A stagnant economy and climbing tuition costs have forced the Illinois student grant program to halt new aid disbursements for the remainder of the academic year.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission has suspended future award announcements for the Monetary Award Program to avoid overcommitting its funds.

The Monetary Award Program provides grants, which do not need to be repaid, for undergraduate students who show financial need. The $375 million program is the third largest of its kind in the country.

According to a recent MAP status report, 89 percent of the 2001-2002 funds already have been allocated. The report cites a higher number of eligible applicants as well as a higher overall average of awards as reasons for the shortfall.

This does not affect students who already have award letters, said Lori Thull, director of state relations for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

“The economy really has sparked an increase in the number of students that applied for aid this year,” Thull said.

Some students are concerned that they may have to resort to other resources to help pay for their education.

“I’m afraid of taking out more loans because once I graduate, it’ll feel as though repaying them is all that I’ll be working for,” said Tiffany Harris, a sophomore education major.

Arthur Kutman, a sophomore business administration major, applied for aid over the summer and is still in the process of obtaining it.

“Last year I received a MAP grant. Right now I honestly don’t know if I’ll get anything … It’s horrible,” Kutman said.

Announcement of the cutoff comes as two new surveys released by the College Board, a non-profit organization widely known as the owner of the ACT, conclude that while tuition costs climb steadily each year, financial aid based on need is lagging behind.

According to the report, “Trends in College Pricing 2001,” college tuition and fees in 2001-2002 has increased an average of 7.7 percent at four-year public institutions. The other study, “Trends in Student Aid 2001,” indicated that a record $74 billion in aid was available for students, an increase of 7.1 percent from last year.

Yet over the past 25 years, federal student aid has switched from a grant-based system to a loan-based system. Government-backed loans comprise 58 percent of aid as compared to about 41 percent two decades ago.

The College Board is concerned that the current trend of merit-based aid is increasing, while need-based aid, such as grants, is decreasing, said Jennifer Topiel, associate director of Public Affairs.

Students like Zabrina Sanders, a sophomore biology major, are wary of the prospect of applying for more loans but also realize that there are few alternatives if less financial aid is available.

“If they keep raising tuition, it’s going to affect my studies because I would have to work two jobs,” Sanders said. “Everyone should have the opportunity to go to college.”