My name is Darren Newenhouse. I am the Student Trustee for the 2009-2010 academic year. Since beginning my term last April, I have found the role to be a lot of hard work—and very rewarding.
It takes quite a bit of energy to represent students at JJC in a way that is effective and worthwhile. Before becoming Student Trustee, I had extensive experience organizing volunteer efforts and grassroots community outreach projects.
As Student Trustee, I have remained active in similar projects, but have taken on concerns that affect JJC students as well.
One of the most pressing issues that has come about during my term is the Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant crisis for the 2009-2010 academic year. MAP Grants are funded by the State of Illinois and distributed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
The MAP Grant is an important resource for students who require need-based financial aid. According to saveillinoismapgrants.org, a website launched by ISAC, "Nearly 270,000 eligible Illinois college students will receive either no Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant money or just half of what they are eligible to receive."
The current state budget has provided some of the funds for the Fall semester MAP Grant awards, but does not provide enough funding for ISAC to pay any MAP Grant awards for Spring 2010, regardless of eligibility.
Johnathan Wilson, a former Student Trustee of JJC, has been appointed by Governor Quinn to be the Student Commissioner, a student representative for the entire state of Illinois, on ISAC.
His recommendations for helping to save the MAP Grants are to write, email, call or visit your Illinois lawmakers in person; or make and sign petitions to show the importance of MAP Grants.
There is also a student rally for MAP Grants in Springfield on Oct. 15, where students can come together and voice their concerns, as well as lobby their legislators. ISAC’s website, www.saveillinoismapgrants.org, has more details on this and other efforts that can be made on behalf of funding MAP Grants.
The final veto sessions for restoring funding to the MAP Grants wrap up in October and are the last chance of maintaining the funding in the future. At JJC, nearly 2,000 students will be affected, having to find alternate funding for their classes.
Cuts in the MAP Grants may also cause students at 4-year universities to search for cheaper forms of education, and may cause an increase in enrollment at community colleges, including JJC.
If you have any questions or concerns about this, or anything else at JJC, you may contact me at dnewen01@jjc.edu. I have recently established office hours in the Student Government Office at JJC and information about that will posted around the JJC campuses.