The funding for the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) was cut last July, but due to the lobbying efforts of over 2,000 students, including 26 Northeastern Illinois University students, this past October, funding was restored.
The MAP grant aids over 3,500 students at NEIU, making it an asset for the university. When the funding was cut in July most schools, including NEIU, allocated all the funds for the fall and spring semesters entirely toward the fall, so that students would not be without aid on such short notice.
This shift allowed them to make plans for the spring semester in the event the funding was not restored. Had the funding not been restored for the spring semester, NEIU would have had to make drastic budget cuts. “If we got no spring MAP money, we likely would have lost a lot of enrollment, and students couldn’t afford [tuition],” said President Sharon Hahs. “We would have had to cancel classes, because if fewer students come and bring less money, then you can’t sustain all these classes that you had before.”
With the restoration of the funding, drastic measures were not necessary and people have in fact benefited from lobbying in Springfield.
According to the records given by Maureen Amos, Associate Director of Financial Aid, the money awarded to NEIU was originally $5,009,840 for 3,577 students. Following lobby day however NEIU was awarded $5,187,763 for 3,696 students, a difference of $177,923 and 119 students.
This means that more students were eligible for financial aid after the cut and subsequent restoration. Amos referred to one student in particular and her situation following the reinstatement of the MAP funding.
“She had no idea she was getting it,” said Amos. “She had borrowed a loan, so what we ended up having to do is reduce her borrowing, so that we could make room for the free money of course. She was happy… she could get rid of the loan.”
The funding for future semesters is still uncertain, as budget issues not entirely been fixed. The governor has already submitted his request to the Illinois legislature, requesting full funding for the entire state. This includes an increase in MAP funding by 5.4 million dollars.
While the proposal sill needs to be approved by the house and senate, and then approved again by the governor, both Amos and Hahs remain positive that the MAP grant will continue to be restored. “It seems to be widely known that everybody is supportive of the MAP funds, so likely it will hold through the session,” said Hahs. “I think we’ll end up with the MAP funds. I’m optimistic about it.”