Updates to faculty layoff plan and other stuff

[wiu712]

So how did the Board of Governors managed schools (Western, Eastern, etc.) move to self-governance? Did the state essentially say we no longer have the time and/or money to effectively manage you guys, or did the schools simply fight for their own autonomy?

That break-up and separation occurred in 1995 when Jim Edgar was governor.

Prior to that we had the UI Board, the Board of Governors, and the Board of Regents.

Western was part of the Board of Governors which oversaw 4 state universities. I know that Eastern was also in that group. Not sure about the other two.

And the Board of Regents oversaw Illinois State, Northern Illinois, and Sangamon State.

Pressure from the "regionals" for equality to the UI system led to the 1995 break-up. Illinois now has 9 separate Boards which oversee the 12 state universities. This has resulted in the state u's competing against each other for students and funding.

Perhaps Illinois could look at how things are run in North Carolina as example. The University of North Carolina has 17 campuses. Many have kept their original names: Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Eastern Carolina, etc.

[sealhall74]

A bipartisan budget-forecasting group says the state of Illinois owes at least $370M alone in interest on bills for state employee health care during the 18-month stalemate.

The state of New York is moving toward free tuition at all public colleges for in-state middle-class eligible students. It does come with a stipulation that grantees must remain in the state for a period of time after their grant period, otherwise their grants are converted to student loans. The estimated budgeted cost to the state of New York for the free tuition grants is $163M.

The state of New York has their ducks in a row. They have two state-managed public education systems (State University of New York System [SUNY] and City University of New York [CUNY]). Having a separate big city system like CUNY makes total sense because the demographics and needs are so different there. It also derives some of its funding from the city rather than getting it all from the state. Illinois has much in common with New York like a very big city on the edge of the water so maybe a similar system would work for them.

The costs associated with offering free tuition are usually recovered as better-educated people end up making more money and paying more in taxes but you have to keep them in the state to make that happen. We need a more focused education strategy for the jobs that will be in high demand during the next decade or two. IMO, those are mostly in the technology and health care sectors. Also IMO, one, possibly two or maybe even three current public universities will need to be jettisoned to get this ship moving forward again.

[wiu712]

IMO, one, possibly two, or maybe even three current public universities will need to be jettisoned to get this ship moving forward again.

There was a graph in Saturday's Chicago Tribune article showing that 6 of the 12 state universities have lost enrollment over the last 10 years:
Chicago State -49.1%
Eastern -40.0%
Northern -24.9%
SIU-Carbondale -23.9%
Western -23.7%
Northeastern -20.9%

The other 6 did show some growth over that same 10 year span:
Illinois State +2.5%
SIU-Edwardsville +5.2%
Governors State +8.1%
UIUC +9.7%
UIS +14.0%
UIC +18.2%

North Carolina, with a smaller population than Illinois, has 17 state universities under its UNC umbrella. Illinois has 12. So it may not be a question as to having too many state u's, but maybe they need to be organized in a more efficient manner. The 1995 breakup into 9 separate Boards may not have been a good idea.

[leatherface]

Wow, Eastern really has taken a hit. Sounds silly perhaps, but, I wonder why they are at -40% while the closest bunch is around -23.9% or so. Not surprised at SIUC numbers, or Western's. I am somewhat surprised at NIU's drop, our oldest son went there and loved it.

[Tere North]

IMO, one, possibly two, or maybe even three current public universities will need to be jettisoned to get this ship moving forward again.

There was a graph in Saturday's Chicago Tribune article showing that 6 of the 12 state universities have lost enrollment over the last 10 years:
Chicago State -49.1%
Eastern -40.0%
Northern -24.9%
SIU-Carbondale -23.9%
Western -23.7%
Northeastern -20.9%

The other 6 did show some growth over that same 10 year span:
Illinois State +2.5%
SIU-Edwardsville +5.2%
Governors State +8.1%
UIUC +9.7%
UIS +14.0%
UIC +18.2%

North Carolina, with a smaller population than Illinois, has 17 state universities under its UNC umbrella. Illinois has 12. So it may not be a question as to having too many state u's, but maybe they need to be organized in a more efficient manner. The 1995 breakup into 9 separate Boards may not have been a good idea.

If you closed SIU-C, make SIU-E a new UIE, you could have UIS control the SIU-medical school that is already in Springfield anyway, leaving the dental school with SIU-E where it already is, having a vet, both med, and a dental school all under the UoI umbrella.

Drop CSU along with the SIU-C campus would leave us with 10. Yes, southern have no state university campus, but they have really struggled and the medical school part is already in Springfield, which makes little sense given they don't have a SIU campus there.

Eastern I'd hope would improve, likewise with Northern and Southern. I'm torn about the north part of the state. Northeastern is struggling but Governor's State is growing, a result of them moving to a 4-year instead of upper division campus, the same thing that has gone nowhere for WIU-QC. Perhaps eliminating CSU would be enough to allow a revitalization of NEIU.

[wiu712]

Northeastern Illinois University is temporarily shutting down and furloughing employees for the second time in three weeks. This is due to the 22-month long state budget deadlock.

NEIU will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and again May 1. All services, including computer labs, the library, and the writing center, will be unavailable. Only some police officers and engineers will work as needed. All other employees and administrators are required to take unpaid days off when the campus is closed. In all, the shutdown affects about 10,000 students and 1,100 workers.

The NEIU interim president warned additional furloughs are likely if no state money arrives soon.

Northeastern officials previously announced that only classes would be canceled for those days, then expanded the closures to the entire campus and its satellites. Northeastern also halted operations March 20-24, the school's spring break, requiring staff furloughs for the entire week and keeping hundreds of student employees from work.

[Tere North]

Northeastern Illinois University is temporarily shutting down and furloughing employees for the second time in three weeks. .

And unlike at WIU last year, this includes faculty, same as NEIU did last year. And yes, their faculty are unionized, too.

[leatherface]

Looking at your recent posting, where would Western fit in that scenario of school makeup?

[wiu712]

House stopgap ‘not enough,’ say Western’s budget director and state Rep. Hammond.

Front page story in Saturday's McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/2017 ... ep-hammond

Heard today that Western is trying to decide if they will be able to stay open after May's graduation, or if they will have to close for the summer.

Not good news.

[Neckfansince71]

I am so sick and tired of this "dialogue" thread. WIU is caught in a financial mess that was created years ago. A power struggle that needs to be solved. I know the states budget issues need to be addressed aggressively, but our govenor and our legislature have not even taken any positive steps to getting the process going. jc