HJ0032 Engrossed

LRB095 11362 NHT 32131 r






1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 32


 
2
    WHEREAS, The Monetary Award Program, also known as "MAP", 
3
which is  administered by the Illinois Student Assistance 
4
Commission, is among the premiere state-funded, need-based, 
5
postsecondary grant programs in the United States; and

 
6
    WHEREAS, MAP grants are intended to provide funding for  all 
7
Illinois students seeking postsecondary degrees who 
8
demonstrate financial need, providing $347 million in grants to 
9
146,853 students in 2006; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, The profile of students attending Illinois 
11
colleges and universities has undergone dramatic changes in the 
12
past decade, as increasing numbers of students are older, 
13
married, parents, or working; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, Those students defined as independent, meaning 
15
those who are 24 years of age or  older, those who are married, 
16
those with dependents, and those who have been in the military, 
17
are often the most financially challenged in their endeavors to 
18
pursue a postsecondary education; and

 
19
    WHEREAS, As more working adults seek to return to school, 
20
they face a federal financial aid system designed primarily for 
21
traditional students; and

 
 


 






HJ0032 Engrossed
- 2 -
LRB095 11362 NHT 32131 r




1
    WHEREAS, Low-income working adults are often expected to 
2
contribute an unrealistic proportion of their income to college 
3
costs; therefore, be it

 
4
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
5
NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
6
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Student Assistance 
7
Commission, in cooperation with the Board of Higher Education, 
8
the Illinois Community College Board, an organization 
9
representing working women, an organization representing 
10
private colleges and universities, and other concerned 
11
parties, document the overall financial need of independent 
12
students in Illinois and the degree to which they are served by 
13
the Monetary Award Program in a report to be delivered to the 
14
General Assembly no later than December 31, 2007; and be it 
15
further

 
16
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17
delivered to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.