Section 2736.30  Program Procedures

a)         An applicant applies for an IIA grant by using the form which the United States Department of Education (ED) designates as the application form for federal student financial aid.  (See 20 USCA 1070a.)  This is also the application form used for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant.  (See 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2735.30(a).)

1)         An applicant must authorize ED to release his/her data to ISAC.

2)         An applicant, spouse and/or parents of the applicant, as applicable, are required to submit financial information on the application regarding income, asset value and non-taxable income (e.g., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, public aid, veterans' or Social Security benefits).  This information shall be kept confidential.

3)         A recipient must report to the institution all additional gift assistance, such as tuition waivers and scholarships.

4)         An applicant must file his/her application by the deadline date established by ISAC.

b)         A qualified applicant may receive one grant in an amount not to exceed $1,000, subject to appropriation, for an applicant with an EFC of $0; or an amount not to exceed $500, subject to appropriation, for an applicant with an EFC of $500 or less, but more than $0.

c)         The application must be complete at the time the grant is awarded.  ISAC must have accurate data to properly determine an applicant's eligibility.  If changes or corrections are necessary after receipt of corrected data, ISAC shall recalculate awards for those applicants whose applications are not in agreement with their financial records.

d)         It is the responsibility of IIA grant applicants to gain admission to approved Illinois institutions.  Illinois institutions are not obligated to admit IIA applicants.

e)         IIA grant payment is subject to the limit of dollars appropriated to ISAC by the Illinois General Assembly.  If  funds are insufficient to pay all claims, grants will be awarded according to the date the completed applications were received until funds have been expended.

f)         ISAC must submit a written evaluation of the IIA Program to the Governor, the General Assembly and the Board of Higher Education, including a report of the progress made toward the goal of increasing the access and retention rates for IIA grant recipients.  Therefore, ISAC may collect data from institutions to comply with this requirement.

g)         IIA grants are applicable to any expense that is used to calculate the applicant's cost of attendance.

h)         The IIA grant shall not pay for academic programs intended to prepare a student for the General Educational Development (GED) test or for a high school diploma.  (See, e.g., 23 Ill. Adm. Code 215.)

i)          The IIA grant shall not pay for audit courses, credit-by-examination and/or life experience, or noncredit course offerings (except qualifying remedial courses).  Such course work cannot be used to meet the half-time requirement.  Remedial courses shall be eligible for IIA payment provided the student has been accepted into an eligible degree/certificate program and is taking the remedial courses as a part of that program.  Payment shall not be made for more than the equivalent of one year of remedial course work (i.e., 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours).  Repeat courses are eligible for IIA payment.

j)          An institution is obligated to provide IIA recipients the same facilities and instruction, on the same terms, as those provided to other students.

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 9147, effective July 1, 2004)