NIU Today

NIU President Doug Baker sent this message today to members of the university community. In the closing hours of the fiscal year, we received some very positive news to report. The governor signed into law a bill that provides higher education with badly needed financial support. For NIU it includes: $48.3 million in operating funds...

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is suspending the announcement of 2016-17 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for applicants (except dislocated workers*) whose initial 2016-17 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the Central Processing System on or after Thursday, March 10. MAP awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis for...

Students who are eligible for Illinois MAP grants must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) within the next few weeks to lock in their eligibility for next school year before funding runs out. The 2016-17 FAFSA opened Jan. 1, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission began receiving FAFSA results Jan. 2 for...

Gov. Pat Quinn was on the Northern Illinois University campus Thursday, promoting a plan to double funding for the state’s Monetary Award Program, which provides college tuition grants to students in need. “If we don’t invest in these young men and women, we lose out. It’s an investment that pays off for a lifetime,” said...

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will visit NIU at noon today to discuss his plan to make higher education more affordable and accessible by doubling the state’s investment in the Monetary Assistance Program (MAP) over the next five years. Quinn will hold a news conference at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center, 231 N. Annie Glidden...

Attention NIU students: now is the time to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students depending on Illinois’ Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant to help pay for college will need to complete and submit their FAFSA before 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, to be considered for the award during the 2014-15 school...

NIU’s Student Association will welcome several Republicans from the Illinois House of Representatives to campus Wednesday morning. The GOP state lawmakers will conduct a news conference at 10 a.m. in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center to promote a package of bills that aim to provide college affordability options. Legislators include Reps. Bob...

In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly has been busy with committee activities over the last two weeks. This week is the last week to get bills through committees in their house of origin. Higher Education-Related Legislation In the Senate Higher Education Committee, SB 2163 passed unanimously out of committee Tuesday, March 12. Sponsored by Sen....

In an effort to keep you informed about what occurred during the spring legislative session in Springfield, we thought that it would be helpful to focus on some key areas and give you more context in terms of what happened. Our first area of focus is the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The Illinois General Assembly...

Latino Parent University, a joint early-outreach effort launched this spring between the Latino Resource Center and East Aurora School District 131, held a reception last weekend. Understanding the importance of working with families in the community, Latino Resource Center Director Emily Prieto collaborated with Sheila Conrad, principal at East Aurora High School, to coordinate the...

In Springfield … With only three weeks left before the scheduled May 31 adjournment of the Illinois General Assembly, there are three major issues still unresolved: the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, pension stabilization and Medicaid reform. FY2013 Budget The House Higher Education Appropriations Committee has been meeting frequently over the past several weeks to determine how...

In Springfield … The majority of activity in both the Illinois Senate and Illinois House of Representatives last week and again this week will involve trying to move substantive bills through committees The deadline to get bills out of committee is Friday, May 4. House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 49 (HJRCA 49), sponsored by Speaker...