 |
VOL. 23, NO. 9IGSL, 9B
March 2006
Welcome to the March 2006 ISAC Update for financial aid administrators and business officers. This version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent through College Zone’s e-Messaging service throughout March. This e-Messaging service has replaced ISAC’s use of printed newsletters, the ILASFAA ListServ, and special e-mail lists as our primary means of communicating information to you.
The articles in this Update have been organized according to the FAA Zone subscription groups to which the messages were distributed via College Zone’s e-Messaging service.
Questions?
Questions regarding information in this ISAC Update 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
Meet Us Along the "Road to Opportunity"
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on March 24, 2006 We're looking forward to meeting you somewhere along "ILASFAA's Road to Opportunity" during the annual conference, April 2nd through 4th, in Springfield. Be sure to take a rest stop and visit with ISAC staff at the conference, either at our booth in the vendor area or at one of these sessions, in which we are involved:
- Default Prevention/Cohort Default Reduction (Monday, April 3rd from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.) - ISAC's Tom Cox (Assistant Director of Default Prevention Outreach Services) will co-present a session discussing the implementation of best practices for default reduction at your institution. These same topics were presented at the recent National Default Aversion Conference in Atlanta.
- State Update (Monday, April 3rd, lunch) - Executive Director Larry Matejka will speak during lunch on a variety of topics impacting the agency and our partners, including state legislative and budget issues, program funding, federal legislation and the status of the proposed loan sale.
- ISAC Programs Updates (Monday, April 3rd, from
2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. and then repeated Tuesday, April 4th from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.) - Sam Nelson (Director of Public Service) will provide information on many of the new and existing programs and services administered by ISAC, as well as the effect of any upcoming legislative and rules changes to the programs.
- Consumerism/Helping Students Manage It (Monday, April 3rd from 3:10 p.m. to 4 p.m.) - Tom Cox will discuss how today's consumerism effects students' behavior, including spending patterns, student debt and the use of credit. He'll also cover the latest on the new bankruptcy law, identity theft, Internet scams and opt-out information.
- Counseling Starts at Home: Access Initiatives and Community Partnerships in Illinois (Tuesday,
April 4th from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.) - Maria Bucio (Regional Outreach Coordinator) will co-present information on four outreach initiatives that are helping make a difference in Illinois communities and in the lives of students and parents. This session will help promote awareness and dispel misconceptions about college access in Illinois. Once on site at the Springfield Crowne Plaza for the conference, refer to the conference program for the location of each session. For more details regarding the 2006 ILASFAA Conference, visit the Conferences page of the ILASFAA Web site.
2005-06 MAP Payment Urgent Alert
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and MAPnet Users on March 15, 2006 An analysis of payment claim data for 2005-06 Monetary Award Program (MAP) shows significantly higher than anticipated claim rates, and as a result, full reconciliation of first term MAP disbursements by colleges is crucial. To assist us in determining the exact status of our current commitment, we're requesting that you complete a full reconciliation and report any adjusted awards immediately. (This would include any cancellations and downward adjustments.)
Additionally, it is equally important that second/third term payment claims are as accurate as possible, and that institutions meet the April 7th payment claim deadline date. If payment has already been claimed and received for second/third term, we ask that you also complete a reconciliation of those disbursements as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, we are considering all possible options regarding the status of funding for the program. This funding situation affects MAP, not the 2005-06 Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program.
New Awards Announced for 2005-06 Teacher Education Scholarship Programs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on March 1, 2006 The fourth round of 2005-06 Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (TESP) awarding took place on February 28th. Award notifications have been mailed to 94 eligible students.
Each time the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) completes a round of awarding for 2005-06 TESP [Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) and Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship programs], new eligible award information, including funded or unfunded status, is made available online at My Zone.
Accessing Award Information at My Zone
The following resources are available at My Zone to help identify students that have recently been found eligible for an award. As a reminder, the "Status Date" listed on TESP reports generated via My Zone matches the date on the student's award letter.
How to Access a Report
Search All Views
Filter Screen
Each of the above resources may be accessed from within the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (TESP) area of My Zone.
Sign Up for Access to My Zone
It's not too late to sign up to access data from My Zone! As soon as you establish a My Zone Administrator for your campus, and update staff access to TESP, you will be able to view eligible student award notification data online. This online process has replaced the TESP award notification letters that, in previous years, you received in the mail.
Return to top
Financial Aid Director
Commission Meeting to be Held Friday, March 31, 2006
Sent on March 24, 2006
A meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission has been scheduled for Friday, March 31st at 10 a.m. at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. The purpose of the meeting is to continue ongoing discussions with Commissioners regarding the programs and services ISAC offers and to consider how best to position ISAC strategically for the future. Please be aware that the agenda includes a closed Executive Session.
Further information about the location of the meeting can be accessed at collegezone.com in the e-Library, ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission.
Executive Briefing Conference Call - March 15th
Sent on March 7, 2006
On Wednesday, March 15th, ISAC Executive Director Larry Matejka will offer an Executive Briefing Conference Call to provide an update on a variety of ISAC-related topics. The conference call, for financial aid staff at the Director or upper management level, will be held at 10 a.m.
To participate, dial 888.767.9380 and enter the passcode: 9767339#.
Items which will be discussed during the call include:
- FY2007 Budget Update
- Legislative Update
- Status of Proposal relating to Loan Sale
- FY2006 Program Funding Issues
Return to Top
FFELP Participants
Latest School DAAR Report Available
Sent on March 3, 2006 and March 20, 2006
The Notification of Student Loan Borrower DAAR Status report (School DAAR Report) for your school is now available on College Zone's My Zone. This online version has replaced the paper rosters ISAC sent in the past.
The School DAAR Report is non-cumulative and is available twice a month to those institutions with students for whom ISAC, as the guarantor, has received a Default Aversion Assistance Request (DAAR) during the reporting time period. Each time a new School DAAR Report is made available online, an e-Message will be sent to the "FFELP Participants" e-Messaging subscription group.
Accessing School DAAR Reports at My Zone
My Zone is a portal available in the FAA Zone at collegezone.com that allows postsecondary schools online access to student-specific data in a secure environment. If you have not yet signed up to participate in My Zone, proceed to the FAA Zone front page and select the My Zone Quick Link.
For complete information and instructions to access your school's DAAR Report, proceed to the FAA Zone front page and select the My Zone Quick Link in the right margin of the page.
Return to Top
ISAC Update Group
Electronic ISAC Update for February 2006 Available at College Zone
Sent on March 1, 2006 The February 2006 edition of the ISAC Update is now available for your review within the ISAC Publications section of College Zone's e-Library. This version of the monthly electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent to financial aid administrators and business officers in February via College Zone's e-Messaging service.
Topics covered in the February 2006 ISAC Update include:
- Proration of 2005-06 Military and Dependents Grant Programs
(sent February 21, 2006)
- Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
(sent February 16, 2006)
- FY2007 Governor's Budget Proposal
(sent February 15, 2006)
- Start-up for 2006-07 MAP and IIA Program Successfully Implemented
(sent February 9, 2006)
- 2006-07 MAP and IIA Program Start-up Scheduled for February 9th
(sent February 6, 2006)
- Close of SAR/ISIR Processing Cycle for 2005-06 MAP & IIA Program
(sent February 2, 2006)
- Latest School DAAR Report Available
(sent February 3, 2006 and February 21, 2006)
- Electronic ISAC Update for January 2006 Available at College Zone
(sent February 1, 2006)
Return to Top
|
