendance.
Register Today In order to register your school to participate in the College Illinois Transcript Exchange, visit the online registration page located at https://securetranscript.docufide.com/schoolreg/ISAC. Complete the information and, when prompted, electronically sign the User Services Agreement for your school. Once you have completed the registration process, a confirmation screen will appear that will provide you with the phone number to call in order to schedule your installation appointment, bringing your high school one step closer to sending transcripts electronically.
Informational Webinars Offered each Wednesday (Beginning August 31)
If you have not already done so, we encourage you to learn more about the College Illinois Transcript Exchange by participating in one of the webinars being offered each Wednesday at 10 a.m. (CT), beginning on August 31, 2011. You can register online for the webinar (if you are a first-time visitor, you will need to complete the "User Registration" section prior to selecting the session date). After you have registered, you will receive an e-mail message with the call-in phone number, instructions for accessing the webinar, and a link to the PowerPoint presentation.
If you have any questions about any of the information required to complete the registration or attend the webinar, please complete a Contact Us form (select "Account Setup" as the subject
Additional Information about the College Illinois Transcript Exchange
To protect the privacy and confidentiality of transcript data, all documents are sent through Docufide's secure transcript service in a manner compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The service is free of charge when sending transcripts electronically to Monetary Award Program (MAP)-approved Illinois colleges and to participating colleges in the Midwest Higher Education Compact (MHEC) states. Although a cost will be incurred for sending transcripts electronically to non MAP-approved Illinois colleges and to all other destinations, the rate is discounted for Illinois students.
An informational page is available for your reference on our website, and you can also get to know Docufide® by Parchment™ by visiting their website. Any questions you have may be directed either to an ISAC School Services Representative (by phone or e-mail as noted below) or to Parchment's customer support area.
Information regarding "Docufide Receiver" - the process that participating colleges utilize to access (or, "receive") transcripts that have been sent by high schools - are provided in a July 20 e-Message.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the College Illinois Transcript Exchange and ISAC's sponsorship, please contact ISAC's School Services Department by calling toll free at 866.247.2172, sending an e-mail message to isac.schoolservices@isac.illinois.gov, or visiting the College Illinois Transcript Exchange page at collegeillinois.org.
Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, What's Next Illinois Counselors, Community Organizations and Public Libraries on August 8, 2011. 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.
2011-12 ISAC Administrative Rules Available
ISAC Administrative Rules, which have been adopted for the 2011-12 academic year, are available within the About ISAC area of the College Illinois! website.
August 12 through August 21: Illinois State Fair
Visit with ISAC staff in the Governor's Tent at the 2011 Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The Governor's Tent is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the fair, which runs from August 12 through August 21. In keeping with the Governor's Tent theme of "Innovation Illinois," ISAC will provide fair-goers with information about financial assistance. The theme of this year's fair is "We've Got a Good Thing Growing!"
By September 30: Submit HSSP Sixth Semester Data
ISAC is currently accepting sixth semester data from high schools, which is used to determine State Scholar eligibility for students who will be college freshmen during the 2012-13 academic year. An interim process for the electronic submission of this data is available, and ISAC also continues to accept school-generated sixth semester data via paper roster. To avoid receiving an ISAC-generated paper roster, be sure to submit your school-generated sixth semester data - either electronically or on paper - no later than September 30, 2011. Further details are provided in a June 27 e-Message.
Holiday Schedules
September 5: Labor Day
Due to the Labor Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, September 5 and will reopen on Tuesday, September 6.
October 10: Columbus Day
Due to the Columbus Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, October 10 and will reopen on Tuesday, October 11.
For Assistance
Remember that you can access collegeillinois.org/counselor anytime, or send an e-mail message to ISAC's School Services Department. With the exception of days when the ISAC offices are closed, ISAC staff will review and respond to messages during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. -
4:30 p.m. CT).
New State Legislative Update Available (Dated August 4, 2011)
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and College Admission Counselors on August 5, 2011.
A new State Legislative Update, dated August 4, 2011, is now available for your reference. This newest report includes a summary of activity that took place in the now-adjourned spring legislative session of the Illinois General Assembly, with updates on the current status of bills that passed both houses.
It also includes information previously shared with you in a July 21st e-Message regarding the State's fiscal year 2012 (FY12) budget and funding for ISAC-administered programs.
The Update is organized by these categories:
- Higher Education Budget
- FY12 State Appropriations for ISAC-Administered Gift Assistance Programs (chart)
- Other budget-related measures
- Higher Education Access and Affordability
- Miscellaneous higher education bills
- Gubernatorial appointees
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The State Legislative Update is located within the
e-Library (#14 – ISAC Announcements, Press Releases & State Legislative Updates) of the College Zone website, which can be accessed via collegeillinois.org/counselor.
Commission Appoints Interim Executive Director
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers and College Admission Counselors on July 25, 2011.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, with newly-appointed members and Chairman, has named John Sinsheimer as Interim Executive Director, replacing Andrew Davis. John is not new to ISAC nor the financial aid field, having served as ISAC's Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of Financial Products and Services from 2007 – 2009. Most recently, John has been Director of Capital Markets for the State of Illinois, and as such, is well aware of the challenges facing a state agency in tough economic times. John's appointment was effective July 8th.
Although new agency leadership is in place, our commitment to providing the best possible programs and services to the students and families we serve, as well as to you our partners, remains unchanged. We look forward to our continuing collaboration as we fulfill our mission of making college accessible and affordable for Illinois students.
Return to Top
High School Counselors/Teachers
Commission Meeting to be Held Friday, September 16th
Sent on September 13, 2011.
The next regular meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2011, in Room 2-025 of the James R. Thompson Center, downtown Chicago.
Some of the items on the tentative agenda for the meeting are:
- FY2012 Monetary Award Program (MAP) update and payment claim deadline date
- College Illinois!® Prepaid Tuition Program annual enrollment period
- Appointment of College Illinois!® Prepaid Tuition Program Investment Advisory Panel members
- Selection of student loan collection specialists
- Changes in affordability of a college education for Illinois community college and public university students (FY2002-FY2011)
The Agenda Book, providing the complete agenda, is available via the 2011 Agenda Books page (located within the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area at collegeillinois.org). If there are any changes to this agenda they will be posted by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14th. The online Agenda Book will be updated within 1 - 2 business days following the meeting to reflect action taken.
Dates and locations for all meetings scheduled in 2011 are available at the Commission Meeting Schedule page.
There are no plans for a conference call briefing following this meeting.
FY12 State Budget Approved - Funding in Place for ISAC's Programs
Sent on July 21, 2011.
Governor Pat Quinn, on June 30th, signed the Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12) State budget, which includes funding for ISAC-administered programs. While some ISAC programs saw an increase from FY11 appropriations, the overall FY12 budget of $406,865,000 is nearly $9 million less than last year's.
Most notably, funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) was reduced by $17.2 million, despite record demand for need-based student assistance. However, even though the budget has been approved, several legislators have expressed support for a supplemental appropriation for MAP and other programs which could occur during the fall veto session or in early 2012. We will, of course, keep you apprised of any developments regarding that possibility.
On a more positive note, the FY12 budget restored limited funding of $6 million for the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program. It is expected that this amount will be sufficient to pay most summer term claims, and is in addition to $7.25 million in the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) budget which may cover most remaining IVG claims in the community college sector.
For detailed information on the funding allocation for each ISAC program, access the chart included in Item #6 of the July 8th Commission Meeting Agenda Book. Please note that the narrative accompanying the chart was written prior to the governor's approval of the budget, and does not indicate that the legislation was signed.
Also be watching for an updated State Legislative Update, which will be posted in the near future and will include information about legislative activity on other education-related bills.
Return to Top
Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants
"Docufide Receiver" Allows Colleges to Access Transcripts via College Illinois Transcript Exchange
Sent on July 20, 2011. As a follow-up to our June 28th e-Message discussing "next steps" for the implementation of the College Illinois Transcript Exchange (which is being provided by Docufide® by Parchment™), today's message provides an introduction to "Docufide Receiver" - the process that participating colleges will utilize to access (or, "receive") transcripts that have been sent by high schools.
Docufide Receiver is a standards-compliant, secure module for the receipt of electronic education credentials (including academic transcripts) from K-12 and postsecondary institutions worldwide. The system allows the college to select its preferred format and delivery method for receiving transcripts and other admissions documents.
Participants will enjoy the following Docufide Receiver benefits:
- electronic receipt of transcripts and other education credentials from participating institutions, accessible through a secure online system that allows the user to determine how and what documents are received;
- downloads include an index file that supports the automated import of documents received to the institution's document imaging system;
- optional automated receipt of education credentials through secure File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or web services; and
- role-based security that controls and defines appropriate levels of access to user groups within the institution.
To get started, Register with Docufide today.
Need help with your registration? View the Registration Demo.
Return to Top
ISAC Communiqué
New ISAC Communiqué Now Available
Sent on July 1, 2011 The latest edition of the ISAC Communiqué is now available for your review within the ISAC Publications section of College Zone's e-Library, which can be accessed via collegeillinois.org/counselor. This electronic version of ISAC's newsletter is a quarterly compilation of information provided to Counselor partners via the College Illinois! e-Messaging service during the months of April, May and June.
Topics covered in this electronic Communiqué include:
- College Illinois Transcript Exchange Next Steps for Implementation
(sent June 28, 2011)
- Interim Electronic Process Available for Submitting HSSP Sixth Semester Data to ISAC
(sent June 27, 2011)
- "College Changes Everything" Conference: Registration Now Open
(sent June 20, 2011)
- Commission Meeting Rescheduled to July 8th - MAP Formula on Agenda
(sent June 8, 2011)
- "College Changes Everything" Conference: Save the Date - July 27, 2011
(sent May 26, 2011)
- ISAC Has Selected Docufide® by Parchment™ as New Electronic Transcript Exchange Vendor
(sent May 26, 2011)
- Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
(sent May 20, 2011)
- ISAC Accepting Sixth Semester Data for New HSSP Cycle
(sent May 18, 2011)
- Webinar to Focus on High School Scholarship Programs Rescheduled to Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m.
(sent April 20, 2011)
- April 27 Webinar to Focus on High School Scholarship Programs
(sent April 18, 2011)
- ISAC Implements New e-Mail Addresses
(sent April 15, 2011)
- New ISAC Communiqué Now Available
(January - March 2011)
(sent April 1, 2011) 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 subscription groups during the previous quarter.
Encourage Your Colleagues to Sign Up for e-Messaging
The College Illinois! e-Messaging service has replaced printed newsletters and special e-mail lists as ISAC's primary means of communicating information to Counselor partners.
Encourage your colleagues to visit the Counselor e-Messaging Sign-up page at collegeillinois.org today, so that they won't miss any future announcements or updates from ISAC.
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 subscription groups during the previous quarter.
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
