The Illinois Monetary Award Program is one of the programs facing major budget cuts that will take effect in the spring 2010 semester.

On July 15 the Illinois General Assembly voted to cut the funds for the program’s scholarships and grants in half.

At the Board of Trustees’ Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Personnel Committee meeting on Thursday, administrators predicted a total of $11.2 million will be lost, or $2,135 per student.

Students like senior sociology major, Dennis Deberry, might have to lessen their course list and postpone goals of graduating on time because of the budget cuts.

“As a result of the MAP grant removal in the spring semester, I might be forced to take fewer classes and be in school longer because of the university’s insufficient program funding,” Deberry said.

This budget cut will leave more than 5,000 students in turmoil, pondering ways to earn the extra money.

“I am mad because I depend on this grant,” said senior psychology major, Shuntale Smith. “I already owe a lot in loans and I really don’t want to take out another one, but what other choice do I have?”

NIU will allocate the award for the fall 2009 semester but will ultimately remove it due to state budget cuts in the spring.

Senior sociology major, Demetria Boykin, thinks NIU should spend more on the students rather than the campus appearance.

“I mean, we spend all this money on building new things or reconstructing former landscapes and sometimes forget about the student. I thought the institution’s general motive was to help students further their education.”

Destiny Riley, a senior family and child services major, said losing the MAP grant is very upsetting because a lot of people may not be able to continue their education.

“The MAP grant is crucial funding that makes up for a lot of my financial aid, and it is currently stressing me to identify ways to make up the money.”

The grant was created in 1997 and is awarded to undergraduate students that maintain academic satisfactory that demonstrate financial need towards tuition and mandatory fees for three to 15 credit hours.

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