January 2024 IllinoisCAN Newsletter January 2024 Welcome to IllinoisCAN's monthly newsletter. The mission of IllinoisCAN is to improve postsecondary access and success for low-income and first-generation college students in Illinois. IllinoisCAN builds the capacity and effectiveness of college access organizations to help students reach their goals. IllinoisCAN monthly newsletters are intended to be for us and by us – professionals around the state working to improve college access. In this issue:
ISAC is pleased to continue sponsorship of the Family Action Network (FAN) events, which are always free and open to the public. FAN curates a high-quality speakers series presenting fresh ideas that elevate minds and expand hearts to help create an informed and compassionate community. Events co-sponsored by ISAC this month include: Strategies to Reduce Rick and Increase Resilience in LGBTQ+ Youth – Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 7 p.m.If you're not able to attend a scheduled in-person or virtual (Zoom) FAN event, all events are recorded. Visit the FAN website to view the library of past events and recordings. 2023-24 Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form NOW AVAILABLE! As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, Illinois public high school seniors are required to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). For students who choose not to file an application, a Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form must be completed. The 2023-24 Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form (used to opt-out of the 2024-25 FAFSA) is now available and can be submitted online on ISAC's Student Portal under the Program Applications & Status Checks tab. For details on how to complete the online Nonparticipation Form please see the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions. If a student is at least 18 years old, they can complete the form themselves. If a student is under 18 years old, a parent must complete this form on the student's behalf. If the student is an emancipated minor, they will need to complete the paper Nonparticipation Form which can only be requested by e-mailing fafsa@isbe.net. Fulfilling the Dream High School Student Conference On February 17th, Lewis University will host the annual Fulfilling the Dream High School Conference. This annual event is a partnership between Lewis University faculty, staff, students, and additional advocates for higher education, including the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). "The purpose of the conference is to motivate African American high school students to enroll into higher education, inform students on the college admission & financial aid process, and develop accountability. The conference kicks-off with a Keynote Speaker and supplies African American students with the essential resources to overcome barriers, understand the importance of education, and become leaders through workshops and discussions." The event is February 17, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. To register for the event and view the agenda, visit https://www.lewisu.edu/studentservices/multicultural/fulfillingthedream/index.htm. The Four Years Fallacy: Four-Year vs. Six-Year Bachelor's Degree Completion This brief examines "the extent to which colleges' four-year completion rates differ from six-year completion rates to determine whether the current focus on six-year rates may be limiting the ability of students, families, counselors, and higher education institutions to make well-informed decisions about college enrollment." Read the brief at https://toandthrough.uchicago.edu/four-years-fallacy-four-year-vs-six-year-bachelors-degree-completion-rates-jenny. Opportunities Denied: High Achieving Black and Latino Students Lack Access to Advanced Math "The Education Trust and Just Equations partnered to explore differences in patterns of math course enrollment for high school students using data from students who participated in the 2009 High School Longitudinal Study." The report concludes with recommendations for federal and state policymakers to address "the longstanding, institutional challenges that deny high-achieving Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds access to the higher-level math courses that will put them on a path to achieving their dreams." Read the report at https://edtrust.org/resource/advanced-math-instruction/. What are Social Mobility Elevators? Education Reform Now's "Social Mobility Elevator rankings look at how well four-year colleges and universities help to realize social mobility by providing access to students from low-income households and students of color who are underrepresented in higher education and the support all students need to graduate. The rankings are designed to shine a light on institutions of higher education that help transform students, families, and communities and to make the case for sending more resources their way so they can have an even greater impact." Social mobility rankings of four-year institutions by state can be seen at https://edreformnow.org/higher-ed/social-mobility-elevators/. How to Navigate College Admissions with a Learning Disability "College applications take a lot of time, research and planning, and they often require executive functioning skills that some students with learning disabilities may lack or struggle with, experts say. For these students, it's crucial to break the application tasks down individually to simplify the process and start on them as early as possible. Creating and sticking to personal deadlines, as well as being aware of each school's deadlines, can help avoid procrastination and alleviate related stress. While the procedural part is stressful, experts say students with learning disabilities who are applying to college often struggle most with deeper questions that are unique to their situation." Read the article at https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-to-navigate-college-admissions-with-a-learning-disability. 2024 Virtual Pathways for College & Career Readiness Summit Hosted by Sauk Valley Community College's PASS Initiative and the Regional Office of Education (ROE) #47, the theme for the 2024 summit is "Redefining College & Career Readiness Through the Whole Child & Equity Lens". Stephanie Malia Krauss, author of Whole Child, Whole Life: 10 Ways to Help Kids Live, Learn, and Thrive, will provide the keynote address, followed by a presentation from Shavina Baker, DEI Educator for the Illinois P-20 Network. The event is provided free of charge and is aimed toward k-12 educators. Professional development hours are available. The summit will take place on Zoom on February 9, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn more and register by February 2nd at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbNe57NlCWfthLGmCrU_nBu0-ZT36_W1aO9XvJT_nsY6SczQ/viewform. Seven Things to Know About the Student Loan Payment Count Adjustment "Since this summer, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) has approved almost $44 billion in debt relief for more than 900,000 borrowers as part of the payment count adjustment. This is a one-time initiative to address historical failures in administering student loans. Borrowers with loans not currently held by the Department, such as those with commercially held FFEL or Perkins loans, can get the benefit of the adjustment by applying to consolidate by April 30, 2024." Learn more about payment count adjustments from the U.S. Department of Education's blog at https://blog.ed.gov/2023/12/seven-things-to-know-about-the-student-loan-payment-count-adjustment/#more-32215. Call to Action: ISACorps Externship Hosts Looking to fill a role in your organization soon? Interested in mentoring a young professional? Then consider hosting an ISACorps extern this spring! Get the passion and skills of an ISACorps member while giving them a chance to gain an inside look at your organization and profession. As a component of the professional development opportunities available to ISACorps members, ISAC has developed an externship program – a short-term job shadow experience to assist Corps members with career planning. This opportunity is for second and third year ISACorps members preparing to transition into a new role after their service agreement ends on May 31st. The length of time and dates are to be determined between the extern and the host. The days do not need to be consecutive. If you are interested in hosting an ISACorps extern, please complete the interest form at https://forms.office.com/g/g8n4TpaJHG. Questions can be directed to Renee Martinez at renee.martinez@illinois.gov. Fewer Men Are in College, Especially at Four-Year Schools "College enrollment among young Americans has been declining gradually over the past decade. In 2022, the total number of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college was down by approximately 1.2 million from its peak in 2011. Most of the decline is due to fewer young men pursuing college. About 1 million fewer young men are in college but only 0.2 million fewer young women. As a result, men make up 44% of young college students today, down from 47% in 2011, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data." Read the article at https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/18/fewer-young-men-are-in-college-especially-at-4-year-schools/. Do you have events, news, requests, or resources to share with college access colleagues? IllinoisCAN monthly newsletters are intended to be for us and by us – professionals around the state working to move college access forward. For inclusion in the next newsletter, send content by January 29th to ISAC.IllinoisCAN@illinois.gov. Find us on Facebook:
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