The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing students’ contributions to the restoration of funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and support to obtain financial aid for higher education. A state agency, ISAC has paved the path to post-secondary education with innovative programs for over 50 years. The commission continued its mission to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students by administering over 183,000 grants and scholarships totaling over $430 million in FY2009 alone.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION ISSUES MAP PROCLAMATION

Commissioners recognize students’ efforts in restoring

FY2010 MAP funding, encourage continued involvement

CHICAGO — At its June 18 commission meeting, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing students’ contributions to the restoration of funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.

Donald McNeil, chairman of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, said, “It’s rather unusual these days to see students organize around one issue and let their voices be heard.  Students from all sectors of higher education—MAP recipients and non-recipients alike—came together with a common interest to bring forth change.  We are extremely grateful for the support that MAP has received from students across the state.”

The budget initially approved by the Illinois General Assembly drastically reduced the General Revenue Fund support for MAP for the 2009-10 academic year, leaving the Commission without adequate funds to provide full-year MAP grants to all eligible students claiming grants. In response, ISAC front-loaded awards to the first term, allowing students to attend in the fall by utilizing the full award at that time, leaving no MAP money for the second part of the academic year. 

During the summer and fall of 2009, students from across the state worked shoulder-to shoulder with classmates, parents, faculty and staff, demanding action from state leaders to restore MAP funding.  During the General Assembly’s October veto session, an additional $205 million lump-sum appropriation was made to restore full-year MAP grants to approximately 141,500 Illinois students.

“We should all be proud of the responsible, energetic and focused political involvement of Illinois students in restoring MAP,” said ISAC Executive Director Andrew Davis. “The people of Illinois have made it clear that the program is important, and we encourage students and recent graduates to remain involved in the political process--in particular, issues related to college affordability, student financial aid and the Monetary Award Program.”

Demand for student financial assistance continues to increase as Illinoisans struggle with unemployment and underemployment while tuition rises at most campuses.  Through June 10, ISAC has recorded a 22 percent increase in MAP-eligible applications, and the agency has denied MAP benefits to nearly 40,000 eligible students since suspending award announcements on April 19, despite receiving an appropriation of approximately $405 million for MAP.

The Commission provides further background information regarding the problem, research and resources, and weekly updates to MAP grant suspension activity at the following Web site, www.collegezone.com/mapcap.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and support to obtain financial aid for higher education. A state agency, ISAC has paved the path to post-secondary education with innovative programs for over 50 years. The commission continued its mission to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students by administering over 183,000 grants and scholarships totaling over $430 million in FY2009 alone.   
 
The Commission provides educational funding with student loans and via numerous programs such as the Monetary Award Program (MAP), the Illinois Veteran Grant and College Illinois!^® 529 Prepaid Tuition Program. Students and families have free access to a wealth of financial aid and college planning information at ISAC’s family of Web sites available at www.KnowHow2GOIllinois.org.     

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PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING STUDENTS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RESTORATION
OF FY 2010 FUNDING FOR THE MONETARY AWARD PROGRAM (MAP)

Submitted for: Action

Summary: The fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) budget initially approved by the Illinois General
Assembly dramatically reduced General Revenue Fund support for ISACadministered
scholarship and grant programs as compared to the prior fiscal year.

Absent a restoration of funding, the reduction would have left the Commission
without adequate funds to provide full-year Monetary Award Program grants to
the eligible students who would have claimed grants and who applied before
award announcements were suspended in May 2009.

However, in October 2009, the General Assembly voted during its Veto Session
to appropriate an additional lump sum of $205 million for ISAC-administered
scholarship and grant programs. This action restored full-year MAP grants for
approximately 141,500 Illinois students, many of whom might otherwise have
been unable to achieve their educational goals.

The General Assembly’s action followed student efforts throughout Illinois in the
summer and fall of 2009 to draw attention to the effects of the reduced MAP
appropriation.

Action requested: That the Commission approve the attached proclamation, recognizing and
thanking students for their contributions to the restoration of funding for the
Monetary Award Program in FY 2010 and urging continued attention to the
value of need-based student financial assistance.

6-1

A Proclamation of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission Recognizing Students’ Contributions to
the Restoration of FY 2010 Funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP)

Whereas funding for the State’s need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP) was initially cut in half for
the 2009-2010 academic year, leaving Illinois students with difficult decisions about how to continue their
collegiate enrollment; and

Whereas students from across Illinois worked shoulder-to-shoulder with classmates, parents, faculty, and
staff, demanding action from State leaders to restore MAP funding; and

Whereas MAP grant recipients and non-recipients alike spoke up for the causes of college access and
choice for all students, regardless of income; and

Whereas students from every sector – public four-year, private four-year, proprietary schools and
community colleges—shared moving, personal stories with the Commission, legislators, and the media to
illustrate the powerful impact that financial assistance has had on their lives and their educational
aspirations; and

Whereas organizers employed tools both old and new, including paper petitions, postcards, and letters
along with such electronic means as social networking, text messaging, and video testimonials; and
Whereas students around the State held campus rallies, attended Commission hearings, and spoke with
local reporters to build public awareness of their campaign to save Illinois MAP grants; and

Whereas more than 2,500 students from every corner of Illinois (and at least one school mascot) converged
on the Capitol in October 2009 to gather, speak with legislators, strengthen inter-campus relationships, and
present the Governor with a petition for MAP funding signed by more than 10,000 Illinoisans; and

Whereas these students delivered the message that they were “United to Save Education” with resolve,
respect, professionalism, creativity, and a dedication to equity and opportunity; and

Whereas State leaders answered students’ call to action by appropriating an additional $205 million for
student financial assistance for Fiscal Year 2010, for a total of more than $425 million in scholarships and
grants administered by ISAC; and

Whereas this supplemental appropriation restored full-year MAP grants for approximately 141,500 Illinois
students, many of whom might otherwise have been unable to achieve their educational goals; and

Whereas demand for financial assistance continues to rise as Illinoisans struggle with unemployment and
underemployment while tuition rates increase at most campuses, with a 22% increase in eligible
applications for the MAP grant as of June 2010,

Therefore we, the members of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, do acknowledge, honor, and
thank the students of Illinois for playing their critical role in the restoration of funding for the Monetary
Award Program for the 2009-2010 academic year; and

Do urge Illinois students and graduates to retain their civic spirit, to remain involved in the public sphere, to
maintain their awareness of and interest in student financial assistance and the Monetary Award Program in
particular, and to continue to contribute to a positive future for the State of Illinois, the United States of
America, and the world.

~~~

Vesti iz Srbije:

Дана 4. jуна 2010. године изашао је из штампе, у издању недељног листа „Просветни преглед“, Конкурс за упис студената у прву годину основних и интегрисаних студија на високошколским установама чији је оснивач Република Србија за школску 2010/11. годину.

Конкурс се може купити у свим књижарама  које продају издања недељног листа  „Просветни прглед“ у Републици  Србији: Дечанска 6 (Београд);  Булевар  Михајла Пупина бр. 28 (Нови Сад). Заинтересоване стране могу извршити наручивање примерака Конкурса преко наруџбенице која се објављује у „Просветном прегледу“ и преко сајта „Просветног прегледа“ www.prosvetni-pregled.rs

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