PowerPoint Presentation - collegezone.com

							  ISAC’s Military Programs:
          Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) &
      Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant

               ILASFAA Winter Workshop
                   February 23, 2006

                  Presented by:
Kim Eck, Illinois Student Assistance Commission
  Illinois
  Student
  Assistance
  Commission
                  IVG & ING
• Entitlement programs
• Specified by Illinois statute
   – Chapter 110 of the Higher Education Student
     Assistance Act
   – Assistance to be granted as long as federal
     government provides educational benefits to veterans
• Available at “State-controlled college or public
  community college”
• Important changes made in 04-05 and 05-06
     Illinois
     Student
     Assistance
     Commission
                    Overview of IVG
• Academic year begins with summer term
• Students apply once to establish eligibility
• Must submit Member copy of DD214 with ISAC
  application
• Eligibility letter sent to students from ISAC
• Master File on CD-ROM sent to schools periodically
• Pays tuition and mandatory fees (effective Fall 2005)
   – Grandfather clause for tuition and certain allowable fees
• No minimum enrollment requirement
• Recipients can use a maximum of 120 eligibility units
       Illinois
       Student
       Assistance
       Commission
    IVG Eligibility Requirements
• Served at least one year federal active duty
  – If less than one year, veteran may qualify if:
     • Separation was for medical reasons directly connected to such
       service
     • Service was prior to August 11, 1967
     • Service was in a foreign country in a time of hostilities in that
       country
• Separation characterized as honorable
  – If still in the Armed Forces, veteran must verify
    continued eligibility upon discharge
       Illinois
       Student
       Assistance
       Commission
IVG Eligibility Requirements,
          continued
• Must be a resident of Illinois at time of
  entering federal active duty or within six
  months prior
• Must establish residency within six months
  after separation from the Armed Forces


    Illinois
    Student
    Assistance
    Commission
      2004-05 IVG Changes
• Effective for 2004-05 academic year
  – Requirement to have completed initial active
    duty commitment in order to be eligible was
    removed
  – Language was added to allow Illinois National
    Guard members to qualify for IVG while in the
    Guard



    Illinois
    Student
    Assistance
    Commission
             2005-06 IVG Changes
• Public Act 94-583 effective July 1, 2005
   – Restructured, updated and clarified program language
   – Changed benefits from coverage of tuition and specified fees
     to coverage of “tuition and mandatory fees”
       • “Grandfathering benefits” for students who received IVG
         benefits and were assessed eligibility units in Spring or Summer
         2005 and who remain enrolled in a continuous program of
         study
   – Applicants must notify the school by the end of the term for
     which assistance is requested in order to receive benefits for
     that term. This eliminated the two-month notification
     allowance.
   – Application was updated to reflect changes.
      Illinois
      Student
      Assistance
      Commission
                  IVG Program News
• New MasterFile CD mailed on February 17
   – Reflects eligibility units used as of February 9
• Calls being made to schools requesting clean up of
  Summer and Fall payment claim rejections
• May 25 is the payment request deadline date for
  second semester/second & third quarter
• 2006-07 Proposed Rules have been posted to College
  Zone and are available for public comment
• E-message sent February 21 about anticipated need
  to prorate claims for Spring term
     Illinois
     Student
     Assistance
     Commission
            2006-07 IVG Online
• Will be implemented in three phases:
  – IVG Master File will be transitioned to an online
    database
        • Tentative availability date is Spring 2006
        • Will allow for elimination of CD-ROM
                 – Will produce one more CD in April 2006
        • Data will be secure
  – Interactive payment process will be made available
  – Application process will be automated
    Illinois
    Student
    Assistance
    Commission
                  Overview of ING
• Academic year begins with fall term
• Students must re-apply to ISAC each year by
  designated application dates
    – October 1 – Fall term
    – March 1 – Spring term, second and/or third quarter
    – June 15 – Summer term
•   Eligibility letter sent to students from ISAC
•   Online announcement rosters provided to schools
•   Pays tuition and certain fees
•   No minimum enrollment requirement
•   Recipients can use a maximum of 120 eligibility units
     Illinois
     Student
     Assistance
     Commission
ING Eligibility Requirements
 • Must be in active status
 • Must have served at least one year with
   the Illinois National Guard
 • Available to any enlisted person or
   company grade officer



 Illinois
 Student
 Assistance
 Commission
       2004-05 ING Changes
• Legislation expanded eligibility
   – Allows specific group of applicants to receive
     an additional year of grant benefits after
     leaving the Guard if they meet criteria:
           • were enrolled in school when called to active duty
           • have been active for five consecutive years in the
             Guard
           • have served at least six months on federal active
             duty
   – Cannot receive extension if all eligibility units
     have been used
   Illinois
   Student
   Assistance
   Commission
      2005-06 ING Changes
• Public Act 94-583, effective July 1, 2005
   – Allows all enlisted members to qualify,
     including all officers
   – Allows National Guard members to receive
     grants during summer terms
           • Full academic year
           • Number of maximum eligibility units increased
             from 96 to 120



  Illinois
  Student
  Assistance
  Commission
               ING Program News
• March 1 is the application deadline date for
  second semester/second & third quarter
• 2006-07 Proposed Rules have been posted
  to College Zone and are available for public
  comment
• E-message sent February 21 about
  anticipated need to prorate claims for
  Spring term
  Illinois
  Student
  Assistance
  Commission
                 A few FAQs …
• Can a student “buy back” eligibility units?
• Can a student use IVG and ING at the same time?
• If a student is eligible for IVG and ING, which
  program should they use first?
• If a student is eligible to receive MAP, IVG and ING,
  which program should they use first?
• The IVG MasterFile doesn’t indicate a break in
  enrollment, so how do I know if the student is a
  continuing student?

    Illinois
    Student
    Assistance
    Commission
             Other Questions?

                Comments?

             Thank you for attending!


Illinois
Student
Assistance
Commission