ISAC Addresses Public Concerns Following Meeting

Advises students and families to contact state representatives and make alternative college funding plans

CHICAGO – Following public concerns aired at its June 26 Commission meeting at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Executive Director Andrew Davis issued the following statement relative to the impact of the “doomsday budget” on appropriations for student aid:

“To the concerned citizens that came out to voice their feelings on the anticipated loss of much-needed grants and scholarships, know that your message has been heard, loud and clear. Thank you for clearly articulating the impact of proposed state budget appropriations on your circumstance. It’s ISAC’s mission to make college accessible and affordable for all Illinois students, and we take that very seriously.

“The Commission’s plan carefully considers the possibility of a scenario that appropriates only $161.9 million to MAP, an amount that would not even cover first-term awards that have already been announced for applications received before the May 15 suspense date. The approved plan, although far from ideal, allows for over 80 percent funding of MAP in the fall, lessening the immediate burden on students and buying time to plan for zero aid in January.”

Aside from MAP, Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA), Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois, and grant programs for dependents of police, fire, and correctional officers, most other scholarship, grant, or loan repayment/forgiveness programs administered by ISAC would not be paid from the state's general fund for the entire 2010 fiscal year absent new revenues.

Programs affected would include the Bonus Incentive Grant (BIG), Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC), Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant*, Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG)*, Illinois Scholars, Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI), Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program, Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP), Teachers/Child Care Providers Loan Repayment Program and the Veterans' Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program.

* Although entitlement programs for students, funding would not be available through ISAC.

“While we and the students of Illinois appreciate the widespread support for our programs, we urge concerned residents to contact state representatives,” continued Davis. “After all, ISAC can only run its scholarship and grant programs based upon appropriations from the Illinois General Assembly and the governor. And that means that you—as an important, taxpaying constituent—hold the power of change.”

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 for more than 50 years. Last year alone, ISAC continued its mission to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students by issuing over 186,000 grants and scholarships totaling nearly $431 million. 

The Commission provides educational funding with IDAPP student loans, as a loan guarantor and via numerous state-funded programs, plus College Illinois!®, the Commission’s groundbreaking 529 prepaid college tuition program. Students and families have free access to a wealth of financial aid and college planning information at ISAC’s family of websites available at http://www.knowhow2goillinois.org/.