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ISAC CommuniquÉ
Volume 15, Number 2
July - September 2005

Messages sent to:

 Multiple Subscription Groups
 

High School Counselors/Teachers
ISAC Communiqué

Welcome to the July - September 2005 ISAC Communiqué – the electronic edition of your Communiqué, which is a quarterly compilation of e-Messages sent through College Zone’s e-Messaging service throughout July, August and September. While this e-Messaging service is currently being offered in addition to the printed ISAC Communiqué newsletters, it will soon replace both printed newsletters and special e-mail lists as ISAC’s primary means of communicating information to you.

The articles in this Communiqué have been organized according to the Counselor Zone subscription groups to which the messages were distributed via College Zone’s e-Messaging service.

Questions?

Questions regarding information in this Communiqué 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

Hurricane Katrina Resource Information
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, and Community Organizations on September 13, 2005.

While the inhabitants of the Gulf Coast continue to struggle with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, ISAC, IDAPP, the State of Illinois and the federal government have all taken steps to provide assistance to those impacted. Among the accommodations already in place:

  • Illinois community colleges have opened their doors to Illinois students displaced from colleges on the Gulf Coast, allowing them to continue their education uninterrupted. Students meeting eligibility criteria will also receive financial aid at their new college.
  • Student loan borrowers living in the affected areas are receiving 90-day administrative forbearance, relieving them of payment responsibility on their loans, as put in place by their lender or servicer.
  • ISAC College Zone Counselors will serve as a one-stop resource to answer questions about student loans and repayment for any evacuees coming to Illinois.
  • Collection activities, including wage garnishment, conducted by ISAC, have been suspended for delinquent and defaulted borrowers in the impacted areas.
  • IDAPP is working with a number of local colleges and universities to make alternative loans available to impacted students displaced from colleges on the Gulf Coast, particularly those unable to qualify for Title IV assistance.
  • The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has directed guaranty agencies, institutions and lenders to follow guidance previously issued in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-04-04 for times of natural disaster. ED expects to provide additional guidance in a series of communications to be issued in the coming days and weeks.  

Because recovery from this devastating event won't be completed overnight, we expect to receive more guidance and learn of more assistance being offered on an ongoing basis. To ensure you have easy access to all of the information available, we've created a Hurricane Katrina Resources page, which can be accessed via the first link under the home page's News & Announcements heading at collegezone.com for your reference. As the situation continues to evolve, we will provide updates to the page.

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Conducting a Financial Aid Presentation - In Spanish! (Dirigir una Presentación de Ayuda Financiera - En Español)
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, and Community Organizations on August 12, 2005

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, created a training event in preparing a financial aid night presentation in Spanish. This unique workshop is conducted entirely in Spanish, and was first offered earlier this year. Due to the extensive interest and positive feedback that has been received, the training event is being offered again.

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:

  • September 13, 2005
  • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Moraine Valley Community College, 10900 South 88th Avenue,  Palos Hills, IL
  • Lunch will be provided.
  • Register by September 8th 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 attend this event at Moraine Valley Community College but have a need for this type of training, your feedback on possible future locations is appreciated.

The agenda includes the following:

Translated Tools and Resources
 
There are many services available in Spanish through College Zone.


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Staffing Changes at ISAC
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admission Counselors, and Community Organizations on July 28, 2005.

A series of organizational changes are underway at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). These changes are being prompted by the departure of a few staff members. We wanted to let you know of these changes and of  ISAC's ongoing commitment to our customer service goals and to fulfilling our mission of providing access to a quality postsecondary education for Illinois students and their families.  

Effective at the end of this month, John Jennetten, Chief Program Officer (CPO), will be leaving ISAC. John has a distinguished career in higher education and has served the agency effectively as CPO since 1991.  

With John's departure, several staff members are taking on additional leadership roles as follows:

  • Kathy Rooney, ISAC's Deputy Executive Director, will take on additional areas and staff under her umbrella of External Relations that had been reporting to John, adding Client Development, Default Prevention Outreach, College Zone Outreach, IllinoisMentor and related College Zone awareness activities to her existing responsibilities of Government Relations, Public Information, and College Illinois!. A new division reporting to Kathy, Public Service, with Sam Nelson as Director, will encompass many of the areas described above with the goal of enhancing the statewide visibility of ISAC's success in assisting students and families, both on the scholarship and grant side and the loan guarantor areas of the agency.
  • Chris Peterson will assume the role of Chief Program Officer with the Program Services and Compliance divisions reporting to her. Chris will report to Marcia Thompson who is taking on the role of Chief Operating and Administrative Officer.
  • Theresa Morgan will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer formerly held by Marcia Thompson.
These changes follow the recent promotion of Tom Breyer to Interim Director of IDAPP, effective June 1st.

The individuals involved in the above staffing changes have a combined total of over eighty years of experience with ISAC, some with additional years of experience in higher education and higher education finance. We're confident that their experience, along with their extensive commitment to ISAC and our mission, will continue to serve the needs of our clients and partners well.

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High School Counselors/Teachers 

Debt Management Strategies Chat Event - September 13, 2005
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers on September 7, 2005

High School Counselors: Please share the following information with any families who might benefit from it.

On Tuesday, September 13, 2005, Mapping Your Future will offer a "Debt Management Strategies" chat from 6 to 7 p.m. (CT). The chat is designed to help students obtain information about managing their personal financial affairs.

During this "Debt Management Strategies" Chat Event, participants will learn about:
 
  • using credit cards responsibly;
  • obtaining credit reports;
  • establishing a budget;
  • exploring loan consolidation options; and
  • avoiding student loan default.

At the time of the event, you can access Mapping Your Future by selecting "Mapping Your Future" from the "Counselor Quick Links" menu that appears along the right margin of the Counselor 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 - which includes the chat schedule through August 2006 - 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 2005-06 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 "Middle and High School Counselor" and "Live Chat Events" pages, in areas of your school that can be easily viewed by students 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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College Admissions and Standardized Tests Chat Event - August 9, 2005
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers on August 2, 2005

High School Counselors: Please share the following information with any families who might benefit from it.

On Tuesday, August 9, 2005, Mapping Your Future will offer a "College Admissions and Standardized Tests" chat from 2 to 3 p.m. (CT). The chat is designed to help students obtain information about admissions tests and applying to college.

During this "College Admissions and Standardized Tests" Chat Event, participants will learn about:  
  • taking standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT);
  • preparing academically for college;
  • considering different types of colleges;
  • selecting a college;
  • applying to college; and
  • completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and applying for financial aid.
At the time of the event, you can access Mapping Your Future by selecting "Mapping Your Future" from the "Counselor Quick Links" menu that appears along the right margin of the Counselor 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 - which includes the chat schedule through August 2006 - is in the Outreach Activities section of College Zone, which can be accessed in the center of the College Zone home page.

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 Communiqué

New ISAC Communiqué Available at College Zone
Sent on July 1, 2005

The latest “electronic-only” edition of the ISAC Communiqué is now available for your review within the ISAC Publications section of College Zone's e-Library. This electronic version of ISAC's newsletter is a quarterly compilation of information provided to Counselor Zone partners via College Zone's e-Messaging service during the months of April, May and June 2005.

Topics covered in this electronic Communiqué include: 

  • Significant Improvements Anticipated for 2005-06 MAP Grants - Commission to Take Action on FY2006 Recompute Formula at June 24th Meeting
  • New Student Loan Interest Rates Effective July 1st
  • ISAC and IDAPP Update
  • ISAC and Tax Assistance Program Invite You to 2005 Financial Aid Conference on May 12, 2005
  • New Cycle Underway for High School Scholarship Programs
  • Take the Credit Challenge! National Credit Education Week: April 18 - 23, 2005
  • Student Loan Consolidation, Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge Chat Event - May 10, 2005
  • Deferements, Forebearance, and Default Prevention Chat Event - April 12, 2005
  • ISAC Communiqué


Future electronic newsletters will be available at the beginning of each quarter (January, April, July, and October), and will be the compilation of information announced via an e-Message to any of the Counselor Zone subscription groups during the previous quarter.

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