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Columbia College won’t cover MAP grants for 1800 recipients

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Illinois

Columbia will not fund student Monetary Award Program grants for the 2016–2017 academic year, according to President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim.

The decision announced on April 4, two days after more than 3,000 prospective students attended Open House, reflected the college’s inability to cover another year’s worth of payments if the state’s budget stalemate continues, Kim said.

“It comes down to [the fact that] we just can’t afford it,” Kim said.

Emails were sent April 1 to Columbia’s more than 1,800 MAP grant recipients—whose total financial aid exceeds approximately $7 million—mentioning the school’s subsidy of their 2015–2016 grant money, but omitting mention of the college’s 2016–2017 decision.

Kim said the college was hoping to see the state’s budget crisis be resolved by Gov. Bruce Rauner and other major Illinois leaders, but added that he is not expecting a resolution anytime soon.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:01 pm

Comments

And the college dream gets flushed down the toilet for yet another group of students.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:04 pm
The 2015-2016 subsidy is a big hit for a college that has a rather small endowment and depends heavily on enrollment/tuition to keep the doors open.

Comment by wndycty Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:05 pm
This will definitely affect the Beret business.

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:15 pm
Dear Columbia Students…

@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate.

Ron Sandack just doesn’t think you’re important ebough

Neither does Gov. Rauner.

Understand, Columbia College Families…

Bruce Rauner vetoed MAP funding…

Raunerites like Ron Sandack thinks it’s “worth it.”

Don’t forget it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:28 pm
===- A guy - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:15 pm

This will definitely affect the Beret business.===

You stay classy, - A Guy -…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:30 pm
Radogno? Durkin? Does this look like winning to you?

Or just leverage, and a necessary shakeout?

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:31 pm
Willy,
I suppose you don’t feel sorry for yoga mat manufacturers, aroma candle dippers, or big tobacco either?

Calm down. A little levity. Like everyone else, I’m hoping for a budget and an end to these problems. In the meantime; take a cleansing breath, eh?

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:36 pm
The time for levity is gone.

Students aren’t going to college because of Bruce Rauner…

Chicago State and Eastern might close too, by Rauner’s choices.

After 14 months, you think this is still a joke?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:49 pm
Oh snap, A guy @ 4:36 tries to go toe to toe with OW and misses the mark.

To the post - This is the second small private college to have problems with the MAP grants. Before Rich’a vacation, it was IIT. Today it is Columbia College.

The question will be when does one of the State University’s pull the plug on MAP grants?

Comment by Huh? Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:52 pm
How would you like to be the Governor or legislative leader that history judged as the person who stood by and watched and did nothing as the state fell apart?

On what planet are these men considered doing their job?

Comment by Just Me Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:55 pm
Just Me, please remember who vetoed the budget. The GA did their job by passing a bill. The Governor 1.4% made a decision to veto the bill funding MAP grants and higher ed.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:58 pm
=== Huh? - Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:52 pm:

Oh snap, A guy @ 4:36 tries to go toe to toe with OW and misses the mark.===

Huh?, Huh?

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 4:59 pm
- A Guy - will point and mock at the students withdrawing from Columbia, telling them to “lighten up”…

@RonSandack will take selfies with the sad students and tweeting with the words… “Too bad, so sad, but you not going to Columbia is worth it to me” with the hashtag #RaunerWinning

Boy, that’s a laugh riot - A Guy -…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:13 pm
Last week it was Quincy College and they wanted the students to pay up for the MAP grants they covered for this year. I doubt anyone covers MAP grants next year.Not all will demand students pay it back though.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:13 pm
Sounds like you went to Columbia….

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:15 pm
Don’t know why I posted twice at 5:15. My bad.

Comment by olddog Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:17 pm
So lets say we get a budget next January. How much of a cut will hgher ed take? Rauner wanted 30% - schools have cut fat and he will say “See I knew you could do more with less” and they get whacked between 5 - 10%. MAP takes a similar cut?

Just thinkin’ about Rauner’s strategy besides the obvious that he wants to allow the maximum damage.

Comment by Dr X Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:19 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but CCC covered the students MAP grants this year. Who would make promises for the future in this climate?

Comment by Politix Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:21 pm
Don’t worry - dozens of businesses will come here when the colleges are shut down.

Comment by Dr X Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:23 pm
- A Guy -

I didn’t.

Are you Ron Sandack? That would make a lot of sense.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:24 pm
Raunerites are heartless.

- A Guy - doesn’t think too much of Columbia or its students or Alumni?

I guess Columbia students should “hang in there”, or…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:29 pm
Dr. X,

And can I just say, you know, for argument, that now is not the time to cut education funding? As a matter of economic survival, University graduates have a high chance of staying in the state. When students go elsewhere, they often stay elsewhere. I here a lot of whining on this blog from people claiming, without a lot of evidence, that high taxes cause people to leave. In fact, students are almost certainly going elsewhere because our universities, both public and private are unable to offer competitive financial aid packages. They can’t do that because of the lack of a state appropriation AND the lace of MAP monies.

Not so long ago we actually built institutions. Now we just tear them down. If we are going to continue to compete with the rest of the world, we are going to need more, not less education.

So how about that progressive income tax amendment? And then raise taxes, fix roads and bridges, and provide the best education money can buy. Can anyone give a credible reason, politically or economically why we should not be doing this?

This would not be new. Let’s simply make college at least as affordable for our kids as it was for the boomers!

Comment by HistoryProf Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:34 pm
Any attempt to add “levity” to any discussion of MAP grants or funding to higher education in general is totally inappropriate.

My local CC has eliminated several programs ( including an adult ed program being run at a medium security prison and a Small Business Development Center ). They are also furloughing employees, not replacing retirees, eliminating positions and are going to a 4 day week.

Really funny!!!!!!

Comment by illini Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:36 pm
–Calm down. A little levity.–

If you think that’s funny, check this out:

–Sixty percent of Catholic Charities’ $200 million budget comes from the state of Illinois, but most of that has not been paid thanks to the budget stalemate, leaving the organization in limbo.–

Guess how much of that 60% they’re ever going to see, due to the “squeeze the beast” strategy of the governor and GOP GA?

Zero.

Read the whole link. I’m sure you’ll find it’s a real gut-buster.

http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/02/09/state-owes-catholic-charities-25-million-and-growing-due-budget-impasse

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 5:42 pm
Hi HistProf - Oh I don’t want to cut it, annd I realize the investment. But the reality will be something much different. Rauner doesn’t want to build, he wants to tear down and shift all this public money back to somewhere else, or into private institutions.

Comment by Dr X Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:09 pm
A guy.
You are completely out of line. The destruction of people’s path to an education and out of poverty is not funny. Do you make fun of people with terminal illness also? Sick and twisted. People’s lives and livelihoods are being destroyed right in front of our eyes. Why is that funny at all? Who deserves your mockery? Not the “wedges.”

Comment by Pawn Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:11 pm
Just realized what I said earlier was plainly stated In the post.

I’m awesome like that.

Comment by Politix Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:27 pm
I am sure the Student Loan Industrial Complex is loving this.

More targets to loan more money too. How many million more dollars will be in the stream for these sharks?

It’s all about the debt for Rauner.

Comment by cdog Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:44 pm
“The question will be when does one of the State University’s pull the plug on MAP grants? ”

Most State Universities have already pulled the plug.

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 6:54 pm
Student loans the next bubble to burst..

Comment by burbanite Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 7:06 pm
FYI- student loans are a federal deal. Pell is federal. MAP is entirely state money. The state does not do student loans.

Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 8:05 pm
Huh? - I completely reject the belief that one side of this war is completely innocent and other side is completely to blame.

I take it by your statement you believe Rauner is completely to blame, but I will point out to you that every year on swearing in day the Speaker gives a speech about the General Assembly being a co-equal branch of government, which means the General Assembly is co-equally responsible for this mess.

Comment by Just Me Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 8:48 pm
- Just Me -

With respect,

Rauner owns his vetoes.

That’s how it works. Only a governor can veto.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 8:57 pm
== Let’s simply make college at least as affordable for our kids as it was for the boomers! ==

Only reason it was affordable for this boomer is he got a partial scholarship, worked full time to pay the rest while also attending college full time, and attended a highly rated private local junior college the first two years. Didn’t take any student loans out. It’s not easy but kids can still do that today if they want to bad enough.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:15 pm
RNUG: Growth in tuition costs has outpaced minimum wage growth by more than four times since 1970. Let’s not pretend the generational playing field is balanced.

Comment by Tier 2 Employee Monday, Apr 4, 16 @ 11:46 pm
Just Me - Please remind me which co-equal branch of government pushed the green buttons, voted and passed the legislation funding MAP grants and higher education? I think it was the General Assembly, but I can’t be sure.

Please remind me which member of the co-equal branch of government took out his pen, signed HIS name and VETOED the legislation funding MAP grants and higher education? I think it was the governor, but I can’t be sure.

/S

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 8:34 am
I worked my way through college in the 90s and it was tough. It would be near impossible for my daughter with how much the cost of tuition has increased. This fall, she will be attending UChicago because of the uncertainty with the state schools, including U of I. Our higher education opportunities are becoming increasingly dismal in this state.

Comment by NSideLady Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 8:44 am
I just saw story from NPR that Monmouth and WIU have been praised by USDOE fir effortsbto help low income students. I dont know that either can keep covering MAP this fall …but I dont think either will force repayment like IIT or columbia. Teir 2 is right higher ed inflation like health care and housing have been the only areas outstripping tge overall inflation rate. Hc is just a broken mess. Higher ed has lost most of its statebsupport and pell grants.in part because health care spending mosly medicaid has swamped state budgets especially ours.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 8:53 am
Huh? - please point out to me which branch of government passed a balanced budget. If memory serves, neither did.

It takes two to tango, neither side is innocent in this war.

Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 9:07 am
Leverage!!!

Comment by Abe the Babe Tuesday, Apr 5, 16 @ 9:08 am