Issue date: 8/27/09 Section: News

Junior transfer student Demareo Stone is one of many students who could lose some of their financial aid next semester.

On July 15, the Illinois General Assembly reduced the Illinois Student Assistance Commission funds for scholarships and grants by half, attempting to balance the 2009-2010 state budget.

This will largely affect the Monetary Award Program grant, as it makes up a significant portion of those commission funds.

Eastern could lose the $5 million in MAP grants it has received, affecting up to 2,300 Eastern students, said Financial Aid Director Jerry Donna.

Donna said the commission is anticipating no MAP funding in the spring, although this is not definitive.

He said the university would know the MAP grant's status around November, but Donna thinks the state's budget crisis could make it difficult to maintain the grant.

Stone, who received the Illinois MAP grant this semester and at his community college in the past, could be adversely affected in the spring.

"The MAP grant helped me with my finances at community college," Stone said. "But junior college is half of what university MAP grants are, so I would take a bigger fall if I didn't receive my aid."

If the grant is discontinued, Stone might have to add to his debt burden for his undergraduate studies.

"Most likely, I could take student loans out," Stone said. "Even if I reduced my class load, it would be a tough spot to be in."

Lori Wolc, a senior early education major, also receives the MAP and would have to look for outside help.

"I would probably have to take out more student loans, which is going to be really hard to take care of when I get out of school," Wolc said.

To combat the situation, Eastern's administration is pushing the General Assembly to retain the grant. Students and parents are also writing letters contacting their state representatives about the MAP being invaluable.

"All the institutions are letting the state know the importance of the grant," Donna said. "We are still hoping there will be enough push on the legislators to actually come through with the money."

Eastern is planning alternatives for students to pay for their education. The university acquired $800,000 in stimulus money. President Bill Perry and Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, might use this for a work-study program.

The program, in its planning stages, would have former MAP students working for faculty and departments in a more academic focus.

Donna said this possibility would be for students that are identified as the most needy, for example, with an expected family contribution of zero.

According to an Illinois Student Assistance Commission report issued in February, 77 percent of students receiving MAP grant assistance have a household income of less than $40,000 per year, and 48 percent are reporting less than $20,000 in household income.

"For those where the MAP grant makes all the difference, it will be a real sad day if someone can't come to school because of losing it," Donna said.

If discontinued, the university would not be able to make up the lost state funds with other scholarships.

Donna said Eastern's endowment is not high, which makes it difficult to have institutional scholarships. The university's foundation lost more than 26 percent of its value during the course of 2008, falling from $45.6 million to $32 million.

Other options of funding students' education would be through student, parent and private loans, outside scholarships and other work opportunities.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.

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