May 18, 2023
Media Contact: Blanca Jara, Chief of Staff Blanca@partnershipfcc.org
The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) celebrates the passage of HB2898, chief sponsored by Representative Maurice West II and Senator Celina Villanueva, which creates the MAP Refund Fund. If signed by Governor Pritzker, it would require for-profit colleges with a final judgment or determination against them for operating with unfair or deceptive practices to reimburse the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) for the MAP funding they received during the period of their deceptive practices.
Over the last 15 years, Illinois has funneled more than $255 million of Monetary Award Program (MAP) funding from taxpayers to these colleges. Four of the ten for-profit institutions that received MAP in 2017 have since closed, often leaving their students with unmanageable debt and limited options to complete their college degrees.
PCC has long been fighting to hold for-profit colleges accountable and is proud to have introduced and passed this bill during the legislative session to protect students from these deceptive practices.
“We are grateful for the leadership of Representative West and Senator Villanueva in helping pass this legislation that we know will hold for-profit colleges and universities accountable for their deceptive practices,” Director of Policy and Advocacy Christian Perry said. “HB2898 is essential to protecting students across Illinois, and we look forward to Governor Pritzker signing it into law.”
The bill now heads to Governor Pritzker’s desk to await his signature.
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About the Partnership for College Completion
The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) champions policies, practices, and systems that increase college completion and eliminate degree completion disparities for low-income, first-generation, and students of color in Illinois – particularly Black and Latinx students