ISAC

On Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ In observance of Memorial Day, our offices will be closed Monday, May 25. We will resume regular business hours Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00 am.⁣

School Counselors & Administrators: Join us for an in-depth webinar focused on the data collection and reporting requirements for your current high school juniors within the One Click College Admit (OCCA) initiative. This session is designed to guide school staff through the technical and administrative processes essential for the Class of 2027, ensuring student records are accurately captured and submitted. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣The webinar is free, but advance registration is required. Visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV for more details and to register.⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ #ProfessionalDevelopment #OneClickCollegeAdmit

The college admissions process starts with one click! No matter your GPA, One Click College Admit matches you with community colleges and Illinois public universities for direct admission. No essays, no fees! ⁣⁣⁣ High school juniors must opt-in to One Click College Admit by May 22, 2026 to get admission offers next fall. ⁣⁣ Join us for our webinar Thursday, May 21 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm to learn more about One Click College Admit, get your questions answered, and sign up. isac.org/OCCA-workshops ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ #OneClickCollegeAdmit #DirectAdmissionsIL

Skip the stress of college admissions. Juniors can opt-in to One Click College Admit now to receive admission offers during senior year from local community colleges and participating Illinois universities. All you need is your GPA--no essays and no fees! May 22, 2026 is the deadline to opt-in. ⁣ ⁣ Students and Parents: Got questions about the program? Join us for one of our webinars in May to learn more about One Click College Admit, get your questions answered, and sign up. isac.org/OCCA-workshops ⁣ ⁣ #OneClickCollegeAdmit #DirectAdmissionsIL

School and Community Partners: Mark your calendars for the 2026 College Changes Everything® (CCE) Conference on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Through conversations, storytelling, best practices, and calls to action, the CCE Conference offers a space for learning, advocacy, and action. This year, for our 16th gathering, we call upon you to join us with intention, commitment, and passion as we explore this year's powerful and dual-sided theme: Education Matters. The most powerful moments at the CCE Conference happen when practitioners step to the front of the room and say: here is what I tried, here is what I learned, and here is what changed because of it. We invite you to be that voice by submitting a session proposal to help turn good ideas into real change for students. We welcome proposals that speak to the full landscape of college access, completion, and career readiness and demonstrate how your work contributes to what matters most: meeting the evolving needs of our students, closing the gaps that stand between them and success, and sharing honest, practical lessons learned that move our field forward. Priority consideration will be given to session proposals completed and submitted by May 20, 2026. Learn more and submit your proposal today at bit.ly/4dT7LV5. #CCE4me

We hope you can join us at the @FamilyActionNet event, co-sponsored by ISAC, “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better,” with David Epstein and Megan Twohey Friday, May 15, 7 pm CT at Evanston Township High School Auditorium. Original, galvanizing, and deeply researched, Inside the Box tells absorbing stories of people and organizations that embraced constraints to transform themselves, and the world—as well as a few that struggled from a lack of limits. Epstein reveals how boundaries create breakthroughs, and how setting the right constraints can help you become the most creative, productive, and satisfied version of yourself. For more information, visit bit.ly/48C8Hda.

Reminder – School and Community Partners: Mark your calendars for the 2026 College Changes Everything® (CCE) Conference on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at the Tinley Park Convention Center. This year, for our 16th gathering, we call upon you to join us with intention, commitment, and passion as we explore this year's powerful and dual-sided theme: “Education Matters.” 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. The Conference Planning Committee is making a call for session proposals. We welcome proposals that speak to the full landscape of college access, completion, and career readiness and demonstrate how your work contributes to what matters most: meeting the evolving needs of our students, closing the gaps that stand between them and success, and sharing honest, practical lessons learned that move our field forward. Priority consideration will be given to session proposals completed and submitted by May 15, 2026. Learn more and submit your proposal today at bit.ly/4dT7LV5. #CCE4me

College admissions just got easier! Get direct admissions offers from Illinois community colleges and participating public universities with One Click College Admit. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ High school juniors must opt-in to One Click College Admit by May 22, 2026 to get admission offers next fall.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ Join us for one of our webinars in May to learn more about One Click College Admit, get your questions answered, and sign up. isac.org/OCCA-workshops ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #OneClickCollegeAdmit #DirectAdmissionsIL

Join the @FamilyActionNet for the online event, co-sponsored by ISAC, “How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work, “ with Jodi Kantor and Jennifer Breheny Wallace Thursday, May 7 at 7 pm CT. Kantor sets aside platitudes and false hope in favor of something more useful. Work, she argues, is not just how we spend our time. It’s our engine of progress: how cancer therapies get invented, political campaigns get won, thrilling art gets made and finds its audience. Against that backdrop, she offers two organizing principles to help young people discover their calling: craft and need. Paired together, they provide a framework for the hardest early-career decisions: how to think about money, how much risk to take on, when to push back against conventional wisdom. Learn more and register today. bit.ly/KantorFANWebin…

It's National Teacher Appreciation Week! ISAC celebrates all the educators and mentors who inspire students, support their individual journeys, and help prepare them for a brighter future. Thank you for the difference you make everyday! #ThankATeacher

One click and you’re in! One Click College Admit gets you direct admission to Illinois community colleges and participating public universities. No essays, no fees, and no stress! ⁣⁣ ⁣ High school juniors must opt-in to One Click College Admit by May 22, 2026 to get admission offers next fall. ⁣ Students and Parents: Join us for one of our webinars in May to learn more about One Click College Admit, get your questions answered, and sign up. isac.org/OCCA-workshops ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #OneClickCollegeAdmit #DirectAdmissionsIL

Reminder - School Counselors & Administrators: Join us Monday, May 18 from 9:00 - 10:00 am (CT) for an informational webinar on Illinois’ direct admissions initiative that provides high school seniors and juniors with simple, stress-free, and no cost admissions to community colleges and participating universities based solely on a student's GPA. This session will walk participants through the direct admissions process, the student experience within the Common App platform, and the required opt-in process. ISAC will also share important timelines, review frequently asked questions, and highlight how counselors can support students in navigating One Click College Admit. The webinar is free, but advance registration is required. To learn more and register, visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV. #ProfessionalDevelopment #OneClickCollegeAdmit

It's College Decision Day! Congratulations to all seniors! Your hard work, perseverance, and dedication have paid off. We are excited to hear about your next chapter after high school. ⁣ ⁣ If you will be the first in your family to earn a college degree, consider joining ISAC’s First Generation Scholars Network. Get support and resources from ISAC, peers at your college, and colleges across the state. You can also connect with a First Generation Scholars Network mentor to answer your questions and help you as you transition to college. Learn more and join today! studentportal.isac.org/FirstGen ⁣ ⁣ #CollegeDecisionDay #Classof2026 #firstgensupport

Reminder - School Counselors & Administrators: Join us Friday, May 1 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm (CT) for an informational webinar on Illinois’ direct admissions initiative that provides high school seniors and juniors with simple, stress-free, and no cost admissions to community colleges and participating universities based solely on a student's GPA. This session will walk participants through the direct admissions process, the student experience within the Common App platform, and the required opt-in process. ISAC will also share important timelines, review frequently asked questions, and highlight how counselors can support students in navigating One Click College Admit. The webinar is free, but advance registration is required. Visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV to learn more and register. #ProfessionalDevelopment #OneClickCollegeAdmit

Through One Click College Admit, all eligible high school seniors automatically receive offers of general admission to Illinois community colleges and participating public universities, based solely on GPA. No application fees, essays, or letters of recommendation! ⁣ ⁣ High school juniors have until May 22, 2026 to opt-in to One Click College Admit.⁣ ⁣⁣ Students and Parents: Join us for one of our webinars in May to learn more about the program, get your questions answered, and sign up. isac.org/OCCA-workshops ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #OneClickCollegeAdmit #DirectAdmissionsIL

One Click College Admit is Illinois' quick, stress-free direct admissions program into community colleges and most state public universities. No essays, no application fees, or letters of recommendation! All that’s needed is your GPA! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ Students and Parents: Join us for our webinar on April 29 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm to learn more about One Click College Admit, get your questions answered, and sign up. bit.ly/4rJiepU ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #OneClickCollegeAdmit #DirectAdmissionsIL

Financial Aid Administrators: Join us for ISAC's Monthly Operational Update and Program News webinar on Wednesday, April 29, May 27, and June 24, 2026 at 2 pm. Registration is not required. The webinar link and presentation materials will be posted on the day of each session at bit.ly/2B50S2H.