Program News (last updated January 30, 2012)
2012-13 MAP Start-up 2012-13 MAP File Specifications Limited Release of Suspended 2011-12 MAP Awards No Further Reduction of 2011-12 MAP Second- and Third-Term Awards 2011-12 Payment Reconciliation Additional MAP References
2012-13
2012-13 MAP Start-up
On January 27, 2012, the ISAC Commissioners approved the 2012-13 (FY2012) MAP start-up formula. The FY2013 formula is identical to the formula used in FY2012 and reduces awards by 5 percent for an effective maximum of $4,720.
Details of the FY2013 MAP start-up formula can be found in the January 27, 2012 Agenda Book, Item 7, which can be accessed from the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission page within the e-Library. Additional information regarding the start-up implementation schedule will soon be sent via a separate e-Message, and will also be posted at collegezone.com.
2012-13 MAP File Specifications
The MAP file specifications have been updated for the 2012-13 processing cycle. Revisions made for the 2012-13 layout are highlighted in gray. Although many fields are numbered differently, their start and end positions remain the same as in 2011-12. Filler and “ISAC Use Only” fields were replaced with fields related to the MAP 2+2 Pilot processing. IIA fields were removed.
The 160-byte file layout is pertinent to schools utilizing the file extraction features of MAPnet or for sending payment requests for MAP to ISAC via File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The 2012-13 MAP File Specifications are available within the Electronic tools section of the e-Library.
2011-12
The FY2012 appropriation for the Monetary Award program is $386,680,000. This amount is $17.2 million less than was available in FY2011. To address the issue, ISAC will be seeking authority during the Illinois General Assembly's session which begings October 25th to spend $33.5 million in funds that have been reserved for student financial assistance, and would not require additional General Revenue Funds (GRF).
MAP 2+2 Pilot
Limited Release of Suspended 2011-12 MAP Awards
ISAC is releasing MAP grants from suspended status for students whose Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) receipt dates were March 26, 2011 through (and including) April 8, 2011. These released records will be available for payment, and may be viewed in MAPnet, starting Wednesday, January 11, 2012. All MAP grants for eligible students with initial FAFSA receipt dates on or after April 9, 2011, remain in a suspended status.
Colleges are encouraged to identify those students who are impacted by the limited release of 2011-12 suspended MAP awards and submit their payment requests (including for the first term) as soon as possible.
Refer to the Suspension of MAP Award Announcement page for operational details.
No Further Reduction of 2011-12 MAP Second- and Third-Term Awards
As announced in a December 22 e-Message, the Governor signed legislation (Public Act 97-0642) that provides spending authority for an additional $33.5 million for the 2011-12 Monetary Award Program (MAP). Based on analysis of first-term payment requests (claims), as well as the recently-approved spending, no additional reduction will be necessary for 2011-12 second- or third-term MAP claims. The 2011-12 MAP recompute formula that was approved at the July 8, 2011 meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) includes a 5% reduction (for example, the award for a student who demonstrates eligibility for the 2011-12 MAP maximum annual award of $4,968 is reduced to $4,720).
Further details are provided in an Important Message from ISAC to MAP–Approved Illinois Colleges Regarding 2011-12 MAP Awards updated December 22, 2011.
Payment
The 2011-12 MAPnet system has been updated to allow for the submission of second- and third-term Monetary Award Program (MAP) claims. Colleges may submit second- and third-term payment requests up to 10 days prior to the start of the term.
MAP payment processing for initial first term claims received through April 1, 2012 will be accepted. Increases or decreases to previously-processed first term claims will also continue to be processed. Student records released from suspension (full year awards) on January 11 are eligible for first term payment even though the December 9, 2011 first-term priority payment claim deadline has passed (i.e., they are late claims). Colleges may use their standard procedure to request payment for those students. Note that all late payment requests submitted between December 10, 2011 and January 10, 2012 are being automatically reprocessed, and these processed
Refer to the 2011-12 MAP Payment page and the MAPnet User Guide for details about MAP payment processing.
Reconciliation
Schools are encouraged to reconcile MAP grant payments and return funds due to ISAC throughout the academic year. Refer to MAP Grant Reconciliation of the Gift Assistance area of the MAP Programs and in the Refunds and Unpaid Claims section of the Processes area for guidance on returning funds to ISAC. Details regarding the use of MAPnet are available in the MAPnet Processing and User Guide that is located under MAPnet in the FAA Zone Processes area.
Additional MAP References
To access general information about the MAP program, click on one of the links in the right-hand menu. To access the page within the MAP section that addresses the topics listed below, click on the topic.
2011-12 MAP Recompute Suspension of 2011-12 MAP Award Announcements 2011-12 MAP Start-Up 2011-12 Notification to Applicants 2010-11 Payment MAP-IIA Specifications MAPnet User Guide Creating a Report for the Release of Shutdown Records
|