ISACorps: Free Resource to Support and Supplement Your Work

1. ISACorps: Free Resource to Support and Supplement Your WorkCCE Conference 2015 Illinois Student Assistance Commission Samia Ahmad Jacqueline Moreno

2. Illinois Student Assistance Commission • ISAC—State agency that awards approximately $370M annually in state grants and scholarships • Mission Statement: Making college accessible and affordable for Illinois students • Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant • Need-based grant • Awarded to approximately 150,000 students each year • Awards are suspended relatively early in the year due to limited funds (we run out of money!) • Initiatives and Services Provided for Free

3. ISACorps History • First cohort started in 2009 as a result of College Access Challenge Grant • Approximately 80 recent college graduates hired annually • Attend a six week summer residency training program • Former Corps members are now working in financial aid, college admissions, student services, high school counseling, not-for-profit organizations, etc.

4. Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISACorps) Recent college graduates hired to be near-peer mentors Corps members are asked for a two-year commitment Corps members are placed throughout the state Target population is first-generation and/or low income students Corps use their experience and enthusiasm to connect, encourage, and assist students with the college going process Increased our ability to conduct outreach and drive FAFSA completion Support and promote other ISAC initiatives while serving the community in which they are placed www.isac.org/students/before-college/isacorps

5. Other Statewide ISAC Initiatives • College Application Month • ISAC Student Portal • Scholarship Search • Financial Literacy • Award Letter Comparison • Calculators: EFC calculator & MAP estimator • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Initiative • Professional Development Workshops

6. College Application Month Part of the American College Application Campaign to get students that may not typically apply or apply late to college to apply and to apply on time Application workshops held during the school day Helps build a college going culture Promotes involvement of teachers and other school staff not normally involved with college applications October 2014 was designated College Application Month in Illinois 98 high schools 82 cities 299 workshops 6,600+ students participated www.collegechangeseverything.org/appmonth

7. CAM Activities Conducive to creating a college going culture Literature & paraphernalia visible throughout school Students talking to each other about application workshops and the colleges to which they’re planning to apply Students more likely to ask questions about going to college Students like getting to know teachers and school administrators on a more personal level “Ask Me” signs on classroom doors “Ask Me” buttons College sweatshirt/shirt day “Teacher Bingo” “College Changes Everything” t-shirts given to counselors at school (first-come, first-serve basis) Corps members assist with workshops, activities leading to workshops, and follow up with students Helps set the stage for FAFSA workshops after January 1

8. ISAC’s Student Portal Scholarship & College Search Emphasis on local scholarships Provides list of scholarships based on profile created by student Detailed information on colleges & majors Financial Literacy Modules—Money Management Career Exploration EFC & MAP calculators Interactive Award Letter Comparison Tool Corps members use tool when working with students one-on-one studentportal.isac.org

9. Interactive Award Letter Comparison Worksheet • Students can use this worksheet to generate a side-by-side comparison of the financial offers they have received www.isac.org Students & Parents  Before College  Making an Informed College Choice  Financial Aid Comparison Worksheet

10. Increasing FAFSA Completion • Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) lowers college costs • Nationally, 90% of high school graduates who complete the FAFSA enroll in college1 • Not completing the FAFSA is a barrier for students in Chicago Public Schools2 • FAFSA Completion promotes college access: • In Chicago, high school students admitted to a four-year college and who complete a FAFSA by May were 50% more likely to enroll3 1U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002/06). 2Roderick, M., Nagaoka, J., Coca, V., Moeller, E., et al. (2008) From High School to the Future: Potholes on the Road to College Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago. 3Ibid

11. FAFSA Completion Initiative Began with Chicago Public Schools in 2007 Expanded to rest of the state 10 school districts 163 individual high schools 360 total high schools encompassed by program Directory information is used to conduct match Name Date of birth HS attending Research agreement can be downloaded from website FAFSA data is sent to school/district on monthly or bi-monthly basis depending on need Individual FAFSA status Aggregate data on senior class Student file is encrypted Corps members assist students complete the FAFSA, the verification process, and conduct workshops www.isac.org *Roderick, M., Nagaoka, J., Coca, V., Moeller, E., et al. (2008) From High School to the Future: Potholes on the Road to College Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago. www.isac.org/home/fafsa/

12. Student List – Sample

13. The FAFSA Report – Sample

14. The FAFSA Report – Page 2

15. FAFSA Completion Initiative: CPS History

16. Replicating The Formula Approximately 150,000 high school seniors every year

17. Professional Development for Staff ISAC provides professional development series Fundamentals of financial aid Line-by-line review of the FAFSA Hand calculation of an EFC Working with special student population & special circumstances “FAFSA Expert” manual—compilation of documents referenced in the FAFSA Certification of attendees Assessment after each module 80% pass rate results in attendee earning certificate from ISAC Incentives for participation in professional development workshops Continuing education credits provided to attendees Provided at no cost to attendees Workshops are held throughout the state and on multiple dates www.isac.org/financialaidcertification

18. Access & Outreach Division Activity *CACG funding ended at end of FY14

19. Utilizing Area Corps member • Meet with Corps and get to know them • Discuss each other’s expectations and potential activities • Refer students for one-on-one assistance • Provide feedback to Corps member and to ISAC • Please don’t hire them away before end of their two-year commitment 

20. Increase the proportion of Illinois adults with a postsecondary degree or credential to 60 percent by 2025 Follow College Changes Everything Website: www.collegechangeseverything.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/collegechangeseverything Twitter: www.twitter.com/cce_illinois www.ISAC.org…………………………………….. Illinois Student Assistance Commission The official web site of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)