The Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges & Universities

Cubs win! Cubs win! Way to go, MVP Ben Zobrist! We love you!

Long before he was the MVP in the 2016 World Series, Chicago Cub and former Olivet Tiger Ben Zobrist thought his baseball career would end after high school. Then, Olivet Nazarene University came calling...Read the rest of the story here: http://bit.ly/2eZz3vI

Private college tuition rates have increased by their lowest amount in 40 years.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/news/15586848-418/private-colleges-hike-tuition-lowest-amount-in-40-years.html

Private colleges hike tuition lowest amount in 40 years - Joliet Herald News Here’s the bad news: Tuition at 445 of the nation’s private colleges and universities increased on average about 4 percent this year compared with last year’s tuition. The slightly better news: That’s the lowest annual increase in at least 40 years, according to just-released figures

Federation President David Tretter addresses the MAP Grant Improvement Task Force, 8-30-12 Chicago.

Bill signing of HB 4757, an amendment to the Dormitory Fire Sprinkler Act

Yesterday while at an event promoting religious tolerance and cultural understanding, Governor Quinn signed SB 2949, a bill supported by The Federation, which protects student rights if they are unable to attend class due to a religious observance.

The bill also requires students to provide prior notice of conflicts to instructors.

Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - Search the News Results Illinois.gov - the Illinois Government News Network is your online source for State of Illinois government news, press releases, audio clips and soundbites, press contacts, and more.

"Today, the jobless rate for recent graduates has dropped to 6.8 percent, but the unemployment rate for recent high school graduates with no college is 24 percent, in large part because the economy lost so many jobs in manufacturing, construction and other blue-collar occupations."

Study: College Degree Holds Its Value : NPR A new study shows college graduates have fared much better in the economic recovery than those without a degree. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce reports that nearly all of the jobs recovered since the economic downturn have required a post-secondary degree. And despit...

Sen. Harkin's report on for-profit colleges highlights some very bad practices by some of the worst performing institutions.

Sen. Harkin's Report: For-Profit Colleges Leave Students With Debt but No Degree Investors are realizing that the reckless joy ride may be over soon. Most importantly, students are getting the message that they need to look elsewhere for educational opportunities.

Interesting chart showing state spending on financial aid programs:

How States Spent Student Aid During the Downturn - Facts & Figures - The Chronicle of Higher Educati As family incomes dropped and tuition rose during the recession, most states spent more money on financial aid for students at public colleges. Some states, however, dedicated a greater share of grants to private and for-profit colleges, according to a new report. Related Article

For profit colleges association president says "time for us to stop relying on federal funding."

Budget cuts will drive federal policy on for-profits, Gunderson says | Inside Higher Ed LAS VEGAS – Federal budget woes will dominate the ongoing policy debate over for-profit colleges, said Steven Gunderson, president of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, the industry's primary trade group. And as a result, he said, for-profit institutions should reduce their...

A great op/ed from Lt. Governor Sheila Simon:

"And for every student who received partial assistance from MAP this year, another qualified applicant was denied. We just didn’t have enough grant dollars to go around. We need those college credentials now more than ever before,"

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon: State needs long-term investment in students - Chicago Sun-Times Our state budget is a headache. And a heartache. But we need to address these aches — and a temporary Band-Aid won’t be enough. Backlogged Medicaid bills and ballooning pension obligations are putting a squeeze on our state budget. Without major changes, health care for

Student aid funding is at risk in Illinois. Please get involved, speak up and ask legislators to protect access to higher education for students of need.

To email your legislators in 30 seconds, just click on the Federation's CapWiz advocacy page to email your State Representatives and Senators to ask them to protect MAP funding.

http://capwiz.com/naicu/il/home/

The Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities -- NAICU Action Center Please click "Take Action" below, enter your zip code click "go" and use the sample talking points - along with your own thoughts - to compose a short email to your legislators and ask them to protect MAP funding from further cuts this year. Last year they cut the Monetary Award Program by $17 mill...