Illinois lawmakers approve $600-million-dollar fund fix
Story as seen on tonight's KHQA-TV-7 News:
http://khqa.com/news/local/illinois-law ... r-fund-fix
Updates to faculty layoff plan and other stuff
Emergency state funding keeps WIU operating
Story as seen on WGEM's Friday night News:
http://www.wgem.com/story/31797409/2016 ... -operating
A sigh of relief: Gov. Rauner expected to sign $600M stopgap bill for higher ed
Story from Saturday's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/2016 ... -higher-ed
Story as seen on WGEM's Friday night News:
http://www.wgem.com/story/31797409/2016 ... -operating
A sigh of relief: Gov. Rauner expected to sign $600M stopgap bill for higher ed
Story from Saturday's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/2016 ... -higher-ed
Rauner signs $600M university funding package approved last week.
From the Associated Press:
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation to keep major Illinois universities operating until fall.
The Republican signed the bill Monday after a debate over the temporary spending plan last week in the General Assembly.
The $600 million package includes $170 million for the Monetary Award Program, a needs-based grant that colleges had to dole out this past school year without state reimbursement.
Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature still have been unable to agree on a full-year plan for the budget year that began July 1.
The first-term governor released a statement Monday saying the law doesn't solve the budget crisis but is "a first step toward compromise."
But he reiterated his demand for business reforms and union-power curbs first.
From the Associated Press:
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation to keep major Illinois universities operating until fall.
The Republican signed the bill Monday after a debate over the temporary spending plan last week in the General Assembly.
The $600 million package includes $170 million for the Monetary Award Program, a needs-based grant that colleges had to dole out this past school year without state reimbursement.
Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature still have been unable to agree on a full-year plan for the budget year that began July 1.
The first-term governor released a statement Monday saying the law doesn't solve the budget crisis but is "a first step toward compromise."
But he reiterated his demand for business reforms and union-power curbs first.
Chicago State University lays off 300 workers, about one-third of its staff.
From the Associated Press:
Chicago State University laid off more than 300 employees, about a third of its workforce, after emergency state funding recently approved amid Illinois' ongoing budget stalemate proved too little to prevent the cuts.
Chicago State President Thomas Calhoun Jr. said the layoffs announced Friday spared faculty, but they are likely to be affected by later cuts. Friday's layoffs affected most areas from administrators and counselors to police and carpenters.
Calhoun called the layoffs "dreadful" but said they will save about 40 percent in payroll costs, about $2 million a month.
Lawmakers approved a $600 million short-term funding fix on April 22 for the state's colleges and universities. But Calhoun said the $20 million that went to Chicago State wasn't enough to prevent job cuts.
"It was less than what we needed and later than we needed it, as much as we appreciated getting it," he told the Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/1O34Mn6 ). "It really is a Band-Aid and not the solution."
Robert Bionaz, president of the school's faculty union that represents some of the laid-off academic service professionals, said the cuts are "a staggering number."
"It's profound that you talk about laying off half of your non-instructional staff. I just don't know who is going to do the work," he said.
Some of the school's emergency funding needs to go toward outstanding vendor bills.
The four-year university on Chicago's South Side that serves about 4,500 mostly minority and low-income students from the city has been the hardest hit in the state by the ongoing budget standoff.
The school's spring semester ended Thursday, two weeks early, to ensure that students could graduate before the money ran out.
Other schools have also cut staff this year, including Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, which eliminated 65 noninstructional positions.
Western Illinois University has cut 147 positions, including 30 faculty jobs, and about 500 employees are taking furlough days and pay cuts this spring.
Northern Illinois University has avoided layoffs but has left 116 jobs unfilled during this academic year.
From the Associated Press:
Chicago State University laid off more than 300 employees, about a third of its workforce, after emergency state funding recently approved amid Illinois' ongoing budget stalemate proved too little to prevent the cuts.
Chicago State President Thomas Calhoun Jr. said the layoffs announced Friday spared faculty, but they are likely to be affected by later cuts. Friday's layoffs affected most areas from administrators and counselors to police and carpenters.
Calhoun called the layoffs "dreadful" but said they will save about 40 percent in payroll costs, about $2 million a month.
Lawmakers approved a $600 million short-term funding fix on April 22 for the state's colleges and universities. But Calhoun said the $20 million that went to Chicago State wasn't enough to prevent job cuts.
"It was less than what we needed and later than we needed it, as much as we appreciated getting it," he told the Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/1O34Mn6 ). "It really is a Band-Aid and not the solution."
Robert Bionaz, president of the school's faculty union that represents some of the laid-off academic service professionals, said the cuts are "a staggering number."
"It's profound that you talk about laying off half of your non-instructional staff. I just don't know who is going to do the work," he said.
Some of the school's emergency funding needs to go toward outstanding vendor bills.
The four-year university on Chicago's South Side that serves about 4,500 mostly minority and low-income students from the city has been the hardest hit in the state by the ongoing budget standoff.
The school's spring semester ended Thursday, two weeks early, to ensure that students could graduate before the money ran out.
Other schools have also cut staff this year, including Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, which eliminated 65 noninstructional positions.
Western Illinois University has cut 147 positions, including 30 faculty jobs, and about 500 employees are taking furlough days and pay cuts this spring.
Northern Illinois University has avoided layoffs but has left 116 jobs unfilled during this academic year.
We are now into May. The spring session of the General Assembly ends on May 31. They will need to work on both the 2016 budget, which is now 10 months over-due, as well as the 2017 budget which will start on July 1.
Western has received 31% of its 2016 funding. Whether it will get the remaining 69% is an unknown.
The feud between Rauner and Madigan has taken a big toll on the state universities. It could take a generation to repair the damage.
The spring semester ended two weeks early at Chicago State. On Friday, they laid-off 300 employees. This is one-third of their total staff. And it is one-half of their non-faculty positions.
A recent news report mentioned that Eastern's enrollment for Fall 2016 could be down by 25%. This is because the current high school seniors are looking at out-of-state options due to the uncertainty of higher education in Illinois.
Western has received 31% of its 2016 funding. Whether it will get the remaining 69% is an unknown.
The feud between Rauner and Madigan has taken a big toll on the state universities. It could take a generation to repair the damage.
The spring semester ended two weeks early at Chicago State. On Friday, they laid-off 300 employees. This is one-third of their total staff. And it is one-half of their non-faculty positions.
A recent news report mentioned that Eastern's enrollment for Fall 2016 could be down by 25%. This is because the current high school seniors are looking at out-of-state options due to the uncertainty of higher education in Illinois.
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leatherface
- Posts: 423
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:42 pm
Looking out of state, or, to more stable schools within Illinois, even private schools that can offer financial aid packages that are attractive?
Also, what happened to the vote by faculty to accept the plan put forth by the school a few weeks ago???????? Now that Western got some money, are they trying to drag it out to see how much more comes in???
Also, what happened to the vote by faculty to accept the plan put forth by the school a few weeks ago???????? Now that Western got some money, are they trying to drag it out to see how much more comes in???
Interesting article about the need that Chicago State University serves.
For some, Chicago State University offers hope:
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160501/for-s ... ffers-hope
For some, Chicago State University offers hope:
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20160501/for-s ... ffers-hope
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Neckfansince71
- Posts: 1184
- Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:06 pm
There are special problems to deal with in the inner city, no matter where it is located! I have never been a big fan of Chicago State. The way they run their athletic venues is middle school like, and the up keep of their convocation center is atrocious, but they do supply people with a way out, no matter how long it takes. In retrospect, I don't think Rauner ever had visions of closing Chicago State down or any other state school. He just got caught up in a struggle with Madigan which go away both of them. The special funding bill gave them both a way out. Its time to really work on a budget that includes pension reform, taxes, government reform, and stream lining. Enough is enough! Here's hoping that a better WIU is the result despite this mess! 
jc
jc-
sealhall74
- Posts: 5985
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:18 pm
- Location: Wherever, Windblows
State should really consider turning Chicago State facilities, etc into a "University Center" like they have in Sioux Falls, SD, a place where students can pursue a degree from any of the state-supported public universities. Of course, there would be special pay and incentives for those teachers willing to get the job done in the inner city.
http://www.sduniversitycenter.org/
http://www.sduniversitycenter.org/
Embrace the pace of the race.
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Neckfansince71
- Posts: 1184
- Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:06 pm
An interesting suggestion. I wonder what the driving force was to accomplish this? What would the advantages be? Starting there and then finishing at another campus? jc
jc