COLLEGE STUDENTS FEAR THE WORST AS ILLINOIS BUDGET CRISIS WIPES OUT HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING, MAP GRANTS - ELENA SAKOPOULOS , Reboot Illinois

Last week, students from across the state traveled to Springfield to hear Gov. Bruce Rauner’s annual Budget Address, and unfortunately many students have come to expect that their governor won’t be making higher education in the state a priority. Sadly, that expectation was fulfilled as Rauner continues to hold the state budget hostage, leaving Illinois’ higher education system unfunded since July 2015. In response to the governor’s budget address, over 200 students gathered for a rally at the Capitol, to share their stories about the devastating effects the budget crisis has had thus far and to urge the governor to pass a budget for higher education immediately. Additionally, without a budget, the state currently cannot pay out MAP grants, the state’s need-based financial aid program. Even though many institutions covered students’ MAP grants for the spring semester, students may be expected to pay back these funds if a higher education budget is not passed before the end of the semester. http://www.rebootillinois.com/2016/02/25/editors-picks/elena-sakopoulos/college-students-fear-the-worst-as-illinois-budget-crisis-wipes-out-higher-education-funding-map-grants/53553/