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VOL. 27, NO. 5IGSL, 5B
November 2009
Welcome to the November 2009 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 November. 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
ISAC Offices Closed November 25th - 27th
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on November 24, 2009
As a reminder, all ISAC locations will be closed for three business days, beginning Wednesday, November 25th.
ISAC staff will be unavailable Wednesday due to a furlough closing, and Thursday and Friday, November 26th & 27th for the Thanksgiving holiday. Although we're unavailable, collegezone.com can be accessed at any time. E-mail messages sent to ISAC's School Services Department will be answered upon our return to the office.
Details regarding holiday processing schedules for loan records and/or Monetary Award Program (MAP) or Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) records can be found in an e-Message dated October 9th.
Regular business hours will resume on Monday,
November 30th.
Best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
ING Grant Payment Request Rosters Now Available at My Zone for 2009-10 Payment Processing
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators and the Public Schools - participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs on November 19, 2009
We are pleased to announce that 2009-10 Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Payment Request Rosters are now available at My Zone. This online functionality allows colleges to submit ING Grant payment requests (initial, supplemental and out-of-district) via the My Zone portal.
New Field for Supplemental Claims
While there are no significant changes to the content or format of the 2009-10 online initial payment request rosters, a new "Adjustment Type" field has been added for supplemental rosters. Information about the "Adjustment Type" field is provided online via the ING - Supplemental Payment Request Quick Reference Guide.
Specific details regarding the online roster process are provided at the ING Payment Roster page at My Zone.
Reminder to Submit Payment Requests for Each Term
Payment request rosters will be made available at My Zone after the application deadline has passed for each term. Colleges will then have 30 days from the date on the roster to submit the completed (original) roster, and 45 days to submit a supplemental roster. In order to ensure timely claims processing, electronic payment requests must be submitted via My Zone on or before the due date for each term, as indicated on the payment request roster.
As a reminder, a cumulative list of payment request rosters is available for the entire fiscal year, which minimizes the need to print and retain hard copies of rosters.
The system is available each Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. (CT).
The payment results phase of the 2009-10 online ING Grant payment process is currently under development, and colleges will be notified via the e-Messaging service when that functionality is available.
Instructions Available Online
More information regarding ING Grant Payment Request Rosters at My Zone, including detailed instructions, is available via the following locations at collegezone.com:
Security Levels for Accessing Data
The security level for a staff person to request, edit or update ING Grant payment claims must be set to Level 2 ("View and Update") by the My Zone administrator at each college. The My Zone administrator should set user access to Level 1 ("View Only") for staff who will not be involved in requesting payment, but need to view ING Grant eligibility and payment information.
Questions?
If college staff or My Zone administrators have problems gaining access to ING Grant Payment Request Rosters at My Zone, or have questions regarding the new system, they should contact ISAC's School Services Department as indicated below.
Summary of November 13th Commission Meeting - Second/Third Term MAP & IIA Priority Claim Deadlines Approved
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on November 17, 2009
The following are highlights from the November 13th regular meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
FY2010 Second/Third Term MAP and IIA Priority Claim Deadlines Approved (Agenda Item 7)
The fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) Monetary Award Program (MAP) and Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program priority payment claim deadline dates for the second and third terms were approved as follows:
Second semester or quarter - April 1, 2010
Second semester starting after 2/15/2010 - June 1, 2010
Third quarter - June 1, 2010
As a reminder, the first semester/quarter payment claim deadline date was approved as January 10, 2010 at the September 18, 2009 Commission meeting.
Operational details for second and third term payment claim processing will be forthcoming in a future e-Message.
Other Commission Meeting Agenda Items
Additionally, the Commission took action on the following item as part of the agenda:
- The Commission approved the execution and delivery of a Federal Rehabilitation Loans Lender Participation Agreement with Sun Trust Bank for the purpose of the purchase of Rehabilitation Loan Program loans from ISAC. (Agenda Item 9)
A listing of all agenda items discussed during the meeting is provided in the November 13th Agenda Book, which can be accessed from the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission page at collegezone.com.
Next Meeting
The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting is set for Friday, January 22, 2010, at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
The dates and locations for all 2010 Commission meetings are now available.
ISAC's Commitment Remains Strong
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Business Offices and FFELP Participants on November 10, 2009
While the uncertainty of the future of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) continues, many lending institutions are assessing their involvement in the federal student loan programs. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and the Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program (IDAPP) would like to take this opportunity to assure you that our commitment to Illinois students and parents is as strong as ever.
Our student loan funding for the current 2009-10 academic year is secure, and IDAPP is processing FFELP Stafford and PLUS loan applications on a daily basis. Students applying through IDAPP can feel confident that funding is in place and available to help finance their educational goals. Simple online application functionality allows borrowers to receive loan approval quickly through IDAPP's Web site.
Although the fate of the Federal Family Education Loan Program is yet to be determined, it is our intention to remain an active and vital player in the student loan industry in Illinois. After more than 52 years of dedicated service, we are proud to continue our partnership with you and your students, and commit to providing the best possible resources for the future.
Commission Meeting to be Held Friday, November 13, 2009
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on November 5, 2009 The next regular meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday, November 13th at North Central College in Naperville.
Some of the items on the tentative agenda for the meeting are:
The Agenda Book, providing the complete agenda and item descriptions, is available via the 2009 Agenda Books page (located within the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the e-Library at collegezone.com). The online Agenda Book will be updated within 1 - 2 business days following the meeting to reflect action taken.
There are no plans for a conference call briefing following this meeting.
Important 2009-10 MAP and IIA Payment Processing Updates
Sent to Financial Aid Administrators and MAPnet Users on November 4, 2009
As has been previously announced, Public Act 96-792 (which was signed into law on October 18, 2009) appropriates an additional $205 million to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to restore funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the remainder of the 2009-10 academic year. The additional funding will allow full-year awards for MAP-eligible students whose initial 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was received by the federal processor on or before May 14, 2009.
Second- and Third-Term MAP and IIA Program Claims Not Accepted Until Further Notice
In order to prepare for system changes that will allow for the reinstatement of full second- and third-term MAP payment, the ability to request payment for these two terms via the 2009-10 MAPnet system and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is being temporarily disabled. Payment requests for first term will continue to be accepted and are not impacted by this temporary change.
Effective November 5, 2009, and continuing until further notice:
- MAPnet users will be unable to access second- and third-term fields for both MAP and the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program.
- FTP users requesting second- or third-term payment will receive a payment results error.
- The error will appear on the Payment Requests E-mail as "Currently Terms 2 and/or 3 are not being processed."
Once all necessary system updates have been completed, the ability to request second- and third-term payment via MAPnet and FTP will be restored.
Release of Records Impacted by Limited Shutdown
ISAC will be releasing records impacted by the limited shutdown that was announced in late August [i.e., Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) transactions with a Central Processing System (CPS) process date on or after September 1, 2009 that would result in increased MAP awards - see the August 28th e-Message for further details].
Once the release of limited shutdown has been completed, impacted records will display increased MAP awards for those ISIR transactions.
Watch for Further Information
As additional details become available regarding the reinstatement of full second- and third-term MAP awards, as well as the release of ISIR transactions impacted by limited shutdown, they will be shared with you via the usual communication methods (i.e., the College Zone e-Messaging service, the MAP and IIA Program News pages, and the FAA Message Board).
ISAC Launches Byrd Payment Online at My Zone 2009-10 Eligibility Certification/Payment Request Rosters Now Available
Sent to Financial Aid Administrators and FFELP Participants on November 3, 2009
We are pleased to announce the availability of Byrd Payment Online, the new functionality that allows colleges to submit Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship (Byrd Scholarship) Program payment requests via the My Zone portal of collegezone.com. Now available for 2009-10 processing, Byrd Payment Online replaces the paper process with a secure, electronic method of transmitting claims data for the Byrd Scholarship Program.
The Byrd Payment Online system is available Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. (CT).
Eligibility Certification/Payment Request Rosters Available
2009-10 Eligibility Certification/Payment Request Rosters for the Byrd Scholarship Program are available to be completed online via the Byrd Payment Online system. New and renewal Byrd scholars, who have certified that they continue to meet the program requirements and have indicated they will attend your college during the 2009-10 academic year, will appear on the roster. Information that needs to be submitted via the Byrd Payment Online system is a combination of the former paper versions of the Eligibility Certification/Payment Request Roster and the Byrd Payment Exception form.
By electronically submitting a completed roster to ISAC, a college certifies that the student meets all eligibility criteria.
Payment Claim Deadlines
Payment claims for the Byrd Scholarship Program must be electronically submitted within 30 calendar days after Eligibility Certification/Payment Request Rosters are available at My Zone (i.e., the date that appears on the roster). It is important to complete and submit payment rosters on a timely basis so that ISAC can monitor the fund balance throughout the academic year.
Colleges will not be notified each time there is Byrd Scholarship activity at My Zone; therefore, colleges are encouraged to check My Zone regularly for new Byrd Scholarship Program payment claim rosters that have not yet been submitted to ISAC.
Instructions Available Online
More information regarding Byrd Payment Online, including detailed instructions, is available via the following locations at collegezone.com:
Accessing Data via My Zone
Most schools participating in the Byrd Scholarship Program are authorized to access My Zone in order to retrieve Default Aversion Assistance Request (DAAR) information from ISAC. Colleges that do not currently use ISAC's My Zone system should contact School Services to obtain access. Refer to the Assigning a My Zone Administrator page, which is located within the My Zone portal, to learn about setting up an administrator and assigning user names and passwords for staff.
Encourage Colleagues to Sign-up for e-Messaging
Encourage your colleagues who work with the Byrd Scholarship Program, and especially those from non-Illinois colleges, to subscribe to the College Zone Financial Aid Administrator e-Messaging system, so that they won't miss any future announcements or updates from ISAC. In order to receive updates regarding the Byrd Scholarship Program, be sure to sign-up for the "Financial Aid Director" and/or "Financial Aid Administrator" subscription groups.
Benefits of Electronic Process
Byrd Payment Online streamlines the payment request process for the Byrd Scholarship Program by allowing colleges to receive and submit payment request rosters electronically via My Zone, as well as update specified fields online for rosters that have not yet been submitted to ISAC. Reducing the number of rosters that are printed and mailed each year results in both financial and environmental benefits.
In addition, the history of all payment requests for the academic year is available to colleges online - again, minimizing the need to print and retain hard copies of rosters.
Questions?
If college staff or My Zone administrators have problems gaining access to Byrd Payment Online, or have questions regarding the new system, they should contact ISAC's School Services Department as indicated below.
My Zone Portal Available
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, Business Officers and FFELP Participants on November 2, 2009
This message is to notify colleges that the My Zone portal at collegezone.com is again available, and college staff can log on to My Zone to access data for the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (TESP), the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program, the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program, and the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).
Thank you for your patience while the My Zone portal was temporarily unavailable earlier today (November 2, 2009).
My Zone Portal Currently Unavailable
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools - participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, Business Offices and FFELP Participants on November 2, 2009 This message is to notify colleges that, due to technical issues, the My Zone portal at collegezone.com is currently unavailable (as of November 2, 2009). Until further notice, college staff will not be able to log on to My Zone to access data for the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (TESP), the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program, the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program, or the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).
ISAC staff members are in the process of resolving these issues, and we will notify you via the College Zone e-Messaging service once program data is again available via the My Zone portal.
Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.
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FFELP PARTICIPANTS
Latest School DAAR Report Available
Sent on November 3, 2009 and November 18, 2009
The Notification of Student Loan Borrower DAAR Status report (School DAAR Report) for your school is now available on College Zone's My Zone.
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.
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ISAC UPDATE GROUP
Electronic ISAC Update for October 2009 Available at College Zone
Sent on November 2, 2009 The October 2009 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 October via College Zone's e-Messaging service.
Topics covered in the October 2009 ISAC Update include:
- Thank You from ISAC's Executive Director
(sent October 28, 2009)
- New State Legislative Update Posted
(October 19, 2009)
(sent October 20, 2009)
- Governor Expected to Sign Bill for Additional MAP Funding Sunday
(sent October 16, 2009)
- New State Legislative Update Posted
(October 12, 2009)
(sent October 13, 2009)
- Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Important Dates
(sent October 9, 2009)
- Financial Aid 101: Building a Solid Foundation - October 2009 Workshops
(sent October 7, 2009)
- 2009-10 MAP and IIA Payment Processing Has Resumed, with Results Available via MAPnet
(sent October 6, 2009)
- No MAP or IIA Payment Processing on Thursday, October 1st
(sent October 1, 2009)
- Latest School DAAR Report Available
(sent October 5, 2009 and October 19, 2009)
- Electronic ISAC Update for September 2009 Available at College Zone
(sent October 1, 2009)
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