NEW LEGISLATION WOULD PUMP 168 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE STATE’S MAP GRANT PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

ABOUT 125 THOUSAND LOW INCOME STUDENTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED MAP GRANTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR…BUT HAVEN’T SEEN THE MONEY DUE TO THE STATE BUDGET IMPASSE. COLLEGES HAVE BEEN FRONTING THE MONEY…BUT SOME SAY THEY CAN’T DO THAT ANY LONGER…WHICH IS HAVING BIG CONSEQUENCES SAYS SENATOR PAT MCGUIRE OF JOLIET.

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ABOUT 125 THOUSAND STUDENTS WERE AWARDED MAP GRANTS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR…BUT WITH NO STATE BUDGET IN PLACE, THE MONEY HASN'T GONE OUT YET. THAT’S PUT BOTH STUDENTS AND COLLEGE IN A BIND SAYS BILL CO-SPONSOR, SENATOR BILL CUNNINGHAM OF CHICAGO.

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GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER’S OFFICE WANTS TO TIE MAP GRANT FUNDING TO HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDS LIKE CUTTING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND ELIMINATING COSTLY PERKS AND SEVERANCE PACKAGES FOR UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP.