MAP grant funds for 2012-2013 depleted early

The Illinois Monetary Award Program grant for the 2012-2013 school year has already been depleted, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday. But the majority of Bradley students eligible for the grant applied in time to get a cut of the funds, Executive Director of Financial Assistance David Pardieck said.
According to the article, funds ran out by Mar. 13.
“We pretty much anticipated this,” Pardieck said. “There hasn’t been an increase in funds available, but demand has gone up.”
Though approximately 140,000 Illinois students are estimated to be declined MAP funding, Bradley won’t feel much of a strain, Pardieck said.
“We have a FAFSA filing of Mar. 1, and most of our families file by then,” he said. “That’s not to say there won’t be students who will miss out, but our families have been incredibly diligent about filing. Of the 1,600 or so students who receive that grant, I would anticipate about 20 students will miss out on those funds.”
Executive Director of the Institute for Principled Leadership Brad McMillan said he met with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn a few weeks ago to discuss the grant.
“The governor is going to advocate for a higher funding amount,” McMillan said. “It’s one of those issues that will be debated, but the governor was wanting a higher amount available for the MAP grants.”
McMillan hopes next year’s budget will be able to support more students.
“Hopefully they’ll come up with a budget for next year that will at least keep the MAP grant stable, if not increase the funding for it,” he said. “It’s just another very tough budget year in Springfield.”
A student lobby day for the MAP grant will take place April 25 in Springfield.