IECC Launches Steps to Success Campaign

Frontier Community, Lincoln Trail, Olney Central and Wabash Valley colleges are simplifying scholarship awards for incoming high school students with Steps to Success.
 
“We are streamlining the process to make it as easy as possible for parents and students, so it is less daunting for everyone involved,” said Krystle Riggle, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Director of Financial Aid. “This is something we have all been working toward that will be a great benefit to our students.”
 
With Steps to Success, students follow a simple four-action process to qualify and receive the monetary awards:
 
• Step 1 — Apply to one of the four colleges by November 10, 2023.
• Step 2 — Complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA by February 29, 2024.
• Step 3 — Accept the Success Award by April 26, 2024.
• Step 4 — Enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester.
 
Students can go to https://iecc.edu/success to begin the process. Awards will be announced in mid-March and funds applied directly to the student’s account once all steps are finalized.
 
In 2023-2024, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges awarded more than $216,000 in tuition scholarships to incoming students. Riggle hopes the changes will increase student eligibility in the coming year, enabling IECC to assist even more families.
 
“This is a great opportunity to help students on the path they have decided upon,” Riggle said. “These institutional funding awards will make it even more affordable for students to go to school closer to home.”
 
Riggle also emphasized that IECC is prepared to support students and families in navigating the significant changes slated for the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
 
“We want students to be prepared for these changes that are going to affect them through no fault of their own,” she said. “If they go to our website (www.iecc.edu/financial), we have a list of all the changes we know are coming and we will continue to update it.”
 
Riggle recommends students review the changes and return to the site periodically.
 
“The Department of Education is still making changes,” she added. “Nothing is set in stone, and we could still see changes up until the release of the FAFSA.”
 
Although an exact date has not been set, Riggle said the FAFSA is tentatively scheduled to open in December. Once the Department of Education makes that determination, IECC will notify students.
 
“We appreciate everyone’s patience,” she said. “We know people are anxious. As soon as we know more, we will get that information out as quickly as possible. We are dedicated to helping students get through the process and in the future, it should be much smoother.”
 
The forthcoming FAFSA form will contain fewer questions, reducing complexity for students and families. Additionally, there will be a shift in the formula used to calculate the federal aid students receive.
 
Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, financial aid determination will be based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI considers both parent and student incomes, as well as assets, to determine the eligible amount of financial aid.
 
Riggle pointed out that family farms and small businesses must now be reported as assets, affecting the calculation for financial assistance.
 
“We know the FAFSA is a bit overwhelming and a lot to take in,” she said. “We don’t want students to get overwhelmed with the process. If they have questions, they can always reach out to us. We are 100-percent available to help parents and students understand the process. We don’t what them to get frustrated and give up.”
 
If families have questions regarding the FAFSA or Steps to Success, Riggle encourages them to contact FCC, LTC, OCC and WVC Financial Aid.
 
“Our department is always available to assist students and their families,” she stressed. “We know 2024-2025 Financial Aid will be different for everyone and we are committed to making this a successful year for our students.”