Right now the Illinois General Assembly is discussing the budget for the 2021 fiscal year. While the COVID-19 pandemic is a huge economic challenge, we need to make sure that funding for higher education is not shortchanged given its important role in educating our future workforce and creating financial stability in communities across the state. This investment is particularly important for students from low-income families, students of color, and adult students who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

We need to urge legislators to adequately and equitably invest in higher education by:

1. Increasing our investment in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to provide crucial financial aid to support low-income Illinois students in their pursuit of a college education.
   
   
2. Establishing emergency funds to college students so that unexpected costs in the midst of students’ degree programs do not derail their academic progress.
   
   
3. Ensuring campuses are equipped to offer mental health tele-services and funding the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act to help students manage the multiple stressors that may be exacerbated by COVID-19 and make it difficult to persist in their education.

Please take a minute to ask your Illinois legislators to ensure college students receive the support they need to access, persist in, and complete college not just in this COVID-19 moment but in the years to come.