Because of an increase in demand, the deadline to submit applications for the Illinois Monetary Award Program grant has been moved up to Monday.

Andrew Davis, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, issued a press release Monday announcing the new deadline.

“Given the current trends in eligible applications and the assumption of level funding, we are looking at a suspense date within a week,” Davis said in the release.

In an e-mail sent out to all students Wednesday, Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, informed students of the deadline change and encouraged them to submit MAP grant applications as soon as possible.

“It is my hope that being aware of this deadline will be of assistance to you and your families,” Nadler said in the e-mail.

The ISAC projects that 409,000 students are eligible for the MAP grant. Eligible students who apply before the deadline and receive a MAP grant are expected to total 189,000.

Eligible applications received after the suspense date will go unfunded.

The number of ineligible applications is expected to total approximately 220,000.

Davies said without additional funding this could be the first year ever that the ISAC has had to deny more students than it was able to serve.

“Given our current funding model, the state’s ability to fund the program is at its lowest point at precisely the time when the demand for student financial aid is at it’s highest,” Davis said.

The new deadline caught Eric Almendarez, a junior biology major, off guard. He said if he does not qualify for another grant he’ll have to take out more loans.

“It’s going to be really tough no matter what – even with the grant it would still be tough, Almendarez said. “Not to mention, I want to go to pharmacy school, which is another four years, so I’ll just be stockpiling more and more bills.”

Jason Hardimon can be reached at 581-7942

or jrhardimon@eiu.edu.