College Zone Outreach Center Now Open at City Colleges

CHICAGO – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), in partnership with the Illinois Community College Board, announced the opening of College Zone Outreach Centers at each of the seven Chicago City Colleges during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Malcolm X College. Starting today, these walk-in centers will be devoted to helping students and families find valuable student financial aid information and assistance.

Dr. John Jennetten, ISAC’s Chief Program Officer, joined Dr. Wayne Watson, Chancellor of the City Colleges, and Zerrie Campbell, President of Malcolm X College, in officially opening the College Zone Outreach Center on the campus. Other dignitaries attending the ceremony were Geoffrey Obrzut, President of the Illinois Community College Board, Gary Davis, President of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, and State Representative Monique Davis.

“This center will undoubtedly become an invaluable resource for thousands of Chicago area students and families, as they look for ways to finance their college education,” Jennetten explained. “The City Colleges should be very proud of their proven commitment to serving the Chicago community through efforts like the new College Zone Outreach Centers.”

ISAC is partnering with the 48 community colleges throughout Illinois to establish a College Zone Outreach Center on each campus. These centers will support ISAC outreach activities aimed at promoting the availability of student financial aid programs through College Zone, including the Web site, collegezone.com, and phone counselors via a toll-free telephone number at 800-899-ISAC (4722). The primary benefit of the walk-in centers on community college campuses will be providing year-round personal assistance in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and computer accessibility to collegezone.com, where students can search for additional financial aid programs.

The opening of the College Zone Outreach Center at Malcolm X College in Chicago represents one of the first of these 48 centers. ISAC hopes to see the remaining centers opened at all Illinois community colleges within the next two months.

Students and families interested in visiting the College Zone Outreach Center can find it at Room 1434 in the Financial Aid Office at Malcolm X College, located at 1900 West Van Buren Street in Chicago. The center will be open during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Visitors do not need to be enrolled at the community colleges to utilize the Outreach Center’s resources.

About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.