VOL. 22, NO. 6IGSL, 6B
December 2004
Welcome to the December 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 December. 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
Holiday Schedules and Payment Claim Deadlines
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAPnet Users and Business Offices on December 22, 2004
Holiday Processing Schedules Reminder
- Due to the Christmas holiday, ISAC staff will be unavailable starting at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 23rd, and the ISAC and National Disbursement Network (NDN) offices will be closed on Friday, December 24th. Our offices will reopen on Monday, December 27th.
- Due to the New Year holiday, ISAC staff will be unavailable starting at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 30th, and the ISAC and NDN offices will be closed on Friday, December 31st. Our offices will reopen on Monday, January 3rd.
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, 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)
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!
January 14th MAP and IIA Program Payment Request Deadline
MAP and IIA payment claims for the first semester/quarter are due to ISAC by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 14, 2005. Any initial claims for first semester/quarter made after the deadline date will be paid only if funds permit, on a first-come, first-served basis beginning after June 10, 2005. Further details are available at the MAP Payment page and the Payment page for IIA, both located in the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area of the FAA Zone.
When to Expect MAP Payment
Please be aware that submitting payment requests for individual students will result in delayed processing. Schools are encouraged to batch payment requests in dollar amounts that are neither excessively large nor excessively small.
Recently, the State of Illinois Comptroller's Office has been remitting MAP payments within 4 to 6 weeks. Once ISAC has issued a payment voucher, schools may track the status of that payment at the Comptroller's Web site.
MAP Grant Reconciliation Reminder
Institutions are required to reconcile payments received through MAP and, as applicable, submit all necessary corrections to student records on a timely basis. While ongoing data reconciliation is required, it is important to note that any funds determined to be owed to ISAC as a result are to be held until the end of the regular school year.
A student's account must be credited within 30 days of the institution receiving the MAP funds. ISAC is to be notified no later than 60 days following the end of the academic term (or the date the funds are received if received after the end of the term) if the student is not eligible to receive the MAP grant (this includes adjustments to awards). Detailed information concerning the reconciliation process and requirements can be found at the Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant Reconciliation page, located in the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area of the FAA Zone.
Payment for both MAP and the IIA Program is made to schools through an offset process. As part of this process, new payment requests are compared to outstanding amounts owed to ISAC, and payment is made accordingly. This system was developed to accommodate the many changes in student eligibility that can occur during the awarding and disbursement of financial aid. Therefore, funds should be returned to ISAC only after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year. In addition, all schools with an outstanding amount owed to ISAC at the end of the school year will receive a notice indicating the total amount to be refunded.
January 15th Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program Payment Request Deadline
The payment request deadline for the IVG Program for first term is Saturday, January 15, 2005. Any initial payment requests for first semester/quarter submitted after this date will be placed in lower priority consideration for payment. Further details are available at the IVG Payment page in the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area of the FAA Zone.
ISAC Launches Interactive Application for 2005-06 Teacher Education Scholarship Programs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on December 20, 2004
ISAC is pleased to announce that the interactive application for 2005-06 Teacher Education Scholarship Programs, used to apply for the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program and the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program, is now available at College Zone. Students are strongly encouraged to use this online application because of its many benefits:
- program information at the applicant's fingertips: by applying online, the applicant will have easy access to program details in College Zone that will help them complete the application accurately (e.g., participating school lists, current teacher shortage disciplines for the IFTC Program, minority student definition, etc.);
- online edits prevent errors: when the applicant indicates they are ready to submit the application, automatic edits are performed to make sure all required fields have been completed with valid responses - if errors are identified, the applicant is prompted to correct them before the application can be submitted;
- faster delivery time: the application is accessed by the applicant, completed, submitted, and received at ISAC - all on the same day (rather than being downloaded, printed, manually completed by the applicant and then sent via the mail); and
- immediate confirmation that application has been received: upon successful electronic submission of the application, a confirmation page displays - listing all data provided by the applicant, confirming the applicant's digital signature, and stating the date and time of submission. This page can be printed and retained for the applicant's records.
The online, interactive application replaces the downloadable paper version, collecting all the information needed to determine eligibility (including the applicant's agreement to the program terms and conditions, as outlined in the application's Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note). To prevent time-consuming delays in processing, applicants should not submit duplicate applications (i.e., if a paper application has already been submitted for the 2005-06 academic year, the applicant should not complete and submit an interactive application).
Digital ID Required with Interactive Application
A significant and necessary step when transitioning from paper to an electronic environment is the signature process, particularly when a promissory note is involved. For this interactive application, a digital ID allows applicants to provide a legally binding digital signature and all online applicants are required to obtain a digital ID from the State of Illinois. Obtaining a digital ID is the first part of the application process and applicants must have a valid Illinois Drivers License or State ID to do so. Students attempting to access the interactive Teacher Education Scholarship Programs application who do not have a digital ID will be prompted to request one from the State of Illinois.
Students who are interested in submitting a Teacher Education Scholarship Programs application, but are unable to obtain a digital ID from the State of Illinois, should contact a College Zone Counselor.
Information Available in FAA Zone at College Zone
Only applicants with a valid digital ID from the State of Illinois will be able to access the online application. Sample interactive application screens are available in the "Application Procedures" section for the IFTC Program and MTI Scholarship Program within College Zone's ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area. A sample application in PDF format is also provided for your reference (as a reminder, students who are unable to apply online should be instructed to contact a College Zone Counselor). Information on approved 2005-06 teacher shortage disciplines for the IFTC Program is also included. These resources will assist you with questions you receive from students regarding the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs application process.
The Student Zone provides applicants with direct access to details about the IFTC Program and MTI Scholarship Program. Applicants will have access to information regarding the application process, including instructions for specific application fields, once they access the "Teacher Education Scholarship Programs Application" area and launch the application.
Downloadable 2005-06 Illinois SETTW Program Application Available
The 2005-06 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Application is now available to download and print. Students pursuing a degree in special education who are willing to commit to teaching in Illinois after completing their degrees may be eligible to apply. Details about this program are provided in the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area.
March 1 Priority Application Consideration Date
The priority application consideration date for the 2005-06 IFTC, MTI Scholarship, and Illinois SETTW programs is March 1, 2005.
Conducting a Financial Aid Presentation - In Spanish! (Dirigir una Presentación de Ayuda Financiera - En Español)
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on December 16, 2004
Spanish is the primary language spoken in more American homes than any other foreign language. Most students look to their parents for guidance in the college selection process. Unfortunately, many parents with limited English proficiency do not have sufficient access to information about the financial aid process and programs. As a result, their children, who may qualify for financial aid, often apply late or don't apply at all.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has recognized this can be a major obstacle in college planning for Spanish-speaking families and, based on feedback from the admission, guidance, and financial aid communities, has created a training event in preparing a financial aid night presentation in Spanish. This unique workshop will be conducted entirely in Spanish.
If you, or someone in your school or organization, speak Spanish and are interested in learning more about the financial aid process in order to serve Spanish-speaking families, please join us:
- January 11, 2005
- 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- ISAC offices at 1755 Lake Cook Road in Deerfield
- Lunch will be provided.
- Register by January 5th because space is limited. To register, contact Eddie Brambila at 800.899.4722, extension 3708, or send the name of your organization, names of attendees and telephone numbers via e-mail to ebrambila@isac.org.
If you are unable to travel to the Deerfield office but have a need for this type of training, your feedback on possible future locations is appreciated.
The agenda includes the following:
- a ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation complete with talking points,
- a review of the resources available in Spanish,
- a question and answer period, and
- an opportunity to provide feedback on the portions of College Zone which have been translated into Spanish.
Translated Tools and Resources
There are many services available in Spanish through College Zone.
- Spanish-speaking College Zone Counselors can help students and parents with questions about planning, finding, applying and paying for college at 800.899.4722, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Anyone can access collegezone.com in Spanish by selecting "Español" from the drop down menu in the top right corner of the home page.
- The College Illinois! Web site is also available in Spanish.
- A number of brochures and presentations are offered in Spanish as follows:
New Service at College Zone - My Zone: ING Grant Eligibility Information Now Available Online
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on December 1, 2004
ISAC is pleased to announce an exciting new service – My Zone. My Zone is a portal available at collegezone.com that allows postsecondary schools online access to data inquiries, eligibility announcements and payment requests for ISAC-administered programs in a secure environment.
With the introduction of My Zone, eligibility information from the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Announcement Roster is the first to be provided online; therefore only public postsecondary institutions have information available at My Zone for now. Over time, however, My Zone will be expanded to incorporate additional ISAC-administered program information so all postsecondary institutions will access student-specific data, eligibility announcements and payment requests in this manner.
Benefits to My Zone include the following:
- Data is available in a secure environment.
- There is no need for multiple “sign-on” codes for access to data for multiple ISAC-administered programs.
- The data can be transferred easily to an institution's system.
To review this new service, proceed to the FAA Zone front page and select the My Zone Quick Link.
Assigning a My Zone Administrator
ISAC will rely on a primary contact person, or Administrator, to authorize users at each school. This designated school person will be given access to My Zone after completing an authentication process with ISAC. The Administrator is responsible for monitoring passwords, staff access, and security for the variety of ISAC-administered programs, not just the ING Grant Program.
ING Grant Announcement Roster
With the release of My Zone, the faxing of weekly rosters is being phased out and the ING Grant Announcement Roster will only be accessible online. Announcement rosters will continue to be made available online, as long as there are applicants for the school, on Thursday of each week.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)?
General questions, user name and password maintenance, and technical information about My Zone can be answered from the FAQs link within My Zone. If you have a question that is not addressed in this section, contact a School Services Representative.
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FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATOR
Loan Consolidation Chat Event - December 14, 2004
Sent on December 6, 2004
Financial Aid Administrators: Please share the following information with any students who would benefit from it.
On Tuesday, December 14, 2004, Mapping Your Future will offer a "Loan Consolidation" chat from 6 to 7 p.m. (Central). The chat is designed to help student loan borrowers who may be considering federal student loan consolidation.
During this "Loan Consolidation" Chat Event, participants will learn more about student loan consolidation, including:
- advantages and disadvantages;
- eligibility requirements;
- application process; and
- consolidation resources and tools.
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 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 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.
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ISAC UPDATE GROUP
Electronic ISAC Update for November 2004 Available at College Zone
Sent on December 1, 2004
The November 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 November via College Zone's e-Messaging service.
Topics covered in the November 2004 ISAC Update include:
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Holiday Schedules
- Executive Briefing Conference Call To Be Held After November 19th Commission Meeting
- Mark Your November Calendar - Chat Event And Veterans Day Holiday
- 2005-06 FAFSA Completion Information Available At College Zone - Includes "Build Your Own Reference Manual" Enhancement
- Electronic ISAC Update For October 2004 Available At College Zone
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