Message from President Middleton on MAP Funding

October 19, 2009

All of us in higher education in the state of Illinois have reason to celebrate. Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation and committed to restore $205 million in Monetary Award Program (MAP) funding for the spring semester. The Illinois General Assembly passed the legislation authorizing the Governor to fund the program, which 138,000 college students statewide depend upon to help pay for their education.

We can also be tremendously proud of our Roosevelt University students who became actively involved in the grassroots efforts to restore MAP funding. They made phone calls, e-mailed, wrote letters, made posters, hosted events, lobbied and traveled to Springfield on October 15 for the history-making student rally. Their hard work was truly an example of social justice in action.

While we are certainly appreciative of the commitment and support of MAP by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor, especially in these tough economic times, they must make funding higher education a priority in the state. I encourage you to call, e-mail or send a letter to your state senator, state representative and the Governor, thanking them for what we achieved for the spring and urging them to find a more permanent solution to maintain MAP funding for current and future college students.

Sincerely,

Chuck Middleton