Illinois Student Assistance Commission Signs on Xap to Connect All Illinois Colleges and Universities Online by December 2005
Improved system will better match applicants to complete list of Illinois schools.
Los Angeles, CA – May 24, 2004 – Xap Corporation today announced its partnership with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), which calls for Xap to integrate all Illinois colleges and universities - both public and private - into the existing IllinoisMentor website by the end of 2005.
In addition to information about all higher education institutions in Illinois, this site will be enhanced to offer direct online admissions applications and include secure online transfer of official high school transcripts to any Illinois college or university.
"Mentor systems throughout the country are providing cost-effective technology solutions that make it easier for students and counselors to best determine higher education options and apply online," noted Martha Notaras, Xap CEO.
"The IllinoisMentor program will provide cost savings to Illinois high schools and colleges by giving them a comprehensive system that will allow interactions between the students and institutions to be as easy and efficient as possible."
Similar integrated systems are being successfully operated by Xap in such states as California, North Carolina and Utah.
Xap launched the IllinoisMentor site in 1999 in partnership with the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities (FIICU) covering FIICU's 56 member institutions.
The IllinoisMentor system currently receives 400,000 visits per year, and with the addition of public two and four year institutions, that number is expected to increase significantly.
"The expanded services and programs for IllinoisMentor will present a one-of-a-kind opportunity to link educational institutions across the state," said Larry Matejka, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
"This improved online service will benefit the students and parents of Illinois who are seeking comprehensive college planning and career information."
The improved IllinoisMentor system also will provide a variety of rich features to benefit college-bound students as young as the middle school grade level.
These features include the ability to access a college search-and-match system, a college requirement tracking system, career counseling and information on financial aid and scholarship qualification.
Students will also have the ability to maintain an electronic portfolio of their academic achievements, test scores and other relevant college application information.
Students' usage and access to the site's services are free.
Since ISAC administers Illinois' post-secondary education financial aid programs, students will through IllinoisMentor be able to access ISAC's Collegezone.com, which provides complete information about Illinois' many scholarship and grant programs.
"Our technology is the result of seven years of working with CTOs and IT departments of universities as well as interviewing college counselors and students to develop software geared exclusively to making online college selection and application a success," concluded Boris Shimanovsky, Xap's chief technical officer.
About Xap
Headquartered in the Los Angeles area, Xap Corporation focuses on the creation of comprehensive Internet-based information management systems relating to secondary and post-secondary education.
Founded in 1996, Xap is the leading developer of online student services systems for associations and statewide groups of colleges and universities across the United States.
Xap's national website, www.xap.com and many Mentor® web sites provide the necessary tools for students to select and prepare for college, apply online, learn about financial aid opportunities and explore career options.
Mentor systems are developed exclusively by Xap Corporation, and are in operation in 26 states.
This year, millions of students will use Xap products and services.
About ISAC
In 1957, state lawmakers created the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to ensure that financial considerations did not prevent Illinois students from realizing their postsecondary educational goals.
Since then, the number of students assisted and the number of programs administered have increased steadily, as has the scope of the services provided to support those programs.
Today, as in 1957, the priority continues to be that postsecondary education is accessible to the students and families of Illinois.
