FAA Message Board
The FAA Message Board is updated regularly – check back often for the latest information
A 10-day public comment period (June 2–June 11, 2026) for the Illinois Workforce Pell Program Approval Manual is now open. Further details – including a link to review the proposed manual and accompanying documents, as well as provide official public comment – are provided in a
June 3 e-Message.
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June 2 e-Message provides information to assist colleges with year-end processing for 2025-26
ISAC gift assistance programs.
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May 28 e-Message provides information, updates, and important dates that may be of interest to FAAs.
Public comment is now being accepted on proposed amendments to several Parts of the
ISAC Administrative Rules. 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 e-Message.
First, second, and third-term claims have been paid through (and including) May 20, 2026. Claims submitted after May 20 will be held as late, to be considered for payment later in the year.
As announced in a
May 11 e-Message, colleges may
certify 2026-27 NES eligibility using the
NES System. All certification records available in the system must be completed.
As announced in a
May 11 e-Message, join ISAC for Monthly Program & Operation Updates. Webinars will take place at 2:00 p.m. on May 27, June 24, and July 29. Participate by accessing the webinar link and presentation materials at the
Partner Training page in the
e-Library on the day of the event.
As announced in an
April 20 e-Message, April 23, 2026 will be the last day for students to apply for 2026-27 MAP grants by submitting an initial 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or, for qualifying students, an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Announcements of awards for students whose FAFSAs are received by the federal processor or whose Alternative Applications are received by ISAC after that date will be put "
in suspense" – basically, a waiting list for 2026-27 MAP. Further details are provided on the
MAP page. Suspended records are anticipated to be visible in GAP Access by late April.
The 2026 Colleges Changes Everything Conference: Education Matters, will be held on July 16, 2026 at the Tinley Park Convention Center.
FAAs are invited to submit session proposals – due May 15, 2026.
An
April 15 e-Message provides additional details.
The 2025 collection period for MAP advising data has opened. Colleges may now submit the required information via the GAP Access portal. Advising data is due by
Thursday, July 30, 2026. Please note, starting this year, the MAP Advising process has moved to a biennial collection process. Further details are provided in an
April 9 e-Message.
As announced in an
April 7 e-Message, ISAC has released from suspense the 2025-26 MAP award announcements for students who submitted an initial FAFSA or an Alternative Application from July 2, 2025, through and including July 30, 2025. MAP award announcements for released records may be viewed in the MAP system. Announcements of 2025-26 MAP grants remain in suspense status for all eligible students with initial FAFSA or Alternative Application receipt dates after July 30, 2025. The deadline date for submitting first- and second-term claims for these records was April 28, 2026. Third-term claims are due
Friday, May 8, 2026.
As of March 25, colleges may certify eligibility for the 2025-26 Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program. Colleges should submit certification data as soon as possible. A
March 25 e-Message provides additional details.
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February 18 e-Message shares information regarding Workforce Pell, an upcoming expansion of the federal Pell Grant program that would allow students to use funding for eligible short-term workforce programs.
The 2025-26
Grant Program for Exonerees and Their Dependents is now available. New this academic year, education benefits may be shared with qualifying dependents. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
ISAC Student Portal
