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VOL. 26, NO. 9IGSL, 9B
March 2009
Welcome to the March 2009 ISAC Update for financial aid administrators and business officers. This version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent through College Zone’s e-Messaging service throughout March. This e-Messaging service has replaced ISAC’s use of printed newsletters, the ILASFAA ListServ, and special e-mail lists as our primary means of communicating information to you.
The articles in this Update have been organized according to the FAA Zone subscription groups to which the messages were distributed via College Zone’s e-Messaging service.
Questions? Questions regarding information in this ISAC Update 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
Money Smart Week Chicago: April 18-25, 2009 - Presentations Also Offered in Central Illinois
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Business Officers and FFELP Participants on March 30, 2009
NOTE: This page was revised after the original e-Message was sent to clients and partners on March 30th, in order to add information about the April 22nd "College Illinois!(SM) The Smart, Secure Way to Save for College" presentation.
Money Smart Week Chicago 2009 will occur April 18th – 25th in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is partnering with The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for the fifth consecutive year to promote financial literacy through this week-long event, which is designed to help consumers learn to better manage their personal finances. This year, ISAC will be presenting in conjunction with the Chicago Public Library system, and also offering sessions in central Illinois.
In this current economic climate, it is crucial for students and parents to be aware of the full cost of college, as well as know what resources are available to help. Information regarding topics such as payment responsibilities, how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the difference between grants and loans, and available scholarship and loan alternatives are vital to pursuing a college degree. During Money Smart Week, ISAC staff will be presenting sessions regarding these important topics. Pick the session from the following list that best fits your family's schedule, and plan to attend:
Date
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Time
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Location
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City
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April 18th
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2 p.m.
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Evanston Library
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Evanston
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(English)
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April 20th
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7 p.m.
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Brighton Park Library
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Chicago
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(Spanish & English)
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April 21st
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7 p.m.
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Trinity Catholic High School
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Bloomington
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(English)
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April 22nd
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7 p.m.
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Lincoln-Belmont Library
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Chicago
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(English)
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April 23rd
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10 a.m.
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Town & Country Bank
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Springfield
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(English)
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April 23rd
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1 p.m.
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Town & Country Bank
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Springfield
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(English)
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April 23rd
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4 p.m.
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Economic Awareness Council
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Chicago
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(English)
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April 23rd
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7 p.m.
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Clearing Library
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Chicago
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(Polish & English)
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April 25th
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4:30 p.m.
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Skokie Public Library
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Skokie
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(English)
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In addition to the events listed above, an education finance planning session entitled "College Illinois!(SM) The Smart, Secure Way to Save for College" will be presented from
12 - 1 p.m. on April 22nd at The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
The official Money Smart Week calendar of events is available online at moneysmartweek.org.
- To search for financial education events in the Chicago metropolitan area by date or geographic location (neighborhood), click on "Chicago" and then choose "2009 Event Calendar" in the right margin of the page.
- To locate events in Illinois outside the Chicago area by date or geographic location, click on "Illinois" and then choose "2009 Events Calendar" in the right margin of the page.
In order to find events by topic, either in the Chicago metropolitan area or outside of Chicago, use the "Advanced Search" option provided with the event calendars.
Commission Meeting to be Held Friday, April 3, 2009
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on March 27, 2009 The next regular meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday, April 3rd at Harper College in Palatine.
The tentative agenda for the meeting includes:
- Proposed Rules Amendments
- Monetary Award Program (MAP) 2+2 Pilot Program
- FY2010 MAP and Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Application Volume Update and Request for Authority to Suspend
- Presentation by Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois
- Presentation by the University of Illinois at Chicago
- Issuance of ISAC Series 2009 A Bonds: Rehabilitation Loans Financing
- College Illinois!(SM) Prepaid Tuition Program
- Investment Performance Report
- Selection of Infrastructure Investment Managers
- Custodial Services and Securities Lending Agreement for the Trust Fund
- Appointment of Investment Advisory Panel Member
Results for items requiring action from the Commission will be available following the meeting via the 2009 Agenda Books page, which is located within the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the e-Library at collegezone.com.
There are no plans for a conference call briefing following this meeting.
Join ISAC for Free Lecture with Author of The Anatomy of Buzz
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAPnet Users, Business Officers and FFELP Participants on March 23, 2009 The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to invite our friends and partners in education, social policy, and community economic development to a free lecture with Emanuel Rosen, author of the national best-seller The Anatomy of Buzz. The event, co-hosted with the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Illinois College Access Network, will be held on April 6th from
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the University of Illinois at Chicago. To register for the event, and for location information on campus, please e-mail Julie Henschel (jhenschel@isac.org) before April 2nd.
Many of you will recognize The Anatomy of Buzz from ISAC presentations and our professional development series. In our nationally recognized "Guide to Outreach" a number of successful outreach strategies utilizing the principles from Rosen's book are highlighted. This event is a must attend for anyone involved in college access marketing, community outreach, policy implementation, or any endeavor in which traditional forms of marketing and promotion are impractical or financially out-of-reach. If you have ever wondered how to get better turnout at your public events, how to reach your target audience, how to launch a new program, how to differentiate your programs and services, or simply how to make more effective use of a limited marketing budget, you are sure to leave this session with more than a few very practical ideas.
Emanuel Rosen is the author of the national best-seller The Anatomy of Buzz (Doubleday, 2000) and The Anatomy of Buzz Revisited (Doubleday, 2009). Prior to writing these books, he was VP of Marketing at Niles Software where he was responsible for launching and marketing the company's flagship product EndNote, which spread to a large extent by word of mouth. It was during this time that Rosen became interested in buzz and especially in how it can be accelerated. He started his career as a copywriter in Israel. For his work in advertising he won the Bronze Lion from the Cannes International Advertising Festival, as well as several national awards including two gold medals. He holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and lives in Menlo Park, California. The Anatomy of Buzz "has managed to generate quite a bit of buzz itself," as BusinessWeek Online noted. The book hit The Wall Street Journal's business best-seller list and is now available in twelve languages.
How much do you know about "word-of-mouth" marketing? Take the Buzz Quiz and find out.
More information about the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
More information about the Illinois College Access Network
Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAPnet Users, Business Officers and FFELP Participants on March 18, 2009 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 students.
You may either scroll through the entire message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to details about a specific topic:
UPDATES
Operational dates and other announcements regarding ISAC-administered gift assistance programs
HOLIDAY SCHEDULES
Processing schedules for Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays
UPDATES
All links in this section launch pages located at collegezone.com.
Program-Specific Information
April 1st: 2008-09 MAP and IIA Program Second Term Payment Claims Due
2008-09 Monetary Award Program (MAP) and Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program payment claims are due for second semester/quarter.
April 15th: 2008-09 STS Program Second Quarter Payment Claims Due
2008-09 Student to Student (STS) Program of Matching Grants second quarter payment claims are due. Payment of second semester/second or third quarter claims will occur after June 15th (the STS claim deadline for second semester/third quarter), once we have determined what proration factor, if any, will be necessary for STS Program awards for these terms. If proration is necessary, then no late claims will be paid.
By May 1st: 2009-10 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 2009-10 new and renewal awards.
May 15th: 2008-09 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Payment Claims Due
Eligibility Certification/Payment Request Rosters for the 2008-09 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program are due. Be sure to regularly visit the Payment Procedures for the Byrd Scholarship section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area for updates regarding the 2008-09 payment cycle.
May 25th: 2008-09 IVG Spring Term Payment Claims Due
2008-09 Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program spring term payment claims are due. Although schools will not be reimbursed for spring term awards or late claims, payment requests must be submitted to ISAC so eligibility units can be assessed to student's accounts.
June 1st: 2008-09 MAP and IIA Program Payment Claims Due
2008-09 MAP and IIA Program payment claims are due for third quarter, and for second semester at institutions where the second semester begins after February 15th.
June 1st: 2009-10 Budget Packets Due
On or before June 1, 2009, all participating Illinois schools must submit either a 2009-10 Gift Assistance Budget Packet [to report budget data for the MAP, IVG and Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant programs] or a 2009-10 Monetary Award Program Budget Packet (to report budget data for MAP only). ISAC anticipates having the budget packets, along with accompanying instructions and documentation, posted at College Zone no later than mid-April.
June 5th: Last Date 2008-09 ISIR Data Will Be Accepted
June 5th will be the last day 2008-09 Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) data will be accepted. Any
2008-09 ISIR data received at ISAC on or after June 6, 2009, will not be loaded to MAPnet or ISAC's mainframe system. Also, no 2008-09 MAP or IIA Program application receipt acknowledgement letters will be provided to applicants from ISAC after this date.
June 15th: 2008-09 STS Second Semester/Third Quarter Payment Claims Due
2008-09 STS Program second semester/third quarter payment claims are due. Payment of second semester/second or third quarter claims will occur after this date, once we have determined what proration factor, if any, will be necessary for STS Program awards for these terms. If proration is necessary, then no late claims will be paid.
July 1st: Final Close-out Date for 2008-09 ISAC Gift Assistance Programs
With the exception of the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program (see the May 15th entry of this section, above, for information regarding the Byrd Honors Program), all submissions of 2008-09 payment requests (including initial claims and supplemental claims) for ISAC-administered gift assistance programs must be received on or before July 1, 2009. Adjustments (to cancel or reduce awards) will be accepted after this date for MAP and the IIA Program.
Specific details regarding close-out of 2008-09 ISAC-administered gift assistance programs will be provided via a separate e-Message as we move closer to July 1st. In the meantime, continue to visit the Program News sections for individual gift assistance programs for status updates and operational details (including both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years).
Upcoming Commission Meetings
The next regularly scheduled meetings of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will take place as follows:
- Friday, April 3, 2009, at Harper College in Palatine
- Friday, June 26, 2009, at University of Illinois at Chicago
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 regularly-scheduled meetings in 2009 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.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULES
May 25th: Memorial Day
July 3rd: Independence Day
In observance of the Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, May 25th and on Friday, July 3rd, respectively. Our offices will reopen on the first business day following each holiday.
Loan records received at ISAC on the holidays, as well as disbursement records received at the National Disbursement Network (NDN), will be processed the following business day. This means that, for holidays that fall on a Monday, CommonLine or Common Account Maintenance (CAM) files will be processed on the following Tuesday, with results available on Wednesday (or the next available day for any schools opting to receive NDN files on specific days of the week). For holidays falling on a Friday, CommonLine or CAM files will be processed on the following Monday, with results available on Tuesday (or the next available day for any schools opting to receive NDN files on specific days of the week). Note that ELM Resources will continue to process and transmit files on the holidays.
Although ISAC's offices will be closed on those days, MAPnet will be available during regularly scheduled hours and will reflect records processed by the Central Processing System (CPS) through the last business day immediately preceding each respective holiday. MAP payment requests submitted from 5 p.m. (CT) the preceding business day through 5 p.m. (CT) the first business day following each holiday will be processed the evening of that first business day, and payment results will be available via MAPnet the next morning. For example: with the Independence Day holiday, payment requests submitted from 5 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, July 2nd through 5 p.m. on Monday, July 6th will be processed on Monday night, and payment results will be available via MAPnet the morning of Tuesday, 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).
March Webinar to Feature Nurse Educator Programs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators on March 17, 2009 The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will present a Webinar on the Nurse Educator Scholarship Program and the Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program on Tuesday, March 31st from 1 - 2 p.m. The session will begin with an overview of each program, followed by more specific information on administering them. An overview of the Veterans' Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program will also be provided. Time will be allotted for questions. If you have specific questions that you would like this session to address, please send them to Kim Eck at keck@isac.org by Monday, March 30th.
To participate in the Webinar: access the PowerPoint presentation on the Partner Training page in the e-Library at collegezone.com (it will be posted on the morning of March 31st), then dial 877.873.8017 and enter code 8324962# to access the audio portion.
Join ISAC in "Uniting Our Profession" at the ILASFAA Conference
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on March 16, 2009 We look forward to seeing you during the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA) 2009 annual conference, Uniting Our Profession, being held March 22nd through 24th at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center in Schaumburg. Please stop by and visit with us at our booth in the vendor area or at one of the sessions that ISAC staff will be presenting or co-presenting.
Sunday, March 22nd
- A Focus on the 2009-10 FAFSA Dependency Questions
2 - 2:45 p.m. in Schaumburg E
Presented by Kim Eck
- Introducing the Illinois Student Assistance Corps
3 - 3:45 p.m. in Schaumburg H
Presented by Eddie Brambila and Jacqueline Moreno Monday, March 23rd
- State Update
During breakfast/morning general session in Utopia Ballroom
Presented by Andy Davis, Chris Peterson, and Katharine Gricevich
- FFELP Panel
9:45 - 10:30 a.m. in Schaumburg G
Panel includes Sam Nelson
- An Overview of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
9:45 - 10:30 a.m. in Schaumburg H
Presented by Susan Fields
- ISAC Guide to Community Outreach
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. in Nirvana B
Presented by Jacqueline Moreno and moderated by Eddie Brambila Tuesday, March 24th
- Trends in College Affordability
8 - 8:45 a.m. in Schaumburg E
Presented by Ellen Greenan
- A Focus on the 2009-10 FAFSA Dependency Questions
8:45 - 9:30 a.m. in Schaumburg H
Presented by Kim Eck
- ISAC Programs
9:45 - 10:30 a.m. in Schaumburg E
Presented by Kim Eck Once on site at the hotel for the conference, refer to the conference program to confirm the location of each session. For more details regarding the 2009 ILASFAA Conference, visit the ILASFAA Web site.
Proration Rate for 2008-09 IVG Program Timely Fall Term Claims
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, and Business Officers on March 2, 2009 This message provides the proration percentage being used for payment of timely fall term Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program claims.
Timely Fall Term Claims Will Be Prorated and Paid at 83.22%
Following the priorities by which claims are to be paid, ISAC has paid 2008-09 timely (in-district and out-of-district) claims for summer term at 100% of the claims. At this time, not enough ISAC funds remain to pay the timely fall term claims at 100%. Therefore, these claims must be prorated and paid at 83.22% (i.e., $83.22 will be paid for every $100.00 of eligibility). [Note: In recent years, the proration rate has been rounded to either the nearest whole percent or, in some instances, to the nearest tenth of one percent. This year, however, we are using a more specific proration rate (calculated to the nearest one hundredth of a percent) in order to optimize the remaining funds that are available for the 2008-09 IVG Program. A proration rate over 83.22% would overspend the remaining money, while a lower rate would underspend it.]
Four-year public institutions will be responsible for a percentage (16.78%) of each eligible student's IVG timely fall award, and will be responsible for 100% of all eligible students' claims that are submitted for the spring term, as well as claims submitted after the due dates for each term's claims (i.e., late claims). Please be aware that although ISAC will not be able to reimburse institutions for spring term awards, payment requests must be submitted to ISAC so eligibility units can be assessed to students' accounts.
Watch the IVG Program News area for an announcement regarding when 2008-09 IVG payment claim reports and invoice reports will be available to schools via My Zone (anticipated to take place in the coming weeks). Data will reflect the ISAC prorated amount paid to the institution for 2008-09 IVG fall term claims.
Note: Community colleges will receive supplemental payments directly through the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).
Resources Available Online
Detailed descriptions of the IVG Program payment claim reports and invoice reports are available via Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program Reports at My Zone. Refer to the IVG area at My Zone and the IVG Online User Guide for instructions on accessing information and entering payment requests (online or via the FTP process). An overview of the IVG payment process is provided within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area at collegezone.com.
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FFELP PARTICIPANTS
Latest School DAAR Report Available
Sent on March 3, 2009 and March 18, 2009
The Notification of Student Loan Borrower DAAR Status report (School DAAR Report) for your school is now available on College Zone's My Zone.
The School DAAR Report is non-cumulative and is available twice a month to those institutions with students for whom ISAC, as the guarantor, has received a Default Aversion Assistance Request (DAAR) during the reporting time period. Each time a new School DAAR Report is made available online, an e-Message will be sent to the "FFELP Participants" e-Messaging subscription group.
Accessing School DAAR Reports at My Zone
My Zone is a portal available in the FAA Zone at collegezone.com that allows postsecondary schools online access to student-specific data in a secure environment. If you have not yet signed up to participate in My Zone, proceed to the FAA Zone front page and select the My Zone Quick Link.
For complete information and instructions to access your school's DAAR Report, proceed to the FAA Zone front page and select the My Zone Quick Link in the right margin of the page.
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ISAC UPDATE GROUP
Electronic ISAC Update for February 2009
Available at College Zone
Sent on March 2, 2009
The February 2009 edition of the ISAC Update is now available for your review within the ISAC Publications section of College Zone's e-Library. This version of the monthly electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent to financial aid administrators and business officers in February via College Zone's e-Messaging service.
Topics covered in the February 2009 ISAC Update include:
- ISAC Research Publications Available Online
(sent February 25, 2009)
- Dear Colleague Letter from ISAC Executive Director
(sent February 17, 2009)
- Financial Aid 101: Building a Solid Foundation - March 2009 Workshops
(sent February 11, 2009)
- February Webinar to Feature the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program
(sent February 9, 2009)
- Start-up for 2009-10 MAP and IIA Program Successfully Implemented - MAPnet Hours Expanded
(sent February 9, 2009)
- 2009-10 MAP and IIA Program Start-up Scheduled for February 9th
(sent February 3, 2009)
- 2009-10 MAP Start-up Formula Approved - Summary of January 30th Commission Meeting
(sent February 2, 2009)
- Latest School DAAR Report Available
(sent February 10, 2009 and February 18, 2009)
- Electronic ISAC Update for January 2009 Available at College Zone
(sent February 2, 2009) Return to top
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