Updates to faculty layoff plan and other stuff

General Campus News, Updates, Discussion
wiu712
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Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

Illinois Board of Higher Education approves $2.2 billion request for public universities.
From the Illinois News Network:
https://www.ilnews.org/news/schools/ill ... e5bfe.html
wiu712
Posts: 6864
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

WIU Faculty Wants Board of Trustees to Release Closed Session Minutes.
From Tri-States Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
http://www.tspr.org/post/wiu-faculty-wa ... on-minutes
wiu712
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Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

UPI Local 4100 petitions WIU trustees.
Headline story in today's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/2018 ... u-trustees
wiu712
Posts: 6864
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

Another Member Leaves WIU Board of Trustees.
From Tri-States Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
http://www.tspr.org/post/another-member ... d-trustees

Employees say they’re worried about more layoffs at WIU.
From tonight's WGEM News:
https://wgem.com/2018/12/12/employees-s ... fs-at-wiu/
wiu712
Posts: 6864
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

Planned staff reductions at WIU delayed.
From tonight's WGEM News:
https://wgem.com/2018/12/13/planned-sta ... u-delayed/

WIU postpones reduction decisions until after Gov-Elect Pritzker's Feb. budget address.
From KHQA-TV-7 News:
https://khqa.com/news/local/wiu-postpon ... et-address
wiu712
Posts: 6864
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

University postpones decisions on cuts.
Headline story in today's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/2018 ... ns-on-cuts
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Neckfansince71
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Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:06 pm

Well this about the most positive thing I have read about the administration, union, and faculty senate's relationship for a very long time. I hope the light of JBP removes the shadow of BruceR come February. ;) jc
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ST_Lawson
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Neckfansince71 wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:45 pm Well this about the most positive thing I have read about the administration, union, and faculty senate's relationship for a very long time. I hope the light of JBP removes the shadow of BruceR come February. ;) jc
Agreed. Still a lot of work to do, but this is a big step in the right direction.
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Neckerchief
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I hope the light of JBP removes the shadow of BruceR come February.
I don’t intend for this post to be political, but I’ve seen a lot of Rauner bashing here that I don’t think is justified. And note that I did NOT vote for Rauner in the last election. But let’s look at the facts.

According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers of Boulder, CO (sheeo.org), in 2017, the state of Illinois spent $16,055 per FTE (Full Time Equivalent) higher education student. That amount is higher than 48 other states. In fact, in 2017, the average amount spent by states on higher education was $7,642 per FTE. This is less than HALF of what was spent on higher education in Illinois.

Another fact: Enrollment in higher education in the U.S peaked in 2011 at 11,622,033. In 2017, that number had fallen by more than 600,000. And due to declining birth rates, these numbers will most likely continue to fall.

Further, students are realizing that piling up student loans only to get a job at Starbucks after graduation is not realistic. There are many high paying jobs available today without a college degree. These facts will lead to further declines in higher education enrollment.

The incoming governor has pledged to increase spending on higher education. This is unrealistic, in my view. Illinois is deeply in debt, and more importantly, the pension system is massively underfunded. According to Fitch Ratings, Illinois’ pension debt plus long-term debt is the highest in the nation.

So, the state of Illinois has a major problem: too much debt. Misplaced anger at the WIU Board of Trustees or WIU Administration will not solve this problem. Threatening to strike will not solve this problem. Threatening legal action will not solve this problem. Signing a petition will not solve this problem. The only solution is to spend less money and begin to pay down the debt.

Universities in Illinois are the canary in the coal mine. Illinois is broke. Something that can’t go on forever WON’T. Welcome to the new normal.
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Neckfansince71
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So give us your forecast for the future Neckercheif! Where is WIU heading in your opinion? ;) jc
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