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10/8/2009
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make you aware of the following information, which may be of interest to students and their parents.
October 15th: Student Rally for Save Illinois MAP Grants Campaign
In September, ISAC and numerous other higher education entities kicked off the Save Illinois MAP Grants campaign, which is aimed at rallying public support to urge state lawmakers to restore full-year awards made under the Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the 2009-10 academic year. MAP is ISAC's need-based aid program, which aids in paying tuition and mandatory fee expenses and helps pave the way to college for many Illinois students who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend.
Encourage your college student to make his or her voice heard at a student rally which is planned for
12:30 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, October 15th in the parking lot of the Illinois Education Association (100 E. Edwards) in Springfield, Illinois.
Be sure to visit the campaign Web site at www.saveillinoismapgrants.org/ to learn about more scheduled events in which concerned citizens can participate [including ISAC public hearings on October 9th (at Loyola University in Chicago) and on October 12th (at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale)], as well as to access resources available for use in calling, writing or visiting your legislators to encourage their pursuit and support of restoring funding for MAP.
November 1st: College Illinois!® Enrollment Opens
College Illinois! enrollment opens on Sunday, November 1, 2009. Beginning in November, contracts for Illinois' 529 prepaid tuition program (which allows families to lock in future college tuition and fee costs today) will be available for purchase year-round, rather than during a limited enrollment period. Access the College Illinois! Web site for more information.
Start Planning Now for 2010-11 Academic Year
Encourage your son or daughter, who plans to attend college during the 2010-11 academic year, to visit the Find Scholarships area of What's Next Illinois to find scholarships to help fund their education. As they search, remind them to beware of financial aid "scams."
This is also the time for high school seniors planning to start college in the fall of 2010, and their parents, to apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to be used in January when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
To learn about the financial aid process from the convenience of your computer, check out the Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation entitled The Financial Aid Process, which can be accessed online via the Student Quick Links menu that appears on the Student Zone front page at collegezone.com.
Upcoming Days When ISAC Offices Will Be Closed
ISAC offices will be closed on the following dates:
- Wednesday, November 11, 2009 (Veterans Day Observation)
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009 (Furlough Day Closure)
- Thursday, November 26, 2009 (Thanksgiving Day)
- Friday, November 27, 2009 (Day after Thanksgiving)
- Thursday, December 24, 2009 (Furlough Day Closure)
- Friday, December 25, 2009 (Christmas Day)
- Friday, January 1, 2010 (New Year's Day)
Remember that you can access collegezone.com anytime, or send an e-mail message to ISAC's College Zone Counselors. With the exception of days when the ISAC offices are closed, 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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