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The number of grants made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.
For details regarding program funding levels for the 2009-10 academic year, see the Processing Updates section of this page.
You may either scroll through this page, or click on any of the following links to go directly to a specific topic:
Program Description
Eligibility
How to Apply
How Funds Are Disbursed
Processing Updates
If the information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) results in a calculated zero expected family contribution when you're a college freshman, you may be eligible to receive the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program grant for up to $500.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
How to Apply
Please be aware that, based on application volume and appropriated funds for any academic year, grant funding is likely to be depleted prior to awarding all eligible applicants. When this occurs, ISAC will announce a suspension date. Award announcements for applications received after the suspension date will be placed in suspension status. Students for whom IIA Program award announcements are in suspension status will not receive IIA grant money. You are encouraged to complete and submit each academic year's FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 (for example, the 2010-11 FAFSA should be submitted as soon as possible after January 1, 2010).
While the FAFSA can be completed using either the Internet or a paper application, you will receive quicker results and decrease the potential for time-consuming errors by using FAFSA on the Web. Before you submit your application online, you must be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education. If you (and/or your parent, if you are a dependent student) have not already been assigned a PIN, apply for one now so that you will be able to complete the FAFSA online. Once obtained, the same PIN is used to complete each year's FAFSA.
Your eligibility for the IIA Program will be automatically determined if you are classified as a freshman by the approved Illinois college at which you plan to use the award, and that college is listed on your FAFSA.
Verification of eligibility, and announcement of an estimated award amount (if any), is performed by the college. Only if you are eligible will an estimated IIA grant appear on a financial aid award letter from your college. If you are an IIA recipient, refer to the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Grant Program Information document for more detailed information regarding the program.
How Funds Are Disbursed
ISAC works with the college to disburse funds for this program. The college certifies student eligibility and then submits a payment request on behalf of the student. It may take up to eight weeks after the date that ISAC processes the payment request before funds are received at the college.
Depending on the college, students may be responsible for payment until program funds are received. Qualified applicants who are awaiting receipt of funds from this program should contact the Financial Aid Office or Business Office to determine the college's policy.
Processing Updates
Note that ISAC routinely updates this section as new information becomes available. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status.
For the 2010-11 Academic Year
(last updated on January 4, 2010):
The 2010-11 FAFSA, used to apply for the IIA Program (for college freshmen) and many other forms of federal and state financial assistance, is available online at FAFSA on the Web. If you plan to enroll in college during the 2010-11 academic year, you are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA online as soon as possible. While the FAFSA can be completed using either the Internet or a paper application, you will receive quicker results and decrease the potential for time-consuming errors by using FAFSA on the Web.
Before you submit your application online, you (and your parent, if you are a dependent student) must be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education. Once obtained, the same PIN is used to complete each year's FAFSA.
For the 2009-10 Academic Year
(last updated on July 27, 2009):
Program Funding: On July 15, 2009, the Governor and state legislators reached an agreement regarding the fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) state budget. Absent new revenues and facing a substantial state budget deficit, budget cuts have been made. Consequently, the amount ISAC receives to fund college scholarships and grants, including the IIA Program, has been significantly reduced.
It is anticipated that enough funding is available to award eligible applicants a $250 award for the fall term only. No awards will be made for the spring term.
This page will be updated if the program's funding status changes.
Suspension: Due to limited funding and an increase in the number of eligible applicants, ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2009-10 IIA grants to all students whose initial 2009-10 FAFSA is received by the federal processor on or after April 18, 2009. FAFSAs received at the federal processor on or after April 18th will be placed in a hold status and will not be released for IIA award processing unless additional funding becomes available. Students whose IIA award announcements are in suspension status will not receive IIA grant money.
The suspension of 2009-10 IIA award announcements does not impact any other financial aid programs.
If you are enrolled for the 2009-10 academic year and have not yet submitted a FAFSA, you are still encouraged to do so as soon as possible. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for other forms of federal and state financial assistance.
Click here to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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