The Friday Memo

              September 11, 2009
SAVE MAP
Higher ed community coalesces to help restore funding for student financial aid
The prospect of an abrupt end to state financial aid for low-income Illinois students has united the higher education community in common purpose: restore $200 million for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to continue grants to 138,000 students for the spring 2010 semester. Funding for the state’s largest need-based grant program was cut in half for fiscal 2010, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), which administers MAP, decided to use the appropriation to provide full grants in the fall semester. Unless the General Assembly acts during its October veto session to add money to the MAP program, no grants will be available for the spring term.
As a result, a broad coalition of students, colleges and universities, and state agencies, led by ISAC, have launched a Save MAP campaign designed to illustrate the impact the loss of MAP grants will have on students.
The campaign will involve ISAC hearings, visits to lawmakers, and rallies tentatively set for Chicago and Springfield. A new website – www.saveillinoismapgrants.org – also has an electronic petition drive, facts about MAP, and other resources.
ISACorps expands assistance for college success
Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISACorps) members are being deployed in every community college district throughout Illinois and will begin work Monday, September 14, following completion of a final workshop in Decatur.
Funded by the federal College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACGP), the Corps bolsters the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s ability to provide high-quality personal service to students in every single community in the state, increasing the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in college.
Washington Update
President urges students to take their education seriously
On September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama delivered a national address to the students of America. During this special address, the president spoke directly to the nation's children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president challenged students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.
UPCOMING
September
14-19 Sustainability Week, UIC 18 Faculty Advisory Council, Spoon River College, Canton 18 ISAC meeting, SIU Edwardsville 18 ICCB meeting, Kankakee Community College 18 Newly Defined Principal Preparation, Rantoul and Bloomington
22 College Town Summit ’09 – Controlling College-Age Alcohol Use, Executive Mansion, Springfield October 6 IBHE Meeting, Loyola University, Chicago 14-16 General Assembly 28-30 veto session 15 Student Lobby Day for MAP funding, Springfield 15 DFI Board Meeting, Springfield