Follow ISAC (Illinois Student Assistance Commission) for student financial aid tips, #grant & #scholarship news and going to #college updates.
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There's still time to register for the First Gen Symposium! The symposium will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm at Waubonsee Community College. This event brings together educators, counselors, community-based organizations, college-access professionals, and others dedicated to supporting first-generation students on their educational journey.
Because space is limited, full capacity may be reached before October 30. Registration is $25 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Advance registration is required, walk-in registration will not be available. Visit isac.org/pd/First-Gen-Sympos… for more information and to register. We hope to see you there!
#ISACFirstGenSymposium
ALT First Gen Symposium, Thursday, November 5, 2026
ISAC is pleased to announce the 2026-27 Financial Aid Application Completion Recognition of Excellence Honorees. This year, 539 Illinois public and private high schools were honored for outstanding financial aid application completion, almost a 15 percent increase from last year. Congratulations to all the honorees for this remarkable accomplishment! Learn more: bit.ly/4jLuCVk
#RecognitionofExcellence
ALT Recognition of Excellence: Financial Aid Application Completion
School Counselors & Administrators: Prepare for the 2027–28 financial aid cycle with this half-day training on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid offered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
This training will cover important updates to the FAFSA form. Attendees will also learn about key state initiatives as well as federal changes that could impact students and families. By the end of the session, participants should have the knowledge and resources needed to guide students through the financial aid process.
The training session is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Registration will close on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, or when full capacity is reached. Attendees can earn Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) credits. Register for the session at bit.ly/3tDfRvV
ALT Join us for our in-person training: "Overview of Financial Aid Applications & Program Updates" Thursday, October 22, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Carl Sandburg College, Building C, Hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to help determine your eligibility for federal, state, and some institutional student financial aid. If you are planning on attending college or trade school between July 1, 2027 and June 30, 2028, file your 2027-28 FAFSA form, at FAFSA.gov.
You and your parents will each need to create your own Studentaid.gov account to complete the FAFSA. If you don’t already have one, create your Studentaid.gov account now.
Need help completing your financial aid application? Connect with your local #ISACorps member for free assistance at isac.org/booking.
#FAFSA #studentaid #highered #moneyforcollege
ALT The 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
School Counselors & Administrators: Join us for an update on financial aid completion in the State of Illinois and for an overview of the Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative which provides high schools with information to identify and assist their students who have not completed a financial aid application. Learn how to view your Class of 2026-2027 financial aid application completion data, opt-out form submissions, and tips for troubleshooting common issues.
The webinar is free, but advance registration is required. Learn more and register at bit.ly/3tDfRvV.
ALT The Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative Webinar, Wednesday, October 21, 1:00 – 2:00 pm (CT)." Hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
Join ISAC for a virtual author event on Wednesday, October 14 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. with Franciene Sabens, M.S. Ed., LPC, NCC as she discusses the new book she co-authored, "A Survival Guide for Rural School Counselors and Solo Practitioners: Practical Strategies Aligned to Professional Standards, Survival Tactics, Tools, Preventive Measures, and Stories from the Field."
In her latest book, Sabens addresses the challenges, responsibilities, and impact of rural school counselors while delivering practical strategies to help navigate these complexities. Written by rural school counselors for school counselors, the book delivers firsthand stories, best practices, and unique insights based on real-life experiences in the field. Sabens is a nationally recognized school counselor and author, and two-time recipient of the Illinois High School Counselor of the year award.
This is an important book for new and seasoned counselors in rural settings that offers solutions, strategies, and creative approaches to implementing and sustaining comprehensive and impactful school counseling programs.
Space is limited, and registration is required. Register today to secure your spot, bit.ly/4yKrdes. Program participants are eligible to receive continuing education (CE) and professional development (PD) hours at the rate of one per contact hour.
ALT Join ISAC for a virtual author event on Wednesday, October 14, from 2:00-3:00 pm with Franciene Sabens, M.S.Ed., LPC, NCC, as she discusses her new book.
School Counselors & Administrators: Prepare for the 2027–28 financial aid cycle with this half-day training on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid offered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
This training will cover important updates to the FAFSA form. Attendees will also learn about key state initiatives as well as federal changes that could impact students and families. By the end of the session, participants should have the knowledge and resources needed to guide students through the financial aid process.
The training session is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Registration will close on Monday, October 19, 2026, or when full capacity is reached. Attendees can earn Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) credits. Find out more and register at bit.ly/3tDfRvV
ALT Join us for our in-person training: "Overview of Financial Aid Applications & Program Updates" Tuesday, October 20, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Parkland College - Main Campus, U-Wing Hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate the cultures, histories, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous Peoples in the United States. Northern Illinois has been home to a variety of nations, including the Ho-Chunk, Sauk and Fox, Kickapoo, and Potawatomi, and Chicago today is the third-largest urban Native American population in the country.
In observance of the holidays, ISAC offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 12. We will resume regular business hours Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 8:00 am.
School Counselors & Administrators: Join us on one of these dates to get an informative overview of Illinois’ One Click College Admit (OCCA) initiative, which streamlines postsecondary access by providing direct admission into participating state public universities and community colleges based on high school GPA. The session will cover essential updates for supporting seniors, juniors, and community college transfer students, including a breakdown of how seniors interact with direct admission offers in the Common App.
The webinar is free, but advance registration is required. Professional Development and Continuing Education hours will be available. Visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV to learn more and to register.
#ProfessionalDevelopment #OneClickCollegeAdmit
ALT The image is a banner for the "One Click College Admit – Updates Webinar" with dates and times listed for October to December 2026. The event is hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
We’re just over a week away from a great conversation at ISAC about young women’s mental health!
On October 13 at 10 a.m. in Deerfield, ISAC and the Family Action Network (FAN) welcome psychiatrist and author Suzanne Garfinkle-Crowell, MD, MSc, in conversation with Franciene Sabens, M.S.Ed., LPC, NCC discussing Dr. Garfinkle-Crowell’s new book, “Girlhood, Translated: Understanding Young Women in the Era of Therapy Speak and Self-Diagnosis.” Dr. Garfinkle-Crowell is a psychiatrist in private practice who treats children, adolescents, and adults. She is the founding director of the Academy for Medicine and the Humanities at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Sabens is a nationally recognized school counselor and author, two-time recipient of the Illinois High School Counselor of the year award.
This should be an especially timely conversation for educators, counselors, mental health professionals, parents, and anyone who works with adolescents and young adults.
📚 The event is FREE, and the first 100 registered attendees will receive a signed copy of the book. Learn more and register today: bit.ly/4i2dg5r
Feel free to share with anyone in your network who might be interested!
ALT Join us for "Girlhood, Translated: Understanding Young Women in the Age of Therapy Speak and Self-Diagnosis" author talk with Suzanne Garfinkle-Crowell, M.D., MSc. The event is presented by the Family Action Network (FAN) and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
School Counselors & Administrators: Prepare for the 2027–28 financial aid cycle with this half-day training on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid offered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
This training will cover important updates to the FAFSA form. Attendees will also learn about key state initiatives as well as federal changes that could impact students and families. By the end of the session, participants should have the knowledge and resources needed to guide students through the financial aid process.
The training session is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Registration will close on Monday, October 12, 2026, or when full capacity is reached. Attendees can earn Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) credits. Learn more and register today: bit.ly/3tDfRvV
ALT Join us for our in-person training: "Overview of Financial Aid Applications & Program Updates" Tuesday, October 13, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Southwestern Illinois College, Information Science Building Hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
School Counselors & Administrators: Prepare for the 2027–28 financial aid cycle with this half-day training on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid offered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
This training will cover important updates to the FAFSA form. Attendees will also learn about key state initiatives as well as federal changes that could impact students and families. By the end of the session, participants should have the knowledge and resources needed to guide students through the financial aid process.
The training session is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Registration will close on Thursday, October 8, 2026, or when full capacity is reached. Attendees can earn Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) credits. Find our more and register today: bit.ly/3tDfRvV
ALT Join us for our in-person training: "Overview of Financial Aid Applications & Program Updates." Friday, October 9, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the College of DuPage - Homeland Education Center Hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
School Counselors & Administrators: Prepare for the 2027–28 financial aid cycle with this half-day training on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid offered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
This training will cover important updates to the FAFSA form. Attendees will also learn about key state initiatives as well as federal changes that could impact students and families. By the end of the session, participants should have the knowledge and resources needed to guide students through the financial aid process.
The training session is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Registration will close on Monday, October 5, 2026, or when full capacity is reached. Attendees can earn Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) credits. For more details and to register today, visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV
ALT Join us for our in-person training: "Overview of Financial Aid Applications & Program Updates" Tuesday, October 6, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Prairie State College - Conference Center Hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Counselors and College Access Professionals: Join us for ISAC’s First Gen Symposium on Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The First Gen Symposium provides an opportunity for you to learn and share best practices for supporting first-generation students in postsecondary planning.
Registration is $25 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Advance registration is required. The deadline to register is Friday, October 30, 2026, or until full capacity has been reached — this may be before October 1, as space is limited.
We are extending the call for session proposals and invite high schools, community-based organizations, TRIO programs, first-generation programs at colleges and universities, and other organizations to submit a session proposal. The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, October 2, 2026. To submit a session proposal or to register, visit isac.org/pd/First-Gen-Sympos…
#ISACFirstGenSymposium
ALT First Gen Symposium, Thursday, November 5, 2026
School Counselors & Administrators: Join us for one of our training sessions in October, from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm. Prepare for the 2027–28 financial aid cycle with this half-day training on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid offered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
This training will cover important updates to the FAFSA form. Attendees will also learn about key state initiatives as well as federal changes that could impact students and families. By the end of the session, participants should have the knowledge and resources needed to guide students through the financial aid process.
The session is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Attendees can earn Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) credits. Visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV for more details and to register.
ALT Join us for our in-person training: Overview of Financial Aid Applications & Program Updates Oct. 2 at ISAC Deerfield Office Oct. 6 at Prairie State College Oct. 9 at College of DuPage Oct. 13 at Southwestern Illinois College Oct. 20 at Parkland College Oct. 22 at Carl Sandburg College
School Counselors & Administrators: Join us on one of these dates to get an informative overview of Illinois’ One Click College Admit (OCCA) initiative, which streamlines postsecondary access by providing direct admission into participating state public universities and community colleges based on high school GPA. The session will cover essential updates for supporting seniors, juniors, and community college transfer students, including a breakdown of how seniors interact with direct admission offers in the Common App.
The webinar is free, but advance registration is required. Professional Development and Continuing Education hours will be available. Visit bit.ly/3tDfRvV to learn more and to register.
#ProfessionalDevelopment #OneClickCollegeAdmit
ALT The image is a banner for the "One Click College Admit – Updates Webinar" with dates and times listed for October to December 2026. The event is hosted by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
ISAC retweeted
Bucket hats and flare jeans might be back, but we’re leaving the old FAFSA form in the ‘90s. 😉
Complete your form in 15 minutes or less at fafsa.gov
Financial Aid Administrators: Save the dates! Join ISAC's Monthly Operational Update and Program News webinars on Wednesday, September 23, October 28, and November 18, 2026 at 2 pm. No registration required. Access the webinar link and materials on the day of each session at bit.ly/2B50S2H.
ALT Webinar
Counselors and College Access Professionals: ISAC is excited to announce that the First Gen Symposium is back and will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2026! We look forward to once again gathering a community of dedicated professionals to share best practices for supporting first-generation students on their postsecondary journeys.
To ensure a robust program, we have opened the Call for Proposals, with more details to follow in the coming weeks. We encourage anyone interested in presenting their insights or research to begin considering session topics. Our symposium is a unique opportunity to connect with peers and discover new strategies for postsecondary planning and preparation. We want you to be part of the conversation whether as an attendee or a presenter!
We invite high schools, community-based organizations, TRIO programs, first-generation programs at colleges and universities and more to submit a session proposal. The deadline to submit a proposal is Thursday, September 24, 2026. Visit isac.org/pd/First-Gen-Sympos… for more information.
#ISACFirstGenSymposium
ALT First Gen Symposium Session proposals due by Thursday, September 24, 2026.
Want to learn more? Check out our #ISACCollegeMinute and other videos to help you with the college planning and college-going process. Tap the link in our bio.
Need help with the college-going process? Get free one-on-one assistance from your local #ISACorps member today. isac.org/Booking