ISAC Student PortalUpcoming Important Dates from ISAC
05/28/2026
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to share information which may be helpful to you and/or your college-bound students.
Links in this message go to ISAC's website (isac.org) unless otherwise noted.
You may scroll through this message, or click a link to go to a specific section:
2027-28 (July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028)
2026-27 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027)
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
July 1: High School Data Due (for 2027-28 SSP and OCCA processing)
Effective with the cycle that opened on May 18, 2026, the sixth semester data collection process supports both the State Scholar Program (SSP) and the One Click College Admit (OCCA) program. For this reason, it is now referred to as the "High School Data Collection" process.
ISAC is currently accepting SSP and OCCA data for Illinois students who will be college freshmen during the 2027-28 academic year. High schools are encouraged to submit complete and accurate data as early as possible to support both SSP processing and OCCA matching activities. All data must be submitted no later than July 1, 2026.
Refer to the High School Data Collection Guidance for SSP and OCCA page and the May 18, 2026 "High School Data Collection and Processing Has Begun" e-Message for further details.
Sixth semester data is accepted only via the SSP/OCCA systme within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs Access (GAP Access) portal. Information regarding how to register for GAP Access is provided via the Required Sixth Semester Data page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section.
School Contact Information and Managing GAP Access Usage
Please notify ISAC of any changes in your school's administration (i.e., new principal).
In keeping with the goal of securing all confidential data, the principal of each high school is designated as that school's GAP Access Primary Administrator. While we understand principals are not usually involved in the day-to-day processes, we do require the school principal to register for their own GAP Access account.
By June 30, 2026: High School Juniors Take College Assessment Exams for State Scholar Consideration
Eligibility for the State Scholar Program (SSP) is based, in part, on a student's highest qualifying ACT or SAT score. High school juniors who are potential candidates need to take one of the accepted exams during the specified timeframe to be considered for State Scholar designation, even though Illinois' public institutions are prohibited from requiring the submission of student test scores as part of the admissions process.
For students who are high school juniors during the 2025-26 school year, only exams taken between August 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 qualify for consideration in the State Scholar announcements that will be made during their senior year (i.e., high school juniors, who will be college freshmen during the 2027-28 academic year, will be named Scholars during the fall of 2026). Further details are provided for students at the State Scholar Program page within the Students & Parents area.
FAFSA® and Alternative Application Remain Available
ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2026-27 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for all students whose initial 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) was received by the FAFSA Processing System (FPS) or whose initial 2026-27 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) was received by ISAC after Thursday, April 23, 2026. However, these 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, 2026 and June 30, 2027. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for other forms of federal, state, and institutional financial assistance. The suspension of 2026-27 MAP award announcements does not impact any other financial aid programs.
College-bound students and their families, who may be seeking information about the financial aid application process, can be directed to the Financial Aid: Completing the FAFSA area of ISAC's website and the Federal Student Aid studentaid.gov website.
Public Comment Being Accepted for Proposed Rules and Amendments
Public comment is being accepted on proposed amendments to several Parts of the ISAC Administrative Rules, including Part 2760 (State Scholar Program) and Part 2777 (Public University Direct Admission Program). Specific details, including the date by which public comment for each Part must be submitted, are provided at the Proposed Rules and Amendments page of the e-Library and in a May 26, 2026 "ISAC Administrative Rules Update – Public Comment Being Accepted" e-Message.
First Generation Scholars Network
Encourage your graduating seniors who will be the first in their family to earn a college degree to join the First Generation Scholars Network to get support and resources from ISAC, their peers, and colleges across the state. Students heading to their first year of college this fall will find events and programs that provide tools, resources, mentoring, and connections that can help make the transition easier.
Online Resource Helps Students Find Leads for Summer Employment/Internships
Counselors are urged to promote the "Internship and Summer Jobs" online resource, which may be accessed via the Toolbox area of the ISAC Student Portal, to their students who may be seeking summer employment or internships.
Outreach Resources
Information about outreach programs, as well as the ISACorps™ and how to connect with your local ISACorps member, is available on our website.
In the Outreach Resources section, you will find additional information on how we can assist you with your school's efforts to provide college-bound students with information about financial aid.
June 25: Next Commission Meeting
The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place at 1:00 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, June 25, 2026. 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 2026.
July 16: 2026 College Changes Everything® (CCE) Conference
Mark you calendar for the 2026 CCE conference – Education Matters – taking place on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park, Illinois. Education is consequential, transformative and urgent; it is the ladder of opportunity that helps transform lives. And, matters of education – the systems, policies, and barriers – require our attention and collective action. Further details are provided at the College Changes Everything conference web page.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Friday, June 19, 2026 – Juneteenth
- Friday, July 3, 2026 – Independence Day (observed)
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
Processing Schedules
The SSP/OCCA system remains available on holidays during regularly scheduled hours.
For Assistance
Access the Counselors area anytime, or send an email message to Partner Services at [email protected]. We will review and respond to messages during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (CT).
You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups for Counselors.
If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an email to [email protected] or calling 866.247.2172.
