Ness Sponsors Legislation to Expand Opportunities for Students at Community Colleges

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To increase access to affordable higher education, state Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Crystal Lake, is sponsoring legislation to expand eligibility for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to students enrolled in certificate programs at public community colleges.

“Higher education is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so MAP grants should apply to other forms of higher education, like certificate programs,” said Ness. “Access to additional funding can give students more opportunities to pursue technical education and other essential jobs.”

Ness is committed to expanding high education opportunities, especially for technical and career education. There are many high-wage, high-quality jobs that exist for those in technical career paths. As costs for higher education continue to grow, the MAP grant provides opportunities for Illinois students to ease the financial burden. If passed, this legislation would expand eligibility to use MAP funds on 856 certificate programs across the state.

“Pursuing a certificate deserves equal opportunity for funding opportunities as any other educational degree,” continued Ness. “To ensure that the next generation of workers can obtain high-wage and stable job opportunities, we need to first ensure that they can afford these programs.”