JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

ISAC Update

VOL. 42, NO. 7F
January 2025

Messages sent to:   Multiple Subscription Groups
  ISAC Update

Welcome to the January 2025 ISAC Update for financial aid administrators and business officers. This version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent through ISAC's e-Messaging service throughout January.

The articles in this Update have been organized according to the FAA subscription groups to which the messages were distributed.

Questions?

Questions regarding information in this ISAC Update can be directed to School Services at 866.247.2172 or at isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov. 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

Spots Are Filling Up Fast, Don't Delay – Register Today
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on January 30, 2025.

Register now for the 12th annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network conference, themed Building the Future We Want: Increasing Equitable Postsecondary Attainment, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Join colleagues from across the state for this in-person, one-day conference being held at I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois. The conference is an engaging learning opportunity designed for leaders from secondary and postsecondary education, local and state government, community-based organizations, policy advocates, grantmakers, employers, and other stakeholders interested in equitably increasing postsecondary attainment in Illinois. View the agenda and register now.

ISAC Sessions

Please plan to join us for one or more of the following sessions being presented by Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) staff members.

  • Navigating the Future: An In-Depth Look at the Illinois PaCE Framework
    10:25 – 11:20 a.m.

    ISAC Presenters
    Ana Moya, Professional Development Specialist
    Kimberly Korando, Assistant Director of College Access
  • Unlocking Financial Aid: Navigating FAFSA Simplification and Supporting Students for 2025–26
    11:30 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.

    ISAC Presenter
    Manuel Talavera, Professional Development Specialist

Professional Development Hours and Continuing Education Credits

ISAC will provide professional development (PD) hours for ISBE educator licensure or continuing education (CE) credits through the Illinois Department of Financial Regulations. Completion of the evaluation survey at the conclusion of the conference is required to earn PD hours or CE credits.

Please direct questions to Sam Nelson (Sam.Nelson@illinois.gov) or Ana Moya (Ana.Moya@illinois.gov).

Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on January 24, 2025.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make you aware of the following information, which may be of interest to you and/or your students.

Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at ISAC's website (isac.org).

You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section:

2025-26 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026)

2024-25 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025)

General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)

2025-26 ACADEMIC YEAR

March 1: Illinois SETTW Application Deadline

Remind your students who plan to pursue a career in teaching that March 1, 2025 is the priority application consideration date for the 2025-26 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program. In order to complete the online application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).

Complete applications received after March 1 will be considered only if available tuition waivers remain after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.

March 31: MTI Scholarship Application Deadline

Remind your students who plan to pursue a career in teaching that March 31, 2025 is the priority application consideration date for the 2025-26 Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program. In order to complete the online application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).

In addition to the MTI application, a 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) (if applicable) must also be submitted by March 31.

Complete applications – including the 2025-26 FAFSA (or Alternative Application, if applicable) – received after March 31 will be considered only if MTI funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.

MAP Start-up Implemented

2025-26 Monetary Award Program (MAP) records – reflecting the start-up formula that was approved at the September 19, 2024 Commission meeting – are available to access via the MAP system. All 2025-26 Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and Alternative Application Student Records received by ISAC are available with their accompanying eligibility status information, and daily processing of 2025-26 ISIR, Alternative Application, and eligibility status information has commenced. Further details are provided in a December 30 e-Message.

FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available

The 2025-26 FAFSA remains available online, and – if not already done – should be completed as soon as possible by students who will be attending college between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for the MAP grant, as well as several other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance.

In addition, the 2025-26 Alternative Application is also available (in English and Spanish). Further details are provided at ISAC's Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act page.

Encourage your students to check out the Financial Aid Planning area for information regarding resources that are available to help them complete the financial aid process.

2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR

March 31: Second-term Priority Claim Deadline for ECACE, Golden Apple, MTI, NES & Social Work Scholarship

ISAC is accepting second-term payment requests (claims) for the 2024-25 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship, Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Golden Apple), MTI Scholarship, Nursing Education Scholarships (NES) and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship (Social Work Scholarship) programs. The second-term priority claim deadline for these programs is Monday, March 31, 2025.

As originally announced in a December 6 e-Message, colleges may submit 2024-25 NES claims for the fall term via the NES system. The priority deadline date for 2024-25 NES fall-term claims is March 31, 2025.

In addition, even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2024 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay first-term claims for the ECACE, Golden Apple, MTI and Social Work Scholarship programs through March 31, 2025.

Further details are provided in a January 21 e-Message.

March 1: Spring-Term Application Deadline for Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers

March 1, 2025 is the spring- and summer-term application deadline for the 2024-25 Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer term only awards.

March 1: Spring-Term Application Deadline for the Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program

March 1, 2025 is the spring- and summer-term application deadline for the 2024-25 Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer term only awards.

April 4: MAP Second-Term Claims Due

Colleges are encouraged to submit 2024-25 MAP claims for the second term as soon as possible, and no later than the April 4, 2025 claim deadline date. In addition, even though the December 6, 2024 deadline has passed, ISAC is continuing to accept fall-term claims; however, initial claims and upward adjustment amounts for the fall term will be held as late, to be considered for payment later in the year.

When submitting claims, remember:

  • ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2024-25 MAP grants for all students whose initial FAFSA is received by the federal processor, or whose initial Alternative Application is received by ISAC, on or after August 21, 2024; and,
  • analysis of fall-term claim data resulted in a reduction factor being applied to second semester and second/third quarter eligible amounts and payment claims in order to remain within the fiscal year 2025 appropriation.

Further details are provided in a January 2 e-Message.

Continue Submitting Benefit Usage Data for ING Grant and IVG

ISAC is accepting spring-term benefit usage data for the 2024-25 Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant and Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) programs.

Deadline dates are as follows:

  • ING Grant data for the spring term is due Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • IVG data for the spring term is due Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Even though the dates have passed by which summer- (for the IVG Program) and fall-term (for the ING Grant and IVG programs) data must have been submitted in order to be considered timely, colleges are still encouraged to submit benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.

Benefit usage data for the ING Grant and IVG programs is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within each program's system, allowing colleges to report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data. Even though ISAC may not be able to fully reimburse institutions for 2024-25 ING Grant or IVG awards*, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.

Further details are provided in a January 21 e-Message.

* As previously announced, fiscal year 2025 funds have been appropriated for ISAC to reimburse public universities for some of the tuition and fees that they waive on behalf of eligible veterans and Illinois National Guard members. Details regarding the payment request process will be provided once they have been determined.

iGROW Tech Awards Announced

A January 21 e-Message announces that 2024-25 Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarships have been announced. Colleges will be notified when the 2024-25 iGROW Tech payment processes begins.

FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available

Although ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2024-25 MAP grants (for all students whose initial 2024-25 FAFSA is received by the federal processor, or whose initial Alternative Application is received by ISAC, on or after August 21, 2024), these 2024-25 applications remain available online. If not already done, an application should be completed and submitted as soon as possible by students who will be attending college between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance. The suspension of 2024-25 MAP award announcements does not impact any other financial aid programs.

GENERAL INFORMATION

January 29: Monthly Webinar

ISAC will offer a "Monthly Operational Update and Program News" webinar starting at 2 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

To participate, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library on the day of the event to access the webinar link and presentation materials.

February 25: Success Network Conference

If you have not already done so, register today for the 12th annual College Success Network conference – Building the Future We Want: Increasing Equitable Postsecondary Attainment – being held on February 25, 2025, at I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center in Champaign. Further details, including access to online registration, are provided in a January 10 e-Message.

March 26-28: ILASFAA Annual Conference

Be sure to register for the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA) annual conference – Together Towards Tomorrow – which is taking place March 26-28, 2025, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in East Peoria.

April 1: MAP Advising Data Due

The collection period for 2024 MAP Advising data has opened, and colleges may submit the required information through the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs Access (GAP Access) portal. MAP Advising data to be reported for the 2024 collection period is as follows:

  • available advising and support programs (for the 2023-24 academic year) and
  • course completion data (for the 2022-23 academic year).

2024 MAP Advising data is due April 1, 2025. There have been no changes from past years to the submission process.

Further details – including tips for submitting MAP Advising data, access to the MAP Advising Support Programs Search Tool and the MAP Advising Data Collection User Guide, and the anticipated timeframe for collection of 2025 MAP Advising data – are provided in a January 7 e-Message.

April 17: Next Commission Meeting

The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Further details, including a listing of tentative agenda items, will be available prior to the meeting via the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area.

Visit the Commission Meeting Schedule page for information regarding all meetings scheduled in 2025.

Holiday Schedules

ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:

  • Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Lincoln's Birthday
  • Monday, February 17, 2025 – Presidents' Day

Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.

Processing Schedules

Although ISAC staff will be unavailable on the days listed above, all systems for ISAC-administered programs within the GAP Access portal will be available during regularly scheduled hours. For MAP and other programs administered through components of the GAP Access portal, results for payment requests submitted from 5 p.m. (CT) the business day prior to the holiday through 5 p.m. (CT) the business day following the holiday will be available via the appropriate program's system on the morning of the second business day after the holiday.

For Assistance

Access the Financial Aid Administrators area anytime, or send an e-mail message to School Services. With the exception of days when ISAC staff members are unavailable, we will review and respond to messages during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (CT).

2024-2025 iGROW Tech Awards Announced
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on January 21, 2025.

Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).

2024-25 Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarships have been announced.

We anticipate notifications being mailed to award recipients by ISAC on Thursday (January 23, 2025).

Resources regarding the awarding process are available via the iGROW Tech Electronic Processing area (which includes access to the program's user guide), as well as the iGROW Tech Award Determination page.

Watch for Updates

Future program updates – including an announcement once 2024-25 iGROW Tech payment requests (claims) are being accepted – will be shared via our usual means of communication: the FAA Message Board, the iGROW Tech Program News page, and/or this e-Messaging system.

Submit 2024-25 Claims and Benefit Usage Data for Second Term
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on January 21, 2025.

Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).

The ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal – which includes the electronic processing systems for the ISAC programs discussed below – is available for submission of second-term (spring for semester schools; winter for quarter schools) records. Colleges are encouraged to submit 2024-25 second-term payment requests (claims) and/or benefit usage data as soon as possible.

You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section.

Submitting Claims

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

Nursing Education Scholarships (NES)

Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship (Social Work Scholarship) Program

Reminders for Submitting Claims

Submitting Benefit Usage Data

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program

ECACE Scholarships

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 ECACE Scholarship claims for the second term (spring semester and winter quarter).
    • The second-term ECACE priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 31, 2025.
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2024 has passed for the fall (Term 1 for semester and quarter schools) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay ECACE fall-term claims through March 31, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit claims for the first and second terms by accessing the ECACE system.
  • More information regarding ECACE payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Golden Apple Scholars

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 Golden Apple claims for the second term.
    • The second-term Golden Apple priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 31, 2025.
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2024 has passed for the first term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay Golden Apple first-term claims through March 31, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit first- and second-term claims by accessing the Golden Apple system.
  • More information regarding Golden Apple payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

MTI Scholarships

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 MTI Scholarship claims for the second term.
    • The second-term MTI priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 31, 2025.
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2024 has passed for the first term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay MTI first-term claims through March 31, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit first- and second-term claims by accessing the MTI system.
  • More information MTI payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

NES

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 NES claims for the second term (spring for semester schools; winter for quarter schools).
  • As announced in a December 6 e-Message, ISAC is also accepting NES fall-term claims.
    • The NES priority claim deadline date for the first and second terms is Monday, March 31, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit claims for the first and second terms by accessing the NES system.
  • More information regarding payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Social Work Scholarships

Reminders for Submitting Claims

  • Colleges are always encouraged to submit claims as soon as they are able to do so.
    • Regularly check the "Payment List" for each program's system (within the GAP Access portal) to identify newly-added records that are available for payment.
    • The timely submission of claims and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC staff to monitor remaining funds and award other students, as applicable.
  • By submitting a claim for an ISAC-administered gift assistance program, the institution is verifying that the student is enrolled and continues to meet all eligibility requirements for the program.
    • If not submitting a claim, the institution reports the reason for the student's ineligibility.
  • Submitting claims is a two-step process, which involves generating the request (either individually or in a batch) and then submitting the request.
  • Payment results are available in the program's corresponding component in GAP Access on a daily basis.
    • Colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report, which is available the day after claims are processed.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to each of the programs referenced above, refund checks should not be sent for cancellations/adjustments made throughout the award year.
    • Funds should only be returned to ISAC after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.

ING Grant

  • ISAC is accepting spring-term benefit usage data for the 2024-25 ING Grant Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, spring-term ING Grant benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Although the fall-term deadline date has passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit ING Grant fall-term benefit usage data as soon as possible.
  • ING Grant benefit usage data is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within the ING Grant system.
    • Colleges report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data.
  • Even though ISAC may not be able to fully reimburse institutions for 2024-25 ING Grant awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
  • Colleges are encouraged to regularly check their Benefits Results report for this program.
  • More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

IVG

  • ISAC is accepting spring-term benefit usage data for the 2024-25 IVG Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, spring-term IVG benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Although the summer- and fall-term deadline dates have passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit IVG benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.
  • IVG benefit usage data is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within the IVG system.
    • Colleges report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data.
  • Even though ISAC may not be able to fully reimburse institutions for 2024-25 IVG awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
  • Colleges are encouraged to regularly check their Benefits Results report for this program.
  • More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Watch for Future Updates

Future program updates will be shared with colleges via ISAC's standard methods of communication, including: the "Program News" area for each program; the FAA Message Board; and, this e-Messaging service.

Don't Delay – Register Today
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on January 10, 2025.

Register now for the 12th annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network conference, themed Building the Future We Want: Increasing Equitable Postsecondary Attainment, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Join colleagues from across the state for this in-person, one-day conference being held at I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois. The conference is an engaging learning opportunity designed for leaders from secondary and postsecondary education, local and state government, community-based organizations, policy advocates, grantmakers, employers, and other stakeholders interested in equitably increasing postsecondary attainment in Illinois. View the agenda and register now.

Keynote Speaker: Wil Del Pilar, PhD

Wil Del Pilar, PhD is senior vice president at Ed Trust, a national policy and advocacy group. In his role, Wil spearheads Ed Trust's mission to highlight inequities and outline solutions in order to improve access, success, affordability, and completion in higher education for low-income students and students of color. Prior to joining Ed Trust, Wil served in Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's administration as deputy secretary of postsecondary and higher education, where he developed and implemented the state's strategic vision for higher education. Before joining Governor Wolf's team, Wil had experience in the Pennsylvania Department of Education, working as an executive assistant in the state's higher education office. In this role, he managed an array of services for the state, including the College Access Challenge Grant and the Pennsylvania Information Management System.

ISAC Sessions

Please plan to join us for one or more of the following sessions being presented by Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) staff members.

  • Navigating the Future: An In-Depth Look at the Illinois PaCE Framework
    10:25 – 11:20 a.m.

    ISAC Presenters
    Ana Moya, Professional Development Specialist
    Kimberly Korando, Assistant Director of College Access
  • Unlocking Financial Aid: Navigating FAFSA Simplification and Supporting Students for 2025–26
    11:30 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.

    ISAC Presenter
    Manuel Talavera, Professional Development Specialist

Professional Development Hours and Continuing Education Credits

ISAC will provide professional development (PD) hours for ISBE educator licensure or continuing education (CE) credits through the Illinois Department of Financial Regulations. Completion of the evaluation survey at the conclusion of the conference is required to earn PD hours or CE credits.

Please direct questions to Sam Nelson (Sam.Nelson@illinois.gov) or Ana Moya (Ana.Moya@illinois.gov).

The Illinois Education and Career Success Network (formerly the Illinois 60 by 2025 Network) is a growing network of communities in Illinois that are committed to advancing equitable postsecondary attainment. The Network was launched and is organized by: Advance Illinois, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems), and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

Reminder of January Webinars for FAAs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on January 10, 2025.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to remind you of the following webinars for financial aid administrators, which will take place during the month of January.

  • Tuesday, January 14, 10 a.m. – All Things MAP: An Operational Update on the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Monetary Award Program
  • Wednesday, January 29, 2 p.m. – Monthly Operational Update and Program News

To participate, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library on the day of the event to access the webinar link and presentation materials.

Submit MAP Advising Data by April 1
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users,  and Business Officers on January 7, 2025.

Each year, once the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has opened functionality in the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs Access (GAP Access) portal, institutions must submit information about their Monetary Award Program (MAP) recipients. Due to delayed availability of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and other subsequent setbacks associated with the FAFSA Simplification initiative, the 2024 collection period did not open last fall as had been anticipated.

Effective today (Tuesday, January 7, 2025), the 2024 collection period for MAP Advising data has opened and colleges may now submit the required information via the GAP Access portal. There have been no changes from past years to the submission process, through which colleges are to report the following:

  • available advising and support programs (for the 2023-24 academic year) and
  • course completion data (for the 2022-23 academic year).

MAP Advising data for the 2024 collection period is due by Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Tips for Submitting MAP Advising Data

  • All MAP Advising reporting – advising and support programs and course completion rates – is done via a survey-style format through the GAP Access portal.
  • Pay special attention to on-screen instructions that identify the academic year about which the data must be provided.
  • Advising and support program description fields are pre-populated with previously submitted information, so only updates and any new programs need to be submitted.
  • The only recipient-specific data that needs to be submitted is the number of completed/attempted hours. We obtain graduation and retention rates from the National Student Clearinghouse.
  • Community colleges do not need to report course completion rates because we secure the data from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). The course completion rate tables appear in GAP Access for all school types, but need not be completed by community colleges.
  • Guidance to assist in reporting data is available in the MAP Advising Data Collection User Guide, which has been updated to reflect the 2024 data collection period and may be accessed via the GAP Access area of the website.

MAP Advising Support Programs Search Tool

Information reported about colleges' available advising and support programs, including links for the college website pages where the individual advising/support programs appear, is available through the MAP Advising Support Programs Search Tool. The searchable/filterable database tool, accessible through the MAP Advising Data Collection area of ISAC's website, is updated annually and contains results from previous collections of advising and support programs being provided to MAP recipients. You may find this information useful in enhancing your advising and support programs. The data, along with completion, retention and graduation rate data, is used when communicating MAP's positive outcomes to the Illinois legislature.

Looking Ahead

In late May/early June, ISAC anticipates opening the 2025 collection period for MAP Advising data (when colleges will report available advising and support programs for the 2024-25 academic year, and course completion data for the 2023-24 academic year). This timeframe mirrors the schedule typically followed in earlier years. Watch for future updates in the coming months.

Questions?

Questions regarding the MAP Advising data collection process (including inquiries regarding data elements and survey submission) may be directed to the ISAC Research, Planning and Policy Analysis division at isac.rppasurveys@illinois.gov.

January Webinars for FAAs
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on January 3, 2025.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will offer the following webinars for financial aid administrators during the month of January.

  • Tuesday, January 14, 10 a.m. – All Things MAP: An Operational Update on the 2024-25* and 2025-26 Monetary Award Program
  • Wednesday, January 29, 2 p.m. – Monthly Operational Update and Program News

To participate, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library on the day of the event to access the webinar link and presentation materials.

* NOTE: While the original e-Message indicated that the January 14 "All Things MAP" webinar would discuss only 2025-26 MAP, the webinar will also discuss 2024-25 MAP.

ISAC Accepting 2024-25 MAP Second-Term Claims
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, MAP Users, and Business Officers on January 2, 2025.

As of January 2, 2025, ISAC has begun accepting second-term payment requests (claims) for the 2024-25 Monetary Award Program (MAP).

The 2024-25 MAP claim deadline for the second term is Friday, April 4, 2025, and colleges are encouraged to submit claims as soon as possible.

2024-25 MAP Payment Reminders

  • Colleges may submit claims via the MAP system, as well as by File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
    • When submitting second-term claims, remember that analysis of fall-term claim data resulted in a reduction factor being applied to second semester and second/third quarter eligible amounts and payment claims in order to remain within the fiscal year 2025 appropriation.
    • Even though the claim deadline date of December 6, 2024 has passed, ISAC is continuing to accept fall-term claims; however, initial claims and upward adjustment amounts for the fall term will be held as late, to be considered for payment later in the year.
  • ISAC has suspended the announcement of MAP grants for all students whose initial 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the federal processor, or whose initial 2024-25 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is received by ISAC, on or after August 21, 2024.
  • The timely submission of claims and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC to better monitor remaining funds based on actual claim rates rather than projections.
    • Claims may be submitted no more than 10 days prior to the start of classes for the term for which they are being requested.
  • MAP payment results are available for review every weekday.
    • Colleges should always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report, which is available the day after claims are processed.
  • More information regarding payment functionality is available online:

Disbursement and Reconciliation

The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.

  • Visit the State Comptroller's Website page, located within the Processes section of the Financial Aid Administrators area, for information on how to track payment.
  • Refer to the 2024-25 MAP Payment area to view information regarding a report for tracking payment vouchers and warrants available via the online system.
  • After receiving funds for a term, colleges are required to reconcile the payment for accuracy.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to MAP, cancellations of prior payments will be deducted from any future payments until the end of the academic year.
  • Refund checks should not be sent for cancellation/adjustments made in the MAP system throughout the award year.
    • Checks should be returned to ISAC only after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.
    • All schools with an outstanding amount owed to ISAC at the end of the school year will receive a notice indicating the total amount to be returned.

Watch for Future Updates

Future 2024-25 MAP updates – including an announcement of when colleges may begin submitting claims for the third quarter, or for the second semester at institutions where the second semester begins after February 15th – will be shared via ISAC's standard methods of communication (i.e., the MAP Program News page, the FAA Message Board, and this e-Messaging service).

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ISAC UPDATE

December 2024 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on January 2, 2025.

The December 2024 edition of the ISAC Update is now available for your review, and may be accessed via the Partner e-Messages & Newsletters section of the e-Library for Partners at isac.org. This version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent to financial aid administrators and business officers via ISAC's e-Messaging service over the past month.

Topics covered in the December 2024 ISAC Update include:

  • Information for Students Regarding Reduction of 2024-25 MAP Awards
    (sent December 30, 2024)
  • 2025-26 MAP Start-up Implemented
    (sent December 30, 2024)
  • 2024-25 Monetary Award Program (MAP) Mid-Year Recompute Implemented in GAP Access
    (sent December 24, 2024)
  • 2024-25 Monetary Award Program (MAP) Announcement
    (sent December 17, 2024)
  • 2024-25 NES Awards Announced and Payment Requests Being Accepted
    (sent December 6, 2024)
  • 2025-26 FAFSA, Alternative Application, and Important Dates
    (sent December 6, 2024)
  • Commission Meeting Thursday, December 5 – No Executive Briefing Scheduled
    (sent December 3, 2024)
  • December Webinars for FAAs
    (sent December 3, 2024)
  • November 2024 Electronic ISAC Update
    (sent December 2, 2024)

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