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2008-09 Professional Development Opportunities Brought to You by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
8/19/2008

You're invited!

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is pleased to announce that the staff in the Division of College Access and Outreach will once again present a series of professional development opportunities. These sessions are designed to help you and other high school counselors, college access professionals, and others who are involved in assisting Illinois students and their families in the process of planning for, applying to, and paying for college.

Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDU) will be provided to participants.

 For your convenience, these half-day (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) sessions will be offered at locations across the state at no cost to you. Online registration will begin the last week of August. In the mean time, listed below is a brief overview of the types of sessions that will be offered this year.

  • "How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation - in Spanish!"
Spanish is the second-most popular language in the country and the primary language spoken in more American homes than any other foreign language. If you, or someone in your school or organization, speaks Spanish and are interested in learning more about the financial aid process in order to serve students and their Spanish-speaking parents, plan to attend. This interactive half-day session was created to help you speak "financial aid" and prepare a financial aid presentation in Spanish. In addition, you will be provided with ready-to-use presentations and Novelas Educativas - a series of short films created in the style of popular Spanish-language telenovelas.

Note: This session will be offered on September 19, 2008 at one location. Online registration starts August 25, 2008.

  • "How to Conduct a Financial Aid Presentation - in Polish!"
Polish is a prominent foreign language spoken in Illinois. If you, or someone in your school or organization, speaks Polish and are interested in learning more about the financial aid process in order to serve Polish-speaking families, please join us. Based on feedback from the admission, guidance, and financial aid communities we have created a training event to help you speak "financial aid" and prepare a financial aid presentation in Polish. In addition to receiving ready-to-use presentations and printed materials that will complement your next financial aid or college night, you will gain insight on effectively communicating critical financial aid information to students and their Polish-speaking parents.

Note: This session will be offered on October 23, 2008 at one location. Online registration starts September 30, 2008.

  • "The FAFSA Made Easier"
“The FAFSA Made Easier” focuses on the intricacies of the 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), student eligibility, and common mistakes. Developed as an intensive line-by-line review of the FAFSA, this training will place special emphasis on changes to elements on the FAFSA, dependency questions, and eligible non-citizens. Several case studies, including the completion of a FAFSA, have been incorporated into this year's session.

Note: This session will be offered in September, October, November, and December at 8 locations. Online registration starts September 3, 2008.

  • "FAFSA Expert Training"
This winter, the professional development series continues with our most popular session, "FAFSA Expert Training." This session builds on the information and case studies presented in “The FAFSA Made Easier” and goes far beyond the line-by-line review of the FAFSA. Complex tax, asset, eligibility and need analysis questions are discussed. Participants will complete a hand calculation of the Federal Need Analysis Methodology and learn how the information provided on the FAFSA is used to determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Note: This session will be offered in January and February at 8 locations. Online registration starts December 29, 2008.

  • "The Consumer Economics of Higher Education"
This highly rated session provides an overview of the elements involved in financial aid packaging. It is complemented by comprehensive consumer education information designed to assist you as you help students prepare for the responsibilities associated with financing college. Attendees will learn how to interpret a financial aid package; explore ways to manage cost; take an in-depth look at cost of attendance by degree and institution; and, gain insight relevant to academic program ranks, graduation rates, and job opportunities and earning potential in Illinois.

Note: This session will be offered in September and November at 2 locations. Online registration starts September 5, 2008.

How to Register

Registration details, including dates and locations, will be available online from the Partner Training area of the e-Library at collegezone.com. For your convenience, we will be sending e-Messages with the latest information and updates about this series of year-round training sessions. If you have colleagues who are not already e-Messaging subscribers, encourage them to sign up through the front page of the Counselor Zone.
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  You are receiving this message because you registered for College Zone's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups within the Counselor Zone.

If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact ISAC's School Services Department by calling toll free at 866.247.2172 or sending an e-mail message to schoolservices@isac.org.

    

 

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