Updates to faculty layoff plan and other stuff

[WIU0812]

Not sure I could actually stay awake listening to a senate debate. I would rather read about it right after especially right now. They will want to send another irrelevant budget to the governor which will then get vetoed and process will start all over.

[sealhall74]

Enough evidentiary testimony. Time to roll up the sleeves and get some work done.

[WIU0812]

So what is your breakdown of what they said today if anyone actually listened to meeting.

[sealhall74]

So what is your breakdown of what they said today if anyone actually listened to meeting.

One senator was hung up on procurement reform. That is a nice thing, but you ain't fixing this problem with it alone. I heard all 3 presidents speak and did not hear anything earth shattering that we did not already know.

[rocki]

One question. If the Senate Democrats had already left for their break, what was this other than posturing? I think they're kind of preaching to the choir already.....

[ST_Lawson]

So what is your breakdown of what they said today if anyone actually listened to meeting.

I listened to it. I saw the last half of the SIU president, all of EIU and all of Western's. Mostly just stressing how bad things are getting "on the ground". Sounds like most of the committee members are sympathetic to it, but obviously whatever plan gets put together has to be acceptable to both sides...and unless someone gives somewhat (or both sides give somewhat)...that's not going to happen (that's just my own opinion, not something that was said in the meeting).

Like Seal said, kept asking about procurement reform and how much it would save...pretty much everyone was saying less than $1 million...like, significantly less. It's pretty "small potatoes" in the grand scheme of things. Doesn't mean it can't be addressed, but it's not going to make or break a university at this point.

From what I read about the whole "democrats going home for break" thing. The governor could have called a special session, but that would have cost the state more money and considering where everything is right now, wouldn't really have accomplished anything. Maybe another bill proposed and then shot down by either Senate republicans or the governor.

[WIU0812]

So this basically got us no where from what I can see. I am sure they were already well aware of how bad it had gotten and coming down in person really did not do much more for anyone other than just continue to confirm what we already know which is that we are up shit creek without a paddle.

[ST_Lawson]

So this basically got us no where from what I can see. I am sure they were already well aware of how bad it had gotten and coming down in person really did not do much more for anyone other than just continue to confirm what we already know which is that we are up shit creek without a paddle.

Pretty much, yea. They answered a few questions about stuff for the committee, but no real progress.

[wiu712]

Here's the news story about the university presidents' appearance at the Senate Appropriations Committee:

Illinois universities worry about future without budget
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160310/illin ... t/?Start=1

[wiu712]

Bruce Rauner's campaign slogan in 2014 was "Shake up Springfield". We are now starting to see what that means.

SIU med school cuts for fiscal 2017 would be 'unprecedented,' dean says
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160310/siu-m ... s/?Start=1