The New IDAPP.com: You Asked…We Listened!

IDAPP introduces more intuitive user interface as part of web re-design

The website’s objectives are to assist customers in applying for student loans and provide superior customer service on existing loans.  The redesign accomplishes improvements in both, reorganizing site content in a simpler, more logical fashion and providing a new content management system that allows for more control over content while providing a more contemporary, user-friendly environment for interaction.

A major component of the upgrade is the intuitive “EZ Nav” feature, which allows users to quickly access the information or resources they need by using a drop-down menu on the left side of the home page.  It starts by asking, "What do you want to do" with a list of responses. Depending on the response, more questions may pop up or the user is taken directly to the page with the information desired.

“Our IDAPP group has embraced technology and once again improved service for the students and families of the State of Illinois,” said Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Executive Director Andrew Davis. “Now users can quickly and easily access information on various types of loans, apply for loans online, check loan status, and even make payments on a one-time or automated basis with just a few mouse clicks thanks to the new, easy navigation.”

Additionally, the web site solicits feedback with a friendly, interactive survey tool that allows users to let IDAPP know if the information provided on specific pages was helpful in order to continue improving user experience.

“We are constantly searching for ways to better serve our customers, and the new IDAPP web site is certainly a reflection of that goal,” Davis continued.  “ As we move forward, look for the IDAPP web site to be fully-integrated with the rest of the ISAC sites, allowing users to take advantage of all of the resources the commission offers to students and families.”

The Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program was started in 1977 and is the student loan division of ISAC.  Last year, IDAPP originated $177 million in student loans to more than 32,000 borrowers, providing expert loan service and advice to students, schools and financial institutions in Illinois.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and support to obtain financial aid for higher education.

A state agency, ISAC has paved the path to post-secondary education with innovative programs for more than 50 years. Last year alone, ISAC continued its mission to make college affordable for Illinois students by issuing nearly 150,000 grants and scholarships totaling more than $430 million.

The Commission coordinates educational funding with student loans, as a loan guarantor and via numerous public programs such as the successful Monetary Award Program (MAP), the Illinois Veteran Grant and College Illinois!SM the Commission’s groundbreaking 529 prepaid college tuition program. Students and families have free access to a wealth of financial aid and college planning information at ISAC’s family of websites available at: www.knowhow2GOIllinois.org.

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.