Southern Illinois wants funding restored for veteran tuition

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Southern Illinois University officials hope the new governor will fund a decades-old state commitment to educate veterans that has been passed off on universities in recent years.

The Illinois Veterans Grant, created in 1967, pays for all Illinois veterans’ tuition and required fees at its public colleges, community colleges and universities if they return to the state after completing their service.

The Southern Illinoisan reports that SIU officials are worried about funding primarily because more veterans attend the Carbondale school through the program than any other college in Illinois. And the state hasn’t reimbursed any colleges under the program since 2012.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has advocated for increases to university subsidies and additional Illinois Monetary Award Program grants for students with financial needs.

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