* The Illinois Institute of Technology is tired of waiting for the General Assembly an the governor to approve MAP grants for kids in poor families, so the school’s honchos have issued an ultimatum…
Though Illinois Tech had not received any funding for MAP grants last September, the school decided to issue a credit to any students who qualified for a MAP grant in hopes that the budget impasse would pass and they would receive the funding to cover the MAP grants before the end of the year. But as the budget impasse continued, it became less likely that this would be the case. In December the school announced they could not offer MAP grants (or credits) for the spring semester.
On Wednesday, students received word that their MAP grant credit from the fall semester would be taken off their account. This leaves students with three options: pay back the MAP credit in full, pay back the amount through a 12 month loan with 6.8 percent interest (though they can pay back the loan interest-free until September), or have a hold on their account which would prevent them from registering for summer and fall classes (registration begins April 4). Certain scholarships at the university will cover the fall grant cost.
738 students receive MAP grant funding at Illinois Tech, which is private university that enrolls about 7,700 students. Tuition (before room, board, and other fees) is $42,000.
Illinois Tech added that if the budget passes and the school receives funds, students will be refunded what they paid.
The letter is here.
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:20 pm:
Another important real world lesson taught to you by your governor.
- btowntruth - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:24 pm:
Governor Tough Love strikes again.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack
Remember, Representative Ron Sandack thinks IIT students losing an education opportunity isn’t as important as decimating unions.
Remember that….
- cdog - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
With the new light on the fact if there is no appropriation there is no balance due, it is smart but sad that IIT has done this.
Entities with FY16 balances due and no appropriations are 9 months in the red, with ever rising risk of not being paid, or even legally owed the money.
What a strange world Illinois has become.
- Niblets - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
I feel your pain. Bruce
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
Leverage created crisis, now crisis creates leverage. Way to get out leveraged, gov. Vetoes have consequences.
- Joe - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
Is that 42,000 per year or for 4 years?
- LizPhairTax - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
Joe,
1
- Joe - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:55 pm:
Liz, That is crazy, that is higher than most med schools. 738 X 42,000 X 4 years = $123,984,000. For Illinois to recover each students grant at 3.5% income tax each student will need to earn 4.8 million in Illinois. Over a 40 year career they will need to average 120,00 a year.
- clifton yankmaster - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
Does the governor sleep at night?
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
Where is Ken Dunkin when we need him? Is it time for a Ken Dunkin press conference?
Come on, Ken, bring out that sleeping bag in solidarity with the students.
Or maybe borrow some money in a symbolic gesture.
Or maybe — maybe — talk to your new buddy, Bruce, and ask him to drop his anti-union demands and pass a budget?
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
Yep, the governor is a meanie who hates students and there’s absolutely nothing, yeah nothing at all the GA (Majority) can do about it. It’s just mean-spiritedness playing itself out at one of the premier institutions in the entire country.
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
Joe, the MAP grant maximum is $4,720 (source: http://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/map/). $42,000 is the full cost of tuition, not the State’s grant.
They only need to average $12,600 a year over 40 years at 3.75% income tax for the State to make that back. Should not be a problem, however, given to Gov’s winin’ record, incomes may very well be headed that way.
- LizPhairTax - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
Joe,
I’m not an expert so I don’t know how much each MAP grant is, but they’re not full freight. Couple gs I think. Someone else here who knows more may chime in.
- LizPhairTax - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:10 pm:
Whoa. Time travel.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:10 pm:
- A Guy -
The governor vetoed MAP.
Rauner did it. Understand. Governors own their vetoes.
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack
Rauner wants students hurt. Ron Sandack says its so.
Please, - A Guy -, keep up with your Rauner talking points.
The Governor, Bruce Rauner chose to veto.
That’s as “simple” as it gets.
- drew - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
Joe, you realize map grants do not pay for 100% of tuition, right?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
I don’t think - Joe - knows about MAP(?)
- illini97 - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
-A guy-
The Governor vetoed the MAP Grant Bill (SB 2043) on Febraury 19. That’s on the Governor.
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
Willy, was his reason for vetoing the bill that there wasn’t sufficient (or any) funding to pay for it. Are you debating that? You really do like the good ole days of budgeting, don’t you?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Joe- Map Grants are capped at $4,968 a year per student and are often much less. Those ITT students weren’t going to get anywhere near a full ride on MAP money.
- illini97 - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
-A guy-
Where is the sufficient funding to pay for anything, including employee wages?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
- A Guy -
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack
Yep…
So then Rauner owns the choice.
You can’t say “it needs to be different, but my choices aren’t my own.”
Ron Sandack feels IIT students shouldn’t get MAP. Gov. Rauner’s Veto, something only a governor can do, says so too.
Rauner doesn’t want students to have higher ed opportunities.
“Simple”
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:18 pm:
@3:16
It’s ‘IIT’ — not ‘ITT’.
Two totally different schools.
- burbanite - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Joe the State gets paid back in other ways too. I got 2500 a year for two years back in the 80’s, now I have two college kids neither of whom qualify for any grants or subsidies. In addition to my husband’s entire net (union) salary going to just pay our taxes.
Thinking short term, ie. by election cycle is what got us into this mess. You gotta think long term, this is costing us big long term.
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
=== You really do like the good ole days of budgeting, don’t you? ===
As opposed to the good new days of non-budgeting that is running up mega-billions in debt without including the cost of many social service programs and higher education.
But, I guess we were blessed with Rauner’s priority of having state fairs.
- Columbo - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
Yes, the sticker price at IIT is around $42,000, but most students pay considerably less because IIT offers institutional aid to many of these students. The MAP max award is $4,720 per year, and many students at the independents and public 4’s receive on average $3,500-$3,900, while community college students receive around $1,000 on average.
I think this is part and parcel of the “Starve the Beast” strategy, but we are finding out who is really being punished. In this case the poorest students in Illinois, and arguably the students that would benefit from higher education the most. Again, how is this winning????
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
- A Guy -
Rauner won’t talk budget until the Turnaround Agenda is passed, so I have no clue, and neither do you, what Rauner budgeting for two fiscal years looks like… passed and implimented, lol.
I know Rauner wants to close EIU and CSU. Denying students higher ed opportunities is a Rauner want too(?)
A veto seems to say, “Yeah, students, too bad. And don’t apply to Eastern.”
- Curious Georgina - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
A guy, can’t the governor fund MAP from the same magic pot that the increased K-12 funding is coming from?
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
=== illini97 - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
-A guy-
Where is the sufficient funding to pay for anything, including employee wages?===
Good grief. That’s taken priority over everything else. Everything!
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
===I know Rauner wants to close EIU and CSU. ==
Seriously Willy…this is something you KNOW?
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
===As opposed to the good new days of non-budgeting that is running up mega-billions in debt without including the cost of many social service programs and higher education.===
Norse, Odin,
Those priorities were set before the non-budgeting mess we’re into (which I’m not at all pleased with)
Who set priorities that put any helping social spending in the most vulnerable discretionary category? Was that enacted in the last 2 years? The only people who are completely without any protection are the most vulnerable people. We agree on that (at least I think we do) How did that policy come to be? Who is/was out there protecting this group of people. Or are they the spending equivalent of “human shields”. Maybe a bit dramatic, but not too much.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
===Seriously Willy…this is something you KNOW?===
Hmm.
Rauner funds K-12
Rauner refuses to fund Higher Ed.
Higher Ed says they face peril with no funding.
Rauner continues to refuse funding to Higher Ed.
Both Eastern and Chicago State explain their Fall Semesters in peril.
Rauner continues to fund Higher Ed.
After nearly a fiscal year of literally not funding Higher Ed, what makes you think Rauner wants Eastern or CSU around?
Rauner sure must want EIU and CSU to close, or has the oddest gubernatorial way to show Higher Ed he wants them around.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
- A Guy -
Governors own.
Two years ago isn’t today.
Students who have to quit school because of Rauner emit care about 2 years ago.
They’ll know…
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack
Rauner chose this hostage taking. Governors own.
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:05 pm:
That’s one explanation. Odd, but you get an A for effort. Can’t we assume he wants every public and private college in the state to close using that logic?
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
==Students who have to quit school because of Rauner emit care about 2 years ago.===
There’s a typo here. What should it really say? (seriously)
- Chucktownian - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
Yep this is all on the governor. If you veto a bill, you own it.
The voters know this and there will be reckoning in November.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
===That’s one explanation.===
That’s the ONLY explanation. Otherwise you fund Higher Ed.
Rauner wants schools closed. Consolidate majors. Close campuses.
===Odd,===
Nothing odd about it really. It’s what’s happening. You are paying attention, right?
===Can’t we assume he wants every public and private college in the state to close using that logic?===
When you don’t fund Higher Ed, it’s not an assumption, it’s a fact.
Rauner wants Higher Ed decimated, and fewer kids to go to college.
The vetoes say it’s so.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
Students who have to quit school don’t care about 2 years ago.
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
Thanks for the edit Willy. We agree on that thought.
We don’t agree that Rauner wants Higher Ed decimated. That’s just nonsense.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:22 pm:
===We don’t agree that Rauner wants Higher Ed decimated. That’s just nonsense.===
Did Rauner fund higher ed?
Nope.
Rauner wants EIU and CSU gone. Otherwise, he’d fund higher ed.
“Simple”
- Keyrock - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
By the way, how are SIU and Lincoln College feeling now about having had Gov. Rauner as a commencement speaker?
- Wensicia - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:35 pm:
I was remembering last year’s Good Friday cuts in certain services. Yet, who could’ve imagined how much more severe the situation would be a year later?
- Columbo - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:42 pm:
“A guy- We don’t agree that Rauner wants Higher Ed decimated. That’s just nonsense.”
With respect, we are clearly looking through different lenses. At 10 months into this FY, and two consecutive FY budget recommendations to wreck higher ed, saying Rauner is interested in higher education is a stretch. But let’s stick to the topic of MAP. Its crystal clear that the Governor is directly cutting off higher education to the most needy Illinois residents seeking a higher education. Saying other wise is, well, nonsense.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:43 pm:
==We don’t agree that Rauner wants Higher Ed decimated. That’s just nonsense.==
I would disagree with you there. All you have to do is look at his budget proposal for Higher Ed.
- WIUSadness - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:45 pm:
We’re facing devastating layoffs and cutbacks to stay alive here at WIU…and can only hope students choose to enroll come fall. Rauner proposed cutting WIU funding by 30% — yes — 30% for FY16.
1) Legislature passed a bill cutting it by 6.5%. Rauner: Veto.
2) Dems pass bill fully funding MAP grants (an economic cash-flow lifeline to the univs.)
Rauner: Veto. (and then forces GOP legislators to vote “Present”, defeating the override)
No state funding for a state university?
Did this *ever* happen before Rauner became Gov?
It is abundantly clear to anyone of sound mind that the Governor wants to inflict pain and cares little whether CSU, EIU, WIU or any other public university (possibly besides UIUC/UIC) closes.
It is so appalling that no one seems to believe it. And yet here we are, sinking into oblivion…
Does no one care for students, people, trying to better themselves and create a future for our state? It is so very sad that no one seems to recognize the reality or be willing to stop this madness.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:00 pm:
Very well, back to MAP…
Let’s be clear…
Macomb, Illinois will lose students without MAP.
Macomb, Illinois will lose it’s economic engine’s ability to have more students rent apartments, eat at restaurants, families fill hotel rooms…
MAP
Macomb, Illinois need MAP as much as Western does.
Rauner wants Illinois universities shut down, but what does that say about Macomb, or Charleston, or Carbondale…
Yep, MAP is that important.
- WIUSadness - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:20 pm:
A “Save WIU / Save Macomb” march and rally will be held in Macomb March 31 at 4:45pm. It is hoped the entire Macomb community supports this effort and turns out in a BIG way.
Yes, OW, for Macomb’s sake.
- btowntruth - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:23 pm:
WIUSadness:
Heard anything out of your State Representative lately?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:24 pm:
- WIUSadness -
Don’t forget to “Vote Accordingly” come November.
Don’t be fooled. “Find” the Raunerites… for Western’s sake… for Macomb’s sake.
Best of Luck, do what needs to be done,
OW
- WIUSadness - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:57 pm:
## WIUSadness: Heard anything out of your State Representative lately? ##
Yes, btowntruth:
Sadly, Norine Hammond (R, 93rd District) has repeatedly voted against her district (and with Gov. Rauner), by voting “Present” or “No” on all WIU and MAP appropriation bills. She faces a smart, formidable newcomer in the November election. One would hope her Macomb supporters would encourage her to vote her/their interests, and for her own District.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 6:28 pm:
If the Raunerites turn into the Gorillas of Pate and start voting their districts, then I’ll support their quest(s) to break free.
If those Raunerites feel the need to vote against… Macomb… Charleston… Edwardsville…
Those aren’t Republican ideals, voting against your economic engines and universities is voting Raunerite demands.
Know the difference.
Vote Accordingly.
- Austin Blvd - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 7:12 pm:
And IIT said “We shall run our college like a bidness and all students must pay or they shall no longer be able to receive services.”
And Bruce Rauner, hearing of this IIT policy, gave his nod of approval.
And Bruce then instructed his staff to buy more time for past due water and electricity bills owed by the state.
And Rauner saw no irony, for such is the way he has conducted bidness and earned millions.
- peon - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 7:40 pm:
Agree with posters above. These actions against Higher Ed and social services sadly appear intentional. In some ways, at this point, it would be more worrying if they were inadvertent.
- illinois manufacturer - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 8:12 pm:
Agree with the posters. Just too add Macomb is all ready hurting. I am sure rally will aim to send message hopefully a big one to Hammond.
- WIUoblivion - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 8:13 pm:
Real world effects: Because of the budget nonsense, the four senior faculty in my department at WIU — a department recognized as a “signature program” — intend to retire after the 2016-2017 academic year. All also intend to leave the Macomb area. Three have partners/spouses holding professional positions at WIU or in the community. That’s seven people with combined salaries approaching $550K. No community Macomb’s size can sustain repeated losses like this and remain vital. Representative Hammond, are you listening? Hello, are you “present”?
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 8:47 pm:
WIUoblivion, your mission - should you accept it - is to convey this story to your local media, family and friends. Urge all to agitate your GOP enablers for action. Refuse and WIU will self-destruct in …
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 10:19 pm:
- Norseman - is On It.
Where are the Gorillas of Pate? At what point can you vote against your district enough that you lose what makes you best for your constituents?
A mission… to actually save GOP GA members from themselves.
- WIUoblivion - Friday, Mar 25, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
@ Norseman & OW — workin’ on it, I promise, workin’ on it