ISAC To Hear Public Testimony Regarding MAP Grant Cuts Friday

Students, parents, community and civic leaders invited to attend

Edwardsville, Ill.—The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announces that a public hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 18, in conjunction with its regularly-scheduled Commission meeting at the Meridian Ballroom, Morris University Center, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Students, parents, community organizations and higher education leaders are welcome to participate in the meeting and provide public testimony. At the
June 26, 2009, Commission meeting at University of Illinois at Chicago, the Commission heard testimony from 14 people, and nearly 100 community members came forth to offer support for student financial aid.

“This is one of the most important things students can do to be a part of the political process,” said ISAC Executive Director Andrew Davis. “Since Commission meetings become part of public record, people need to come and have their voices heard.  Help us help you get funding restored for this important need-based financial aid program.”

Additional public hearings are being held at Illinois State University (Sept. 25), Carl Sandburg College (Oct. 2), Loyola University (Oct. 9), and Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Oct. 12).  For further information on these public hearings, visit www.saveillinoismapgrants.org/.

“After hearing from so many concerned students, parents and leaders in higher education, ISAC has launched the saveillinoismapgrants.org Web site as a resource for these groups—as well as media and lawmakers—to utilize as a source of accurate information regarding the Monetary Award Program,” continued Davis. “The site contains facts about the program’s recipients, how awards are distributed and most importantly, how people can contact their elected officials to avert a potential disaster for postsecondary education and Illinois’ future competitiveness in the global economy.”

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and support to obtain financial aid for higher education. A state agency, ISAC has paved the path to post-secondary education with innovative programs for over 50 years. Last year alone, ISAC continued its mission to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students by issuing 186,000 grants and scholarships totaling nearly $431 million.  

The Commission provides educational funding with student loans, as a loan guarantor and via numerous public programs such as the Monetary Award Program (MAP), the Illinois Veteran Grant and College Illinois!® 529 prepaid college tuition program. For further information about MAP grants and efforts to restore funding to the program, please visit the saveillinoismapgrants.org Web site.

About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.