Although funding for Monetary Award Program grants are not guaranteed for the coming semesters, NIU will credit student accounts for the fall, Alan Phillips, vice president of administration and finance, said this month.

Fiscal Year 2017 began on July 1 and all states but Illinois have passed a FY 17 budget, Illinois only passing a six-month budget. Phillips said this month NIU believes the state will continue to fund MAP grants.

“I’m not concerned about [the state not funding MAP grants in the future] at this time,” Phillips. said. “The state has a pretty good track record of funding MAP.”

MAP grants are awarded to students in need of financial assistance by FAFSA. The grants have been fully funded by the state, and are awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Approximately 5,500 NIU students were awarded grants during the 2014-15 academic year, said Lynne Baker, managing director of communications for the Commission.

“We are hopeful that there will be full MAP funding for the 2016-17 school year,” NIU President Doug Baker said. “Certainly we have heard elected officials discuss how they do want to support MAP, but as of right now, there is no MAP funding.”

Last year, FAFSA forms opened for submission in January. This year, FAFSA forms can be submitted as early as Oct. 1 due to a procedural change made by the US Department of Education. Baker said students should fill out the forms as soon as possible because the grant is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Funding for spring 2016 MAP grants was not received until June 30, when state lawmakers passed the budget after a 12-month budget impasse.