Illinois College Students Forced To Drop Out If Grants Not Restored

By Camela Furry in News on Sep 16, 2009 2:00PM

More than 150,000 Illinois college students who depend on grant money to complete their degrees may be forced to drop out of school since MAP grants were cut from the state budget, says CBS2. A Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant is awarded by the state and covers tuition and mandatory fees for students who demonstrate financial need. Chicago State University students are most dependent on MAP grants and students like Emerald Clark told CBS2 she won't be able to stay in school, "I really need to try and show my sister and brother there's something different than selling drugs. I'm really trying to go to school." And CSU student Soujoud Saleh said, "Any other grants by itself are not enough to pay the whole tuitions and even the book supplies, and every semester everything is getting more expensive." CSU students are pleading directly with lawmakers to restore the grants but will have to wait until at least mid-October until lawmakers return to Springfield.