SIU fronts students State Scholarship MAP grant money - Michelle Madaras, WSIL

Paying for college has become an even bigger challenge for some students in Illinois this year as the state continues without a budget. Many schools are having to decide how they will deal with students that haven't received any map grants this year. "You need a degree nowadays, so what are you going to do if you can't afford to go?" says student Mike Schneider. It's a problem many students like him face as Illinois continues to not fund Monetary Awards Program until there's a budget. But Southern Illinois University is filling that gap for the time being. "The lack of a state budget means that money isn't forthcoming. We're not 100 percent sure how much there will be when there is a state budget but we can't leave our students hanging," says SIU spokesperson Rae Goldsmith. http://www.wsiltv.com/story/30397047/siu-fronts-students-map-grant-money