UI Chancellor Mourns Loss of State Student Aid Funds

University of Illinois administrators are unhappy that the state budget doesn't offer much additional money for their budgets-but one is more upset over cuts to student aid.

Chancellor Richard Herman says Illinois has had one of the strongest aid programs for lower-income students through the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grant. He says funding cuts that may jeopardize some students' ability to attend college hits at one of his most treasured initiatives.

"For us to be only at the halfway point in terms of funding is deeply troublesome," Herman said. "I look at one of the things I've been able to bring about, and one of the greatest things for me is the Illinois Promise program, which gets to students with families at the poverty level. It's exactly targeted on a healthy portion of state assistance kids."

Right now the state budget provides for no money for MAP grants in the spring semester. Lawmakers may consider funding MAP for the full year during their fall veto session in two months.