VOL. 22, NO. 5IGSL, 5B
November 2004
Welcome to the November 2004 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 November. 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
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Holiday Schedules
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAPnet Users, and Business Officers on November 16, 2004
ISAC and the National Disbursement Network (NDN) offices will be closed on the following dates:
- Thursday, November 25, 2004 (Thanksgiving Day)
- Friday, November 26, 2004 (Day after Thanksgiving)
- Friday, December 24, 2004 (Christmas Eve)
- Friday, December 31, 2004 (New Year's Eve)
Note that ELM Resources will continue to process and transmit files on all of the dates listed above.
College Zone is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - even when the ISAC offices are closed. Also, questions or inquiries may be submitted at any time by sending an e-mail message to ISAC's School Services staff. 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 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT).
Processing Schedules
Click on the appropriate link(s) to access holiday processing schedules for loan records [CommonLine and Common Account Maintenance (CAM) files] and/or Monetary Award Program (MAP) and Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program records.
Loan Records
MAP and IIA Records (MAPnet Availability and Payment Request Data)
Happy Holidays!
Our entire organization would like to wish all of our college partners a safe and very happy holiday season.
We appreciate having the opportunity to serve you, and look forward to working with you throughout the next year.
May 2005 be a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous year for all.
2005-06 FAFSA Completion Information Available at College Zone - Includes "Build Your Own Reference Manual" Enhancement
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on November 1, 2004
All the information needed to assist with completing the 2005-06 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available at College Zone (collegezone.com).
Quick and Easy Access for Financial Aid Professionals and Students
- Financial aid professionals simply select the "FAFSA Reference/Applying for Financial Aid" option that appears in the Quick Links menu at the FAA Zone front page. Follow the on-screen links to specifics regarding the 2005-06 financial aid and FAFSA processes, including announcements from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) regarding availability of both the English and Spanish versions of the 2005-06 FAFSA.
Build Your Own Reference Manual
Based on your feedback, we've provided the flexibility for you to build your own printed manual by following these simple steps:
- At the FAA Zone's Applying for Financial Aid page, select the new Build Your Own 2005-06 Reference Manual option.
- Select those topics that will be most helpful in meeting the challenges of your daily job.
- Utilize the "Printable version" option for each topic, so the date will appear at the bottom of the printed page.
- To ensure you always have the most up-to-date information, check back at College Zone regularly and replace your printed pages as needed.
2005-06 FAFSA Completion to Be Discussed at Fall Seminars
The latest about the 2005-06 FAFSA process, including the resources available at College Zone, will be discussed at the 2004 Fall Seminars for Partners. If you've not already signed up to attend one of these free, half-day seminars, register today!
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FINANCIAL AID DIRECTOR
Executive Briefing Conference Call To Be Held After November 19th Commission Meeting
Sent on November 9, 2004
Commission Meeting
On Friday, November 19th, ISAC Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines. The tentative agenda includes: items specific to IDAPP and College Illinois!; Guarantee Fee; Proposed Rules governing grievance procedures under the Americans with Disabilities Act; Proposed Rules Amendments for the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program; Further Discussion of College Affordability in Illinois: Relationship Among College Costs, Family Incomes, Grant Aid and the Implications for MAP and a summary of the public forum that was held after the September 24th Commission meeting. A copy of the item entitled Further Discussion of College Affordability in Illinois has been sent to college presidents and is currently available, along with the summary of the public forum, within the Friday, November 19, 2004 section of the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission, Commission Meeting Schedule page. Financial Aid Directors were also sent a copy of the message that went to college presidents.
The Commission Meeting Agenda Book, providing a full description of all agenda items, will be available on College Zone five to seven days prior to the meeting. To access this information, visit the e-Library in College Zone and select the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission page.
Executive Briefing Conference Call
Following the Commission meeting on Friday, November 19th at 1:30 p.m., ISAC Executive Director Larry Matejka will offer an Executive Briefing Conference Call to provide an overview of the meeting for financial aid staff at the Director or upper-management level. To participate in the conference call dial 888.767.9380 and enter the passcode: 9767339#.
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FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATOR
Mark Your November Calendar - Chat Event and Veterans Day Holiday
Sent on November 2, 2004
Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge Chat Event – November 9th
Financial Aid Administrators: Please share the following information with any students who would benefit from it.
On Tuesday, November 9, 2004, Mapping Your Future will offer a "Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge" chat from 6 to 7 p.m. (Central). The chat is designed to help college-aged students who are interested in managing student loan debt and learning about personal finance.
During this "Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge" Chat Event, participants will learn more about the Stafford and Perkins Loan Forgiveness Programs, including:
- determining eligibility for loan forgiveness, cancellation, or discharge;
- applying for loan forgiveness; and
- paying for college and general financial aid information.
You can access Mapping Your Future by selecting "Mapping Your Future" from the "FAA Quick Links" menu that appears along the right margin of the FAA Zone front page.
Students can use the link on the right side of the Student Zone front page.
Mapping Your Future can also be accessed directly at http://www.mapping-your-future.org/.
The calendar of upcoming Chat Events is in the Outreach Activities section of College Zone, which can be accessed in the center of the College Zone home page. Remember, also, that a poster (in .pdf format) listing 2004-05 Chat Events is available at the Mapping Your Future Web site. You may wish to consider printing (on 8½" x 11" paper, in color or black & white) and displaying this poster, which can be accessed via Mapping Your Future's "Financial Aid Professionals" and "Live Chat Events" pages, in areas of your campus that can be easily viewed by individuals seeking information about the college process.
Archived "Questions and Answers" from earlier chats can be accessed by visiting the section entitled "Chat Transcripts" at www.mapping-your-future.org/services/chatnight.htm.
The above is based on information from a Mapping Your Future E-Update. Mapping Your Future is a national collaborative public service project of the financial aid industry, including ISAC - bringing together the expertise of the industry to provide free college, career, financial aid, and financial literacy services for schools, students, and families.
Veterans Day Holiday – November 11th
Due to the Veterans Day holiday, ISAC offices will be closed on Thursday, November 11, 2004, and will reopen on Friday, November 12th.
Loan records received at ISAC on November 11th, as well as disbursement records received at the National Disbursement Network (NDN), will be processed the following business day. This means that CommonLine or Common Account Maintenance (CAM) files received on November 11th will be processed on November 12th, with results available November 15th (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 November 11th.
Although ISAC’s offices will be closed on November 11th, MAPnet will be available during regularly scheduled hours and will reflect records processed by the Central Processing System (CPS) through Wednesday, November 10th. MAP payment requests submitted from 5 p.m. (CT) Wednesday, November 10th through 5 p.m. (CT) Friday, November 12th will be processed Friday night, and payment results will be available on MAPnet the morning of Saturday, November 13th.
College Zone is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - even when the ISAC offices are closed. Also, questions or inquiries may be submitted at any time by sending an e-mail message to ISAC's School Services staff. With the exception of holidays (such as Veterans Day), ISAC staff will review and respond to messages during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT).
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ISAC UPDATE GROUP
Electronic ISAC Update for October 2004 Available at College Zone
Sent on November 1, 2004
The October 2004 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 October via College Zone's e-Messaging service.
Topics covered in the October 2004 ISAC Update include:
- Too Much Information? Too Many Students? Not Enough Time? We Can Help!
- MAPnet Maintenance Scheduled
- MAP & IIA Priority Payment Claim Deadlines Set for 2004-05
- 2004 Fall Seminars for Partners - "Meeting Information Challenges" - Online Registration Now Available
- Finding the School of Your Dreams and Gaining Admission: Mapping Your Future Chat Event - October 12, 2004
- Electronic ISAC Update for September 2004 Available at College Zone
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