SPRINGFIELD – Illinois will again recognize February as Financial Aid/Admission Awareness Month.  The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the State’s centralized agency responsible for administering college financial assistance programs such as scholarships, grants, and educational loans, is working with Illinois’ financial aid community to provide over 100 free workshops to students and families throughout the state during the month of February. 

Students preparing to enroll in college this fall should begin the financial aid application process now.  All students, from high school juniors to adults returning to college, as well as parents seeking help with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can receive individual assistance from financial aid professionals during any FAAM workshop.  The FAFSA is available, free of charge, on the Internet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and in paper form at high schools, libraries, and colleges.  Completing the FAFSA accurately and on time is the first and most important step to obtaining state and federal student aid.

Free FAAM workshops will be held at more than 90 sites statewide.  Two Sundays, January 30 and February 27, have also been designated College Goal Sundays, during which free workshops will be available, as well.  Financial aid professionals will be available to assist families with completing the FAFSA and answer related questions.  Families should bring all completed or estimated 2004 income tax forms, along with any other asset information for students and parents, in order to complete the 2005-2006 FAFSA.  Most sites will provide computer access for electronically filing the application.  To expedite the process, families should complete as much of the FAFSA as possible prior to attending the workshop. 

A list of all free FAAM workshops, including the College Goal Sunday workshops, is available on the Web site at www.faam.org.  Information on how to plan, find, apply, and pay for a college education can always be obtained at ISAC’s Web site, collegezone.com.  Students and families may also call ISAC toll-free at 800-899-ISAC (4722) to speak with a College Zone counselor or to receive more information on FAAM workshops.

FAAM is a collaborative effort by the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling, the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Inc., the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and various lending institutions.

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.