Updates to faculty layoff plan and other stuff

[Neckfansince71]

Leather face, thanks for the suggestion! My frustration is not in reading the thread, but the fact that WIU and other state institutions have been forced into a "political" corner along with all the current and future students who's enrollment depends on MAP grants and other state grants with no true solution in sight which means that this thread will be around at least till the end of November or longer. I read the article 712 suggested and for once was surprised to find SIU as the focal point of the article along with NEIU. Both Eastern and Western were not mentioned for a change. jc

[wiu712]

I read the article 712 suggested and for once was surprised to find SIU as the focal point of the article along with NEIU. Both Eastern and Western were not mentioned for a change.

That Chicago Tribune article from July 18 mentioned that enrollment at SIU this fall was looking to be lower than had been expected. A previous article indicated that the new freshman class at EIU might be 700.

When the state universities announce their 10-day fall enrollments in September, we will have a better idea as to how much damage has been caused by the state budget impasse.

[wiu712]

In a recent interview, Western Budget Director Matt Bierman said that Western was going to start operating as if it were a private university.

That point was not expanded. So I am not sure what exactly that means.

Does anyone have any idea as to what the implications would be for the university ????

[Neckfansince71]

So, I just want to let you know that I get it! I can only imagine how tough this state budget problem has been on Macomb and employees of WIU. Providing for you/and or your family is always a responsibility that demands one’s attention and when that comes in question, it just has got to be hard. I realize that WIU is (probably) the #1 employer in Macomb which means that Macomb’s success is directly related to WIU’s success. It took a while, but gradually, as a freshman I began to realize that there was more to WIU than just Thompson Hall. I had only one class on Thursday of my first year and I took the opportunity one afternoon to head to town. Low and behold, I ended up walking past a school where I looked in and saw students at their desks or taking a break on the playground, and I thought, “wow, this is just like Dundee”, the town that I had grown up in. I know you probably think from this observation that I was majoring in “rocket science” but it just happened to be one of those “aha” moments. So I am sure you know that my job at present is to look for more Leatherneck Club members, and I am happy to say that all the handshaking Thom and I have been doing along with the athletic department seems to be having a bit of a positive effect. But there are people in Macomb who could care less about the Leatherneck Club and are more interested in just surviving due to the states inability to pass a budget, on a day to day basis. As a fan board, we have rehashed once again the Hanson Field scoreboard and to tell you the truth, I really don’t mind. We continue to discuss the pictures taken of the new seats at Western Hall, which should say to everyone, WIU is here and going to be here for long long time! But it still does not fill the void or relieve the pressure some people are feeling due to the state legislature. And I know that many of you are waiting to see the west-side proposal! But you can bet that there will be some who say, “how can you be worried about that when I am just worried about putting food on the table.” I get it! The state’s ineffective ability to provide us all with a budget has put an unfair pressure on all the state universities in Illinois, even though some of them have kept the effects quiet, as if they don’t exist at all. I am glad our university has been as transparent at possible. There has been no “smoke and mirrors!” Isn’t it ironic that as WIU announces the call back of some employees, SIU is in the process of announcing that they are cutting theirs! I have attended the “football alumni” golf outing, the football golf outing, the Leatherneck Club golf outing in Macomb, the Alumni golf outing at the Links in Glen Ellyn, and helped organize the All Leatherneck golf outing held last Monday and have found a true enthusiasm for everything Leatherneck! Alumni and friends are truly excited and committed to the “purple and gold!” But I know that there are some homes in Macomb where that attitude does not necessarily exist. I get it! I truly get it! But despite the budgetary problems, WIU will survive! It’s truly time to get the football season started! It’s truly time to look to the future, despite the financial clouds that still hang around not only “Sherman Hall” but every state school in Illinois. Charlie Fisher has got to be directly related to the “Knute Rockne.” I have heard him speak 5 times and each time when he’s done, I just want to strap the pads on and go play ball! Enough said! jc

[ST_Lawson]

Well said.

Just wanted to add that while SIU appears to be facing lower new student enrollment than they had estimated considering the current climate, Western, at this point, looks like it will exceed initial estimates. Are things still bad...sure...are they as bad as many people make them out to be...nope. Also...just fyi...the marching band, who recently had numbered somewhere around 100-110 members...has had over 60 new students sign up to join this coming fall....which is pretty huge.

[wiu712]

From Tri-States Public Radio WIUM-FM:

Western to Re-call Some Laid Off Employees.
http://tspr.org/post/western-recall-som ... =#stream/0

Union Chief: Stop-Gap Funding Plan "Insufficient, Unacceptable".
http://tspr.org/post/union-chief-stop-g ... =#stream/0

[Tere North]

From Tri-States Public Radio WIUM-FM:

Union Chief: Stop-Gap Funding Plan "Insufficient, Unacceptable".
http://tspr.org/post/union-chief-stop-g ... =#stream/0

Interesting. Article says UPI covers NEIU, yet at NEIU, the faculty were part of the furlough program while at WIU they refused. Must not be an all-UPI issue, but rather a choice by WIU's UPI leadership that WIU's administrative leadership refused to challenge.

[wiu712]

Interesting. Article says UPI covers NEIU, yet at NEIU, the faculty were part of the furlough program while at WIU they refused. Must not be an all-UPI issue, but rather a choice by WIU's UPI leadership that WIU's administrative leadership refused to challenge.

Faculty at UIS have participated in a past furlough program.

[wiu712]

Total fall WIU enrollment projected to decline: International student enrollment expected to rise.

From today's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/2016 ... ed-to-rise

[Tere North]

Total fall WIU enrollment projected to decline: International student enrollment expected to rise.

From today's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/2016 ... ed-to-rise

And typically, something else is to blame, not the WIU leadership. This time, as expected, it's the fault of "the state budget crisis' impact on public higher education" and "the continuing trend of fewer students entering four-year institutions." The "crisis of confidence" is emphasized multiple times, and while new this and last year, just give them one more thing to blame like they have for several years with fewer available students.

Time will tell how other schools fare with these same two factors in comparison to WIU's continued, not 10+ year, enrollment decline.