Bowman Reacts to MAP Funding Restoration

Illinois State University President Al Bowman Thursday praised Illinois lawmakers for restoring second semester Monetary Award Program (MAP) funds for more than 137,000 college students.  The measure, which allocates an additional $205 million to the program, must still be signed by the Governor.

"This will be welcome news for more than 3,500 anxious Illinois State University students and for students and families throughout the State of Illinois," Bowman said.  "I want to thank our legislators for their action and I also thank our student leaders for becoming so passionate and so public about this issue."

Bowman has been meeting for several weeks with local and state legislative leaders to discuss MAP funding.  He also hosted an Illinois Student Assistance Commission hearing on campus to receive testimony from Illinois State students, as well as students from other area colleges.

Illinois State student government leaders traveled to Springfield Thursday to call attention to the MAP funding issue.  They also organized a petition drive and letter-writing campaign calling for MAP funding to be restored.