Feb. 19--Elgin-area college officials say they are developing a strategy for moving forward while funding for a state grant for low-income students continues to be uncertain.
Officials from the private Judson University and public Elgin Community College say they continue to be left in the dark over state funding, wondering when and if their students will resume receiving Monetary Award Program, or MAP, grants.
Judson President Gene Crume said the school is finalizing its plans for how it will go forward without MAP grant funding and will be communicating those plans to students in the coming weeks.
Judson is covering roughly $1.1 million in missing MAP grants for students this school year.
"It is disappointing that during a time when many of our elected leaders in the state complain about the affordability of higher education, they choose politics over a promise to the citizens of Illinois to make college more affordable," Crume said.
More than 500 of Judson's 1,250 students use MAP grants, according to the college, and nearly all receive some sort of financial aid.
The annual grants provide about $2,700 to eligible students and are pledged to them before the school year begins. MAP grants can only go toward a student's tuition and are based on need.
But that money is only sent to schools if it's appropriated by the legislature and approved by the governor.
That process has been held up in Springfield, where Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's second budget speech this week failed to offer hope that the college grants would be funded.
Elgin Community College also is fronting students the missing grant money, according to a December statement issued by the school.
The college paid $402,500 to cover the MAP programs for the fall 2015 semester and another $400,000 to fill in for the missing money this semester.
"This will keep the students whole from the grant perspective, and they won't have to find money this fiscal year to make up for the unfunded MAP grant," said Sharon Konny, vice president for business and finance.
About 900 of Elgin Community College's 16,000 students were slated to received MAP grants this year, Konny said.
"Many of the students who receive MAP grants are low-income," Konny said. "Without the availability of MAP grants, it would be impossible for many students to continue to attend college."
"There is no precedent for a funding shortfall from MAP of this magnitude," she said.
Without approval of a state budget, the college also could end up losing about $5.6 million in funds for its operating budget, Konny said in a December news release.
To ease the pain of the lack of state funds, the college has enacted a hiring freeze for nonessential positions, travel is restricted, and the school is seeking other ways to save money.
"The leadership at the college remains hopeful that the budget impasse will reach positive conclusion," Konny said.
Democrats passed a bill that would fund MAP late last month, the same kind of piecemeal legislation that has kept much state funding going without an official budget. Rauner has vowed to veto the bill. Republicans have introduced their own MAP funding legislation.
geoffz@tribpub.com
