On Friday, Illinois lawmakers approved 600-million dollars in short-term aid for state colleges and universities. Governor Bruce Rauner is expected to sign the measure, which includes nearly $170 million for Monetary Assistance Program grants to low-income students. Many schools, including Augustana College, have been internally reallocating funds to cover for the missing grant money. Illinois Public Radio’s Jay Pearce caught up over the weekend with Sean Crawford, host of State Week in Review to find out more about what this action does and doesn’t mean.
State Week in Review” host Sean Crawford, who is also news director at Illinois Public Radio member station WUIS in Springfield. There is no indication when Governor Rauner might sign the bill but State Comptroller Leslie Munger indicated she won’t wait for a signature...and would begin processing payments for schools immediately.