Those who have yet to receive their financial aid award letters will have cause to worry because new financial aid disbursements will be halted until the end of the academic year.

According to yesterday’s edition of the Northern Star, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission discontinued Monetary Award Program grants to prevent the overcommitting of funds after 89 percent of funds were distributed for the 2001-2002 academic year. A higher number of eligible applicants and an increase in the overall average of awards are said to be reasons, along with a slow economy and rising tuition costs.

MAP grants, which do not need to be repaid, are vital to many students who otherwise would be unable to attend a college or university because of a lack of sufficient funds. Those depending on MAP grants will be faced with the cumbersome task of garnering new methods to pay for school, especially those whose lives have been affected by rising unemployment numbers and a fluctuating economy.

Two new surveys released by the College Board conclude that while need-based college aid is becoming less available, tuition is increasing an average of 7.7 percent at four-year public institutions.

Jennifer Topiel, associate director of the College Board’s Public Affairs, worries that while merit-based awards are increasing, need-based awards in the form of grants are decreasing.

While tuition hikes are inevitable, it will become more and more difficult to allocate funds to those with the most need. During our generation, college became accessible to everyone, regardless of backgrounds or bank accounts. Now, college is a key to escape the clutches of a seemingly destitute economy.

The cessation of funds for the remainder of the school year will incur burdens upon those who have nowhere else to turn, thus having to either take out federal loans, private loans with high interest rates or dropping out of school.

It also will become even more discouraging in academic years to attend private or public academic institutions when all there is to look forward to is an endless amount of loans.