- Home
- » Admission
- » Financial Aid
- » MAP Grant Updates
Illinois MAP Grant Updates
Legislature votes to restore funding
On Oct. 15, Aurora University students joined more than 2,500 students from 40-plus colleges and universities around the state to rally at the state Capitol in Springfield for the restoration of Monetary Award Program (MAP) funds. The Legislature heard us and voted the same day to authorize the governor to spend $205 million to fund grants for the second semester. The governor signed the bill Oct. 19.
Thanks to everyone who supported this cause and lobbied legislators to restore MAP funding. Clearly, the pressure applied from many corners had an impact.
We will continue to update this page with new developments. Find more information on the MAP rally and vote in these newspaper articles:
- "Gov. Pat Quinn says state will borrow $200 million to help low-income college students" (Chicago Tribune)
- "AU students follow MAP to Springfield" (The Beacon-News)
- "Student aid deal approved, though questions linger" (Daily Herald)
MAP Background
At Aurora University, the academic success of our students is our top priority. We understand that financial obligations can affect that success in many ways, and as a result, we work with students and families to provide guidance on the financial aid process and offer ways they can manage the cost of an education.
Almost 800 Aurora University students rely on MAP state grants to pay their tuition. This page has been set up to help answer questions students and parents might have about the program as the state budget situation changes.
For more information, please e-mail the AU Financial Aid Office at finaid@aurora.edu.
What is MAP, and how is it funded?
Administered through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state of Illinois' largest need-based aid program awards grants to Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need based on the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). MAP grants can be applied only toward tuition and mandatory fees.
MAP grants are funded by the state of Illinois each fiscal year. In 2008-2009, the state granted $385 million in MAP awards to more than 145,000 students who applied by the mid-August cutoff date. Under normal circumstances, a student who is eligible for a full MAP grant would receive $4,968 for the academic year at AU.
Where does the state budget stand now, and how has MAP funding been affected?
This year, because of a surge in applicants and budget uncertainty, the application deadline was moved up to May 15, three months earlier than normal. This caught many students by surprise, leading to late applications that were placed in suspension. Statewide, about 130,000 eligible students will likely not receive grants because of the deadline change.
In addition, the state budget signed by Gov. Pat Quinn in July included only half the expected MAP funding, so the status of grants for the spring semester remained uncertain until Oct. 15, when legislators voted to restore $205 million in funding for second semester.
What does this mean for AU students?
Because we care about our students' academic success, we want to ensure they continue to receive a high-quality, transformative education. So we are taking steps of our own to help relieve the financial pressure they are experiencing.
At AU, 100 students were placed on the MAP waiting list. To help cover the shortfall in aid, we created the AU Assurance Grant, which was awarded based on MAP eligibility criteria to students who missed the unprecedented May 15 deadline but filed their applications before July 31. This award is one more indication of our commitment to working with students and families to make AU affordable.
What can you do to help?
Aurora University is actively engaged in advocating for full funding for MAP for this year and beyond, but we also need the help of the AU community. We strongly encourage you to contact your elected officials to let them know how important this program is to you and your education.
You can identify your legislators and send them a letter expressing your concerns through the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities Web site. More information is available on the Save Illinois Map Grants Web site.
How can you stay informed about this issue?
We promise to keep students and parents informed on the status of the deliberations in Springfield. And, as in the past, please know that you can count on us to help in every way possible.
For more information about the MAP program, visit the Illinois Student Assistance Commission's CollegeZone Web site.
How can students minimize their college expenses?
For ideas on how to balance other educational expenses, read this list of tips compiled by AU students.
Last updated: October 19, 2009
