State budget standoff impacting grant money for college students - Reuben Jones, WREX

Students that receive monetary award program money, or MAP grants for tuition, and other college expenses, have not seen a dollar since the semester started. The reason for the hold up is the budget stalemate. "We are just trying to lessen the blow so that students aren't receiving any bills for tuition or books based on this pending funding," said Rock Valley College Financial Aid Director James Heller. RVC chose to offset the costs for students this fall and so did Rockford University. But some colleges say they can't afford to do that. "The college wasn't in the financial situation to front load or honor those dollars upfront and so we decided....not to give that money out until the...state came to an agreement.," Harris said. http://www.wrex.com/story/30157041/2015/09/30/state-budget-standoff-impacting-grant-money-for-college-students