College and university presidents support Governor Pat Quinn's plan to offer more grants to low-income students.
Quinn on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting at the executive mansion with university and community college presidents including SIU President Glenn Poshard.
The governor is trying to shore up support for his State of the State pledge to increase funding for the Monetary Assistance Program, which awards grants to students whose parents earn on average no more than $35,000 a year.
Poshard said after the meeting that Quinn's proposal will help keep thousands of students enrolled in a college or university. Nearly 1,600 of SIU-Carbondale's students are eligible for MAP grants.
The governor's office says Quinn will announce more specifics about his plans for MAP funding during his budget address on February 22nd.
