Some local students and community leaders are urging Illinois lawmakers to pass a state budget for higher education. Tomorrow, they'll make presentations at Western Illinois University's Quad Cities and Macomb campuses on how the budget impasse is affecting them.
It's been 8 months since WIU received any money from the state, and Darcie Shinberger, director of university relations, says it's affecting MAP grants, scholarships for low-income students.
Shinberger says the impasse could also affect college programs and staff, and the local economy.
The people presenting tomorrow represent a statewide advocacy group, the Illinois Coalition to Invest in Higher Education.
The presentations will be held at 10 am at Western's Macomb campus, and at 3 pm at the Quad Cities campus in Moline.