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VOL. 26, NO. 10IGSL, 10B
April 2009
Welcome to the April 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 April. 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
Online Certification for 2009-10 Teacher Programs Now Available at My Zone
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on April 30, 2009 The Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (TESP) component of My Zone that allows colleges to complete students' initial certifications online is now available for the 2009-10 academic year. TESP includes the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) and Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship programs. Online certification expedites the process by allowing ISAC to receive information quicker and eliminating the need for colleges to complete and mail paper documents. Results are provided shortly after submission, rather than the following day.
The TESP online certification functionality at My Zone is available each Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until
7 p.m. (CT).
New for 2009-10 Processing: Online Certification of Golden Apple Scholars
As you may be aware, recent legislation reserves some IFTC Program awards for participants in the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program who, based upon their commitment to teach in approved shortage disciplines, are requesting a $10,000 award (rather than the $5,000 award made to qualifying recipients who commit only to teaching at a hard-to-staff school). Included with the 2009-10 TESP initial certifications at My Zone are records for Golden Apple Scholar applicants for whom colleges must certify eligibility.
Please note: Ineligibility sections for Golden Apple certifications are not available via My Zone (only teacher shortage discipline fields are displayed for these records). Consequently, colleges will need to contact School Services to notify ISAC regarding applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements for Golden Apple Scholars.
Online Resources
Further information regarding the online certification process, including instructions and specific details regarding certification for Golden Apple Scholars, is available at the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (TESP) Certification section of My Zone.
Continue Completing Initial Certifications Throughout the Year
Colleges are encouraged to check for initial certifications at My Zone on a daily basis. Separate notification will not be sent when new records are made available.
Remember that all initial certifications available in My Zone must be completed, regardless of whether the school certifies a student as eligible or ineligible and regardless of whether the student is currently enrolled. The only way applicants will receive notification from ISAC regarding their eligibility status is if their schools have submitted the certifications via My Zone. Be sure to continue completing and submitting initial certifications throughout the year, in order to ensure that your students will be included in all rounds of awarding that take place (the first 2009-10 TESP awarding round is anticipated to take place in August 2009).
Access to My Zone
If there has been a change in staff needing to access TESP, the My Zone Administrator for your campus should update access to TESP so the appropriate staff will be able to view data online.
Clarification Regarding 2008-09 MAP Payment Alert
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, and MAPnet Users on April 30, 2009 This message is to provide revised information regarding the April 28th e-Message announcing that all positive Monetary Award Program (MAP) claims submitted (for all terms) on or after April 28, 2009 are being held and not being processed for payment until further data analysis has been completed.
MAP claims that are being held for future payment processing will not receive a "Z" code as had been earlier stated. Rather, these records can be identified as follows:
- held records will appear on the MAPnet "MAP Payment Requests Submitted Without Results" report;
- the Student Detail: Payment screen will reflect a Status code of "Exported" for held records; and
- records being held will not appear on the MAP Payment Results Summary/Invoice Detail report.
Note: records processed with decreases in payment amounts will continue to appear on the MAP Payment Results Summary/Invoice Detail report.
In order to expedite the analysis of data, ISAC continues to encourage colleges to complete a full reconciliation of MAP disbursements and return any amounts due (with proper documentation) as soon as possible.
2008-09 MAP Payment Alert
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, and MAPnet Users on April 28, 2009 Payment claim data for the 2008-09 Monetary Award Program (MAP) is currently being analyzed. While this analysis takes place, all positive MAP claims submitted (for all terms) on or after April 28, 2009 are being held and not being processed for payment at this time (held claims will be identified on the MAP Payment Results Report with an exception code of "Z").
As dictated based on ongoing analysis, held claims will be released periodically (in date-received order).
ISAC will continue to process reductions to awards and cancellations.
Reconcile 2008-09 MAP Records
What can you do to help? Complete a full reconciliation of MAP disbursements and return any amounts due (with proper documentation) as soon as possible. Please be sure to use the current version of the Gift Assistance Programs Check Return Form, which includes a field to specify the term(s) for which funds are being returned and is dated "4/06" in the footer. This document may be accessed within the Refunds and Unpaid Claims portion of the FAA Zone's Processes area at collegezone.com.
As a reminder, due to the offset process, do not send refund checks to ISAC without providing the appropriate adjustment data via MAPnet. Details regarding the use of MAPnet are available at the 2008-09 Processing and User Guide area, which is located within the MAPnet portion of the FAA Zone's Processes area.
Watch for Future Updates
As additional details are finalized, they will be shared following ISAC's established methods of communication (i.e., MAP Program News, FAA Zone Message Board and e-Messages).
Winter and Spring Term Proration of 2008-09 Dependents Grant Programs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, and Business Officers on April 21, 2009 Due to projected funding shortfalls, ISAC must prorate winter and spring term claims for the 2008-09 Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers (Dependents of P/F/C Officers).
Following the priorities by which claims are to be paid, ISAC has paid 2008-09 Dependents of P/F/C Officers timely claims for fall (first) term at 100% of the claims. At this time, not enough ISAC funds remain to pay the timely winter and spring (second and third) term claims at 100%. Therefore, these claims must be prorated and paid at 78.74% (i.e., $78.74 will be paid for every $100.00 of eligibility). Due to the funding shortfall, summer term claims will not be paid.
Because these programs are not entitlement programs, colleges are not obligated to pay the difference between a prorated award amount and a full award - however, in order to best assist recipients whose family situation might limit their available resources, colleges with the ability to cover any program shortfall may choose to do so for their students.
Details regarding the Dependents of P/F/C Officers payment process are available within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area at collegezone.com.
April Webinar to Focus on a Variety of ISAC's Gift Assistance Programs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on April 20, 2009 The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will present a Webinar on its smaller, more targeted gift assistance programs on Wednesday, April 29th from 1 - 2 p.m. The session will provide an overview of the following programs along with guidance on administering them:
- Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers
- College Savings Bond Bonus Incentive Grant (BIG) Program
- Student to Student (STS) Program of Matching Grants
- Higher Education License Plate (HELP) Program
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, April 27th.
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 April 29th), then dial 877.873.8017 and enter code 8324962# to access the audio portion.
Suspension of 2009-10 IIA Program Award Announcements
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Business Officers and MAPnet Users on April 16, 2009 Suspension of IIA Award Announcements Effective April 18, 2009
Due to current trends in the number of eligible applicants and expected payment claim rates, the anticipated appropriations for the 2009-10 Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program are fully committed. As a result, ISAC will suspend the announcement of IIA grants for all students whose initial 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received by the Central Processing System (CPS) on or after April 18, 2009. This affects freshman students with zero expected family contributions (EFC's) regardless of enrollment status. The Suspension of IIA Award Announcements page has been updated at collegezone.com.
ISAC will evaluate the status of suspended awards as more information becomes available and, if application volume and claim rates support such action, may release some suspended awards.
Information regarding anticipated suspension of Monetary Award Program (MAP) award announcements is provided in the last section of this message.
Student Award Announcements
Colleges will need to suspend announcements of IIA awards to students whose initial FAFSA receipt date is on or after April 18, 2009.
Identifying Records in Suspension Status
Student records with IIA awards in suspension status will be notated in MAPnet and the Eligibility Status File (ESF) by a code of "S" in the "IIA Suspend" field, and IIA records not in suspension status will show a code of "N" in this field. The "IIA Suspend" code displays in MAPnet on the "Student Detail," "Edit MAP Code," and "Student List Eligibility: View" screens, and is included as a selection option for viewing on the Filter screen. The field is also included on the IIA Eligibility Report within MAPnet.
Suspension of 2009-10 MAP Award Announcements Anticipated for May
If current trends continue, ISAC anticipates suspending the announcement of 2009-10 MAP grants in May. As specific details become available, we will keep you apprised via standard College Zone communications (e.g., the FAA Message Board, e-Messages and/or MAP Program News updates).
Second Limited Release of Suspended Awards for 2008-09 MAP
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAPnet Users, and Business Officers on April 14, 2009
Due to a combination of factors affecting payment claim rates, ISAC is releasing additional Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants from suspended status (the initial partial release of 2008-09 MAP grants took place in January 2009). This second partial release could benefit approximately 4,100 eligible students whose Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) receipt dates were August 2, 2008 through (and including) August 6, 2008. These records will be released from suspension after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 and will be available for payment and may be viewed in MAPnet the next morning. All MAP grants for eligible students with initial FAFSA receipt dates on or after August 7, 2008, remain in a suspended status.
2008-09 MAP Applicant Award Status Chart
An updated 2008-09 MAP Applicant Award Status Chart provides an overview of categories for students based on the initial application (FAFSA) receipt date. Since the release from suspension affects "new" and "continuing" applicants, please pay particular attention to the "Eligibility/Late Codes" column provided concerning eligible terms for payment.
Identifying Student Records - MAPnet Filter/Report
Schools will want to identify student records released from suspension for a variety of reasons (i.e., file review and repackaging, claiming MAP payment, etc.). MAPnet contains filters that will allow you to identify student records and create a report of suspended student records.
There is a MAPnet filter that allows the user to create a listing of student records using a date range. For example, by using the 2008-09 release from suspension dates
(July 26, 2008 – August 1, 2008 for the initial release, and/or August 2, 2008 - August 6, 2008 for this second release), a report can be created that will identify students by 'Application Receipt Date' (initial FAFSA receipt date). If a report was not created prior to the release of suspended records, this option could be used. This filter is also available on the Student List Payment screen.
Further details regarding identifying student records are provided via the Suspension of MAP Award Announcements page, which is located within the MAP area of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section at collegezone.com.
2008-09 First and Second Term Late Claims - Available Friday, April 17, 2009
The day after records are released from suspension, ISAC will allow MAP payment processing for all first, second and third term claims (including initial claims) through
June 1, 2009. Student records released from suspension (full year awards) are now eligible for payment for all terms (please refer to the 2008-09 MAP Applicant Award Status Chart). Schools may use their standard procedure to request payment for those students.
Also, ISAC will release payment processing for held first and second term claims for MAP grants [Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program grants are not being released for late payment processing]. MAP records held as late claims are identified on the Payment Results Report with a Result Code of "Y." All held late payment requests (initial first and second term claims submitted after April 1, 2009) will automatically be reprocessed. Processed records will appear on the Payment Results Report available April 17, 2009. First and second term payment claims will continue to be paid until the final term payment claim deadline date.
Final Term Payment Claim Deadline Date – June 1, 2009
Initial payment claims for both MAP and the IIA Program are due to ISAC by 5 p.m. on June 1, 2009. After this date, ISAC will re-evaluate remaining funding to determine if late claims will be able to be paid. Payment claims submitted after the June 1st deadline date will be held until after the processing of timely claims, and then will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis as funds permit.
Don't Forget - Money Smart Week Chicago (April 18-25, 2009)
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Business Officers and FFELP Participants on April 13, 2009 As a follow-up to our March 30th e-Message, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to remind you that Money Smart Week Chicago 2009 will take place next week (April 18th – 25th).
Events have been planned in the Chicago metropolitan area, and throughout Illinois, to promote financial literacy and help consumers learn to better manage their personal finances. Refer to the March 30th e-Message for a listing of sessions that are being offered by ISAC staff. Note that, in addition to the events outlined in the original
March 30th e-Message, 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.
Be sure to pick the event that best fits your schedule, and plan to attend - and encourage your students and their families to do the same.
We look forward to seeing you!
2009-10 Budget Packets Now Available Online - Due On or Before June 1, 2009
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, and Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs on April 10, 2009 The annual gathering of budget information from postsecondary institutions participating in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) and Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant programs is upon us. For your convenience, the forms used to submit this information are available online through collegezone.com. Access budget packets, updated instructions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the MAP, IVG and ING Grant programs by selecting the Budget Reporting - MAP, IVG & ING option from the left-margin menu of the FAA Zone Processes area.
The 2009-10 Gift Assistance Programs Budget Packet allows schools participating in all three programs (community colleges and four-year universities) to enter their budget information on one form. Schools that participate only in MAP will complete the 2009-10 Monetary Award Program Budget Packet. Each packet is available in both Portable Document Format (PDF) and Microsoft Word.
What's New This Year
While the overall process for accessing and submitting budget packets is the same as it has been in recent years, we'd like to highlight the following changes with the 2009-10 versions:
- the budget packets have a new, easy-to-follow format;
- access to both the Gift Assistance Programs Budget Packet and the Monetary Award Program Budget Packet is now provided on one page, rather than on separate pages; and,
- for the ING Grant Program portion of the Gift Assistance Programs Budget Packet, tuition and fees can be reported on an hourly basis (in past years, tuition and fees were only collected by term for the ING Grant Program).
E-mail Preferred Method - Due On or Before June 1, 2009
The preferred method of submitting the budget packet is electronically via the e-mail account of the financial aid director. To ensure smooth and timely processing, all budget packets submitted electronically, as with paper submissions, must arrive at ISAC on or before June 1, 2009. If a school's annual budget is not final by June 1st, the budget packet is to be returned with estimated figures and a letter from the financial aid director that provides the approximate date by which the final budget will be submitted. All final budgets must be received at ISAC on or before August 1, 2009.
If you choose to mail or fax the budget packet to ISAC, note the address and fax number in the final step of each packet. The 2009-10 information is to be mailed or faxed to ISAC's Springfield Office. If you have questions concerning the budget packet process, please contact a School Services Representative at 866.247.2172 or schoolservices@isac.org.
Do You Want to Change How Your MAP Awards are Calculated?
Schools have a choice in how MAP term awards are calculated. Awards may be split evenly between terms or be split by whole dollar amounts. For example, if a semester school has elected to use the "cents" option, an annual award of $4521.00 is split evenly between terms as an award of $2260.50. If the school chooses to use the "no cents" option, the annual award of $4521.00 would be $2260.00 for the first term and $2261.00 for the second term. A definition of the "cents" or "no cents" option for quarter schools can be found at the above link.
The majority of schools calculate term awards by the "cents" option, but if you're interested in switching to the "no cents" option (or vice versa), simply send an e-mail message to schoolservices@isac.org prior to June 1, 2009. Your awards would be re-calculated using the new method at the time of recompute later this summer.
Summary of April 3rd Commission Meeting
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on April 6, 2009 The following is a summary of action taken at Friday's meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Details regarding several of the topics discussed at the meeting are provided in the April 3rd Agenda Book, which can be accessed from the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission page within the e-Library at collegezone.com.
Procedural Changes for MAP 2+2 Pilot Program
Approved - Agenda Item 11
The Commission approved new procedures for calculating Monetary Award Program (MAP) eligibility and the timing of grant payment for students participating in the MAP 2+2 pilot program.
The MAP 2+2 pilot program requires students who otherwise would have attended a four-year institution to select a less expensive option for their bachelor's degree by taking the first two years at a community college in a program designed to be compatible with their preferred four-year institution major. The pilot requires the community college and four-year institution to have a specific articulation agreement in place. By participating in the pilot, students would receive sufficient MAP funding (up to $4,968) to cover the full cost of tuition and fees at the community college, and would then be allowed to carry forward the difference and use it during their junior and senior years at the four-year institution. Participating students should be in a better position to minimize their debt, since the full cost of tuition and fees would be covered at the community college and a higher award would be paid at the four-year institution - while the total cost to the program remains the same.
Proposed Rules Amendments - Agenda Item 12
The Commission approved submitting 2009-10 proposed rules amendments, as modified thus far during the rulemaking process, to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
For the 2009-10 academic year, rules amendments are being proposed to five existing Parts: General Provisions, Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP), State Scholar Program and Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program. The anticipated effective date of these proposed rules amendments is July 2009.
FY2010 MAP and IIA Program Authority to Suspend - Agenda Item 13
The Commission approved authorization for ISAC to suspend FY2010 MAP and Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program award announcements, when it becomes necessary to do so, in order to avoid overcommitting MAP and IIA appropriations. This item includes a summary of 2009-10 MAP and IIA application volume through March 10, 2009.
Next Meeting
The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting is set for Friday, June 26, 2009 at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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MAPNET USERS
2009-10 IIA Program Suspension Status Available in MAPnet
Sent on April 21, 2009
Suspension of 2009-10 IIA Program Award Announcements Effective April 18, 2009
As was previously announced, ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2009-10 Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program grants for all students whose initial 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was received by the Central Processing System (CPS) on or after April 18, 2009. This affects freshman students with zero expected family contributions (EFC's) regardless of enrollment status.
Colleges need to suspend announcements of IIA awards to students whose initial FAFSA receipt date is on or after April 18, 2009.
Identifying Records in Suspension Status
Student records with IIA awards in suspension status are notated in MAPnet and the Eligibility Status File (ESF) by a code of "S" in the "IIA Suspend" field, and IIA records not in suspension status show a code of "N" in this field. The "IIA Suspend" code displays in MAPnet on the "Student Detail," "Edit MAP Code," and "Student List Eligibility: View" screens, and is included as a selection option for viewing on the Filter screen. The field is also included on the IIA Eligibility Report within MAPnet.
Suspension of 2009-10 MAP Award Announcements Anticipated for May
If current trends continue, ISAC anticipates suspending the announcement of 2009-10 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants in May.
Questions?
As new information becomes available throughout the year, ISAC routinely updates the MAP and IIA "Program News" sections within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area at collegezone.com. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status of these programs.
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FFELP PARTICIPANTS
Latest School DAAR Report Available
Sent on April 3, 2009 and April 20, 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 March 2009
Available at College Zone
Sent on April 1, 2009 The March 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 March via College Zone's e-Messaging service.
Topics covered in the March 2009 ISAC Update include:
- Money Smart Week Chicago: April 18-25, 2009 - Presentations Also Offered in Central Illinois
(sent March 30, 2009)
- Commission Meeting to be Held Friday, April 3, 2009
(sent March 27, 2009)
- Join ISAC for Free Lecture with Author of The Anatomy of Buzz
(sent March 23, 2009)
- Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
(sent March 18, 2009)
- March Webinar to Feature Nurse Educator Programs
(sent March 17, 2009)
- Join ISAC in "Uniting Our Profession" at the ILASFAA Conference
(sent March 16, 2009)
- Proration Rate for 2008-09 IVG Program Timely Fall Term Claims
(sent March 2, 2009)
- Latest School DAAR Report Available
(sent March 3, 2009 and March 18, 2009)
- Electronic ISAC Update for February 2009 Available at College Zone
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