Antonio Locra, a junior at Lewis, has picked up a few extra hours at his job each week to help offset the cost of his tuition and books, but if Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed budget is approved, the extra hours won’t earn him enough to cover his tuition gap.
Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly are poised to pass a “slash and burn” budget that addresses the state’s $11.6 billion deficit by pairing $7.5 billion in cuts with $4.1 billion in stimulus funds. Included in the proposal is a $554 million cut in higher education.
The proposed budget will eliminate all state scholarships by January 2010, including Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants, making college less affordable for more than 250,000 students—which includes 1,029 students at Lewis. The average MAP grant award for a student at Lewis is $2,400.
Locra currently receives scholarships and a MAP grant, but said, “Without the grant, my financial aid won’t be enough. I don’t know if I can put in any more hours at work to make up the difference.”
Illinois MAP grants cover college tuition and mandatory fees, but not books, travel or housing. Each term, the actual amount of a MAP grant award depends on financial need, the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the student’s college, the number of hours enrolled and other factors.
Grants made through the program are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the governor.
Janeen Decharinte, director of financial aid services at Lewis said, “Every student has received their fall awards. If spring awards are not restored, $2 million (in grants for Lewis students) will be lost.”
“Students need to know how important this is,” said Decharinte. “Most college students are voting age, and this is an election year. Many of the politicians who could approve this budget face not being re-elected.”
Students are being encouraged to visit www.saveillinoismapgrants.org and petition legislators to fully fund MAP for the remainder of the school year. Decharinte said, “To have an impact on legislators, it’s critical for students and parents to tell their stories.”
If students are notified that they have been denied MAP monies for the spring 2010 semester, Financial Aid Services encourages them to make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to begin going over their options.
Other options for students if this budget cut passes include private loans, payment plans, parent loans and home equity loans.
Sophomore Arielle Foscett said, “My mom has been getting loans, but it’s hard. I need the grant. It’s a nice amount, but one semester isn’t enough.”
Decharinte mentioned that a drop in enrollment could be a possibility.
Community colleges have seen an increase in enrollment due to the economic climate, but “they can’t all go to community college,” said Decharinte. “Community colleges have already increased tuition.”
Lewis could also see a drop in resident students, who might opt to commute instead of paying for housing on campus.
If problems arise in paying tuition, Decharinte urges students to see a financial aid counselor first. “We are willing to work with any family, any student.”
Students are beginning to take the situation into their own hands. Locra has already made the choice to commute from Cicero. “It’s a blessing that I receive the grant,” said Locra. “I may be out of luck for a while if they don’t give the grant in the spring.”
Leslie Bolin and Catherine Cryder
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