ISAC

High School Seniors: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is free, easy, and a key step toward paying for college or trade school! The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal, state, and some institutional financial aid, including money you don't have to pay back, like scholarships and grants.⁣⁣ Complete your application today at FAFSA.gov. ⁣⁣Need help filling out the application? Attend one of our free Financial Aid Application Completion Workshops. studentportal.isac.org/Events ⁣⁣⁣ If you can't attend an event, you can book a free virtual appointment with an ISAC FAFSA expert at isac.org/booking ⁣⁣⁣ #FAFSAhelp #moneyforcollege #studentaid

ISAC staff was excited to participate in this year's @ILASFAA Annual Conference, where we learned from partners and peers and presented a range of sessions with updates and new information. Always grateful for the partnership with ILASFAA to gain insight, perspective, and collaborate on behalf of Illinois students and families.

Reminder - H.S. & College Admissions Counselors & Community Partners: We hope you can join us for our virtual 2026 FAFSA Symposium on March 24, 2026. The symposium provides an opportunity for practitioners and professionals to share best practices for supporting students in completing financial aid applications. Register today to secure your spot for the symposium! Registration is free. Continuing education and professional development hours will be available. Visit isac.org/FAFSAsymposium for more details and to register.

School Counselors & Administrators: Join us Tuesday, April 14 from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (CT) for an informational webinar on Illinois’ direct admissions initiative that provides high school seniors and juniors with simplified, no-cost admissions offers to participating public universities and community colleges. 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

H.S. & College Admissions Counselors & Community Partners: Registration is now open for the 2026 FAFSA Symposium, a virtual event taking place on March 24, 2026. The symposium provides a chance for practitioners and professionals to share best practices for supporting students in completing financial aid applications. The sessions will include: • FAFSA Symposium Welcome & Kick Off • Overview of New ISAC Programs • Conducting Successful Financial Aid Application Completion Workshops • A New Approach: Helping Students Understand Financial Literacy • From High School to College in One Click • A Guide to the 2026-27 Alternative Application • Accessing DCFS Postsecondary Education Supports Register now to secure your spot for the symposium! Registration is free. Continuing education/professional development hours will be available. Visit isac.org/FAFSAsymposium for more details and to register.

School Counselors & Administrators: Join us Tuesday, April 7 from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (CT) for a webinar to explore the new Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) - aligned tools in CIS360 – a comprehensive career development, planning, and management tool. Learn how using the PaCE Career Plan with students can spark inspiration, encourage action, and build a stronger sense of community. With the new PaCE-aligned tools in CIS360, schools and districts can more easily implement the PaCE Framework, ensuring consistent and meaningful support for students statewide. ⁣ ⁣ The session is free, but advance registration is required. Visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV to learn more and register.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #ProfessionalDevelopment #IllinoisPace

Skip the stress of the college admissions process! One Click College Admit matches you with Illinois public universities and community colleges for direct admission. No essays, no fees! Just one click and you’re in! ⁣ Students and Parents: Join our webinar on March 18 (6-7 pm) or March 26 (12 – 1 pm) to learn more about One Click College Admit, get your questions answered and sign up. bit.ly/4rJiepU ⁣⁣ #OneClickCollegeAdmit #DirectAdmissionsIL

Financial Aid Administrators: We hope you can join us for ISAC's Monthly Operational Update and Program News webinar on Wednesday, March 25 and April 29 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.

H.S. & College Admissions Counselors & Community Partners: To better accommodate participants and engagement across the state, the 2026 FAFSA® Symposium on March 24, 2026 will be moved to a virtual format. Join us to gain practical tools, connect with peers, and support students and families through the financial aid process.⁣ ⁣ Attendees will discover how to incorporate equity and inclusion to support students and families through the financial aid process, hear strategies to collaborate with financial aid offices, learn about barriers first generation students face while navigating the financial aid process, and understand the changes being made to the 2026-2027 FAFSA and Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.⁣ ⁣ Registration is free. Continuing education/professional development hours will be available. Visit bit.ly/4rm98i3 for more information.

If you are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associate degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing, a bachelor’s or graduate degree in nursing or a graduate degree in nursing to become a nurse educator and demonstrate the greatest financial need among qualified students, you may be eligible for the Nursing Education Scholarship. An NES award will pay a portion of tuition and fee charges, plus – for full-time students only – a living allowance. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The Nursing Education Scholarship (NES) application period each year starts on March 1 and continues through April 30. To be considered for funds during the 2026-27 academic year, the NES Application/Work Agreement/Promissory Note must be submitted on or before April 30, 2026. For students who meet the April 30 NES Application deadline, have until May 31, 2026 to submit the 2026-27 FAFSA. ⁣ Visit bit.ly/4c1vTBt for more details and to apply. ⁣ ⁣ #nursingscholarships #scholarshipprogram #payingforcollege

School Counselors & Administrators: Join us Friday, March 20 from 10:00 - 11:00 am (CT) for an informational webinar on Illinois’ direct admissions initiative that provides high school seniors and juniors with simplified, no-cost admissions offers to participating public universities and community colleges. 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

March 8 is International Women’s Day! As we mark the 115th year of #IWD, we celebrate collective action, advocacy, and progress toward gender equality. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Today and throughout #WomensHistoryMonth, we recognize the women educators, administrators, and scholars who lead and expand opportunities for all students. ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣Happy International Women's Day! ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣#IWD2026 #GiveToGain #InternationalWomensDay

Recent College Graduate: Looking for a great job where you can stay local, earn a salary, and give back to your community? Check out the #ISACorps! Get paid to mentor high school students and help them with college planning and financial aid, while you gain experience and skills to launch your career. Learn more and apply today! isac.org/jointheisacorps #HiringNow #JoinOurTeam #CareerOpportunity

@BulldogCareer Great to hear and thank you!

@ISACFinAid We dearly appreciate the support of our ISAC reps. Leo, Maggy & Jorge have all helped us this year - they are all top notch!!!

BHS SPANISH COLLEGE NIGHT RECAP! Earlier this month, we hosted our first Spanish College Night at Batavia High School! Students and families learned about the college and financial aid process from Illinois Student Assistance Commission, including College 101 and financial aid!

Join ISAC and the @FamilyActionNet March 13 at 12 PM CT for an insightful webinar, “Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child’s Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods,” with Michaeleen Doucleff, Ph.D and Heidi Stevens. When Michaeleen Doucleff, Ph.D. (FAN ’21), set out to address her own family’s screen time and dependence on processed foods, she discovered that study after study refuted nearly everything the media claims about dopamine. She took that new neuroscience and merged it with practical experience to shift the power dynamic back to families — so that instead of devices and foods controlling us, we control them. The result is Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child’s Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods, a five-step operating manual for habit remodeling that helps parents create boundaries, replace screen time with equally enticing alternatives, remove triggers, and celebrate new choices — ultimately weakening the neurological pull of devices and making dopamine work in a family’s favor. Learn more and register today. bit.ly/MDoucleffFANWe…

Illinois has simplified the path to college so you can step confidently into your future. Get admitted to college with just one click. Skip the fees, essays, and stress! All you need is your GPA for admission. Students and Parents: Join our webinar on March 10 (12-1 pm), March 18 (6-7 pm), or March 26 (12–1 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 ISAC at the ILASFAA Annual Conference, “Navigating the Upside Down,” March 9 – 11 at The Westin Chicago Lombard Hotel. Check out our general session: ISAC Update General Session Tuesday, March 10, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Ballroom E, F Be sure to stop by one or more of our interest sessions: NASFAA Credential – Cost of Attendance Monday, March 9, 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. Room I, J Reframing Self-Care: Building a Lifestyle that Empowers You to Serve Others Monday, March 9, 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Room G, H ISAC Program Overview Monday, March 9, 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Room I, J Through the Portal: FAFSA Simplification Then and Now Tuesday, March 10, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Room G, H ISAC Financial Aid Completion Initiative Tuesday, March 10, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Room C, D Unlock the Curiosity Door to the Alternative Application: A Review of the 2026-27 Alternative Application Process Tuesday, March 10, 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Room G, H Registration for the conference is still open. Learn more and register today at bit.ly/4ctZmXC.

H.S. & College Admissions Counselors & Community Partners: We are excited to invite you to ISAC’s 6th annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Symposium on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at Illinois Central College in East Peoria. The symposium is a one-day event that provides an opportunity for attendees to learn about best practices for supporting students through the financial aid process. ⁣ Registration for the symposium is $25 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, and symposium materials. Advance registration is required. ⁣ ⁣As a reminder, the deadline to submit a session proposal is Friday, March 13, 2026 by 11:59 pm. We invite school counselors, college and career staff, financial aid administrators, community-based organizations, and other college-access professionals who support students and families through the financial aid process to submit a session proposal to present at the FAFSA Symposium. For more information about the symposium and to submit a session proposal, visit isac.org/FAFSAsymposium. #ISACFAFSASymposium