Why restoring 5th Year MAP is important

For FY 2002-03 the General Assembly removed the eligibility for Monetary Award Program assistance from all Illinois students, beyond 8 semesters. This move was done without consideration to the age, academic history, or career path of the students affected.

Many 5th year MAP grant recipients are working adults. Many of these students are seeking to enter high-need fields such as education, counseling and nursing. Yet, the state eliminated the 5th year MAP grants late into the year, just months before the 2003 academic year was to begin.

We urge you and your colleagues to reinstate the 5th year of eligibility for MAP grants. Students of all ages are dependent on our assistance. Working adults who need assistance beyond four years are an important and growing segment of the college population in Illinois.

The impact of the cuts to fifth-year students was particularly painful last year because the cuts were done on very short notice to the student. Below is recent survey data of MAP recipients accumulated by the IL Student Assistance Commission:

Racial breakdown of 2001-02 MAP eligible students (according to ISAC):



Fifth-year students are majoring in many of Illinois' worker "shortage" areas:



Resulting impact upon 5th year students who lost MAP grants in 2002:

• Over one-third (35 percent) of fifth-year MAP-eligible students had their progress toward a degree interrupted because of the elimination of their MAP awards.
  
  
• Already working an average of 28 hours per week, 59 percent of fifth-year MAP-eligible students who had their aid cut are working even more hours, in combination with increased borrowing.
  
  

FIFTH-YEAR STUDENTS ARE GREATLY MIS-PERCEIVED
Based simply on credit hours, there are a variety of reasons why a MAP recipient students can exceed four years of study, the most common factors in fifth year students are:

• Enrollment in a program that takes longer than 5 years (teaching, accounting, etc.).
  
  
• Lost credits when transferring (including "2+2" students who completed their first two years at a community college and then transferred to a four-year school).
  
  
• Missed pre-requisite courses as a result of changing majors.
  
  

Fifth Year MAP Qualifiers are Significantly Poorer and Need Help To Graduate

• Fifth year students are much poorer than those who graduated in four years are. The average family income of a fifth-year MAP eligible dependent student is, at $26,373; the average family income of a student who graduated in four years is $33,543.
  
  
• When compared to MAP recipients who graduated in four years, fifth-year students were more likely to be independent, more likely to have children, and more likely to attend a public university (67 percent vs. 55 percent) than a private institution.
  
  
• Fifth year students borrow $3,000 more than students who graduate in four years do. Average cumulative debt for these students is already over $12,000.