JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

iGROW Tech Scholarship Certification

Certification Overview
Certification Entry
Reminders
Appeal Procedures

Certification Overview

A Certification record is created in the Illinois Graduate and Retain our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program system when the iGROW Tech application process has been completed [this includes both the iGROW Tech Application/Work Agreement/Promissory Note and the corresponding year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or, if applicable, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid]. The college then selects "Certification" from the ribbon at the top of the screen to display the Certification List: View screen. Colleges can enter certification data and indicate whether the applicant is eligible or ineligible, then save and submit their entry to ISAC.

Only records that need to be certified display on the Certification List: View screen. The Filter and/or Sort functions can be applied to the Certification List: View screen to customize how information is displayed, similar to all other gift assistance programs that are processed via systems within the GAP Access portal. Once certified – whether as eligible or ineligible – the applicant status information will be updated on the Student List Eligibility: View screen.

A complete application and a complete and eligible Certification record are required for consideration for an award. Eligible applicants will be awarded based on whether their application was received before or after the priority consideration date (November 30, 2024 for the 2024-25 awarding cycle). Renewal applicants receive priority consideration.

All Certifications available in the iGROW system must be completed regardless of whether the school certifies a student as eligible or ineligible. The only way an applicant will be notified by ISAC regarding their award status is if the Certification is submitted.

Certification Entry

To prevent scrolling across multiple columns, entry of certification data is done by clicking on the student's name from the "Certification List: View" screen within the iGROW system.

The following fields appear in the "Certification Data" window:

  • Eligible (Yes/No)
    • If "Yes," all fields other than Ineligible Reason must be completed.
      • Academic Level (Drop-down Menu)
        • Freshman
        • Sophomore
        • Junior
        • Senior
      • Program of Study (Drop-down Menu)
        • Computer Information Sciences
        • Information Technology
        • Information Science
        • Computer Science
        • Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
        • CIS Security or Information Assurance
        • Management IS
      • Anticipated Graduation Date (MM/YYYY – must be in future)
      • SAI from most recent valid ISIR (Enter Value from 0 [Zero] through 999999)
        • Colleges should report the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) or Alternative Application Student Record on which a student's financial aid would be based, as of the date that iGROW Tech certification is completed (i.e., the date the college submits iGROW certification data to ISAC).
        • If changes are pending that will impact the student's SAI (e.g., corrections, verification, or professional judgment reviews), the college may choose to postpone submitting certification data for the student until after the transaction reflecting the revised SAI has been received.
      • Student's GPA
        • For incoming freshmen, the high school GPA is to be reported.
    • If "No," only the Ineligible Reason field must be completed. (Drop-down Menu)
      • Not a U.S. citizen/eligble non-citizen student
      • Non-resident
      • Not a HS grad or recipient of HS diploma/GED in Illinois or another state
      • GPA less than 2.50
      • Graduate student
      • No qualifying degree
      • Not at qualifying institution
      • Not making satisfactory academic progress
      • No remaining unmet cost
      • Not accepting iGROW Tech Scholarship
      • Defaulted student loan
      • Not enrolled
      • Enrolled less than half time
  • Save/Submit (Button)
    • All required fields must be completed in order to activate this button (i.e., partially completed records cannot be saved and then completed and submitted later).
    • Certification records may be modified by the college up until the applicant has been awarded. After awarding has taken place, the certication record can no longer be edited by the school (contact School Services if changes are needed for applicants who have been awarded).
  • Close (Button)
    • Select "Close" to close the "Certification Data" window and return to the "Certification List: View" screen.

Refer to the iGROW Tech User Guide (which is anticipated to be available soon) for detailed instructions for completing and submitting a Certification record via the iGROW system. If a record was certified ineligible and something changes with a student's eligibility prior to the awarding process, corrections to the certification record can be made online. Instructions to make corrections are included in the user guide.

Reminders

  • An overview of the online certification process can be found in the iGROW Tech User Guide (which is anticipated to be available soon).
  • A Certification record must be submitted for applicants who are eligible and ineligible.
  • Only applicants with a complete and eligible Certification record will be considered for an award.
  • Corrections to a Certification record can be made online. Follow the instructions in the iGROW Tech User Guide.
  • Be sure to continue completing and submitting iGROW Tech Certifications throughout the year so that applicants will receive the appropriate notifications.

Appeal Procedures

Ineligible applicants will be sent an iGROW Tech Notice of Ineligibility and advised of the reason for the denial of an award. If there are extenuating circumstances that would cause ISAC to reconsider an applicant’s eligibility, an appeal may be appropriate.

While a financial aid administrator may assist an applicant in formulating an appeal request, the applicant must appeal ISAC’s decision by filing a written request within 60 days of the date on the denial letter. The written request must explain the basis of the appeal and provide all pertinent details and appropriate documentation.

Appeals should be submitted to:

Manager, Program Operations
Illinois Student Assistance Commission, DA3
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015

ISAC will send a written response to the applicant within 15 working days of its receipt of the written appeal.