MAP Grant Proponents Seek State Funding

The state of Illinois has not spent a penny since June to fund the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants many students rely on. Kayra Ester is a student at Heartland Community College, where she told the audience she's also an employee at Heartland. "I work at health and human services, tutoring services, and the library, where recently my hours were cut due to the unresolved state budget. And now, no MAP grant for this semester." Ester is also a single mother of four, and says the lack of funding is also having an effect on her family. Illinois State University, and Illinois Wesleyan students also told of hardships they face because of the uncertainty of MAP grants. Heartland president Rob Widmer says if the state doesn't honor it's commitment to higher education, the future is not sustainable. "We can do the things that we're doing on a short term basis, which is what we've done in the current fiscal year. The problem is that is not a long term situation. We cannot continue doing what we're doing on a long term basis." Members of the Economic Development Council, and the town of Normal join with educators and students in urging full funding of MAP grants.