WIU Layoffs

[wiu712]

Library Faculty Eliminated Amid ‘Fiscal Insanity’ at Western Illinois.
From Inside Higher Ed:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/bus ... university



Western Illinois University continues to struggle financially amid layoffs.


 
 

[wiu712]

Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe, a professor and coordinator for research and professional development at the library at the University of Illinois’s flagship campus in Urbana-Champaign, said that WIU’s claim that it will be able to continue offering the same level of library services after the layoffs go into effect is “specious.”

“I am not aware of any institution of equivalent size and programmatic offerings that have that staffing structure,” said Hinchliffe, who is also a past president of ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries). “It’s not like nine [full-time-equivalent positions] worth of work is going away, and presumably all of the staff who work at the library full-time right now have jobs they need to get done. So regardless of the staffing model, there’s no way this doesn’t reduce service to the campus.”
 
 
 

[wiu712]

A breakdown of the WIU layoffs by department.
From Tri-State Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local-news/20 ... department
 
 

[sealhall74]

Dumb question but I will ask it anyway.  Is not there much intrinsic overlap in a college Communications program and a Broadcast/Journalism program.  I could argue that a good understanding of the former is simply a prerequisite for the latter.  Maybe combine the two departments to save a few bucks.  After that, I would find a couple of warm bodies to administer the student newspaper problem we seem to have.  The Courier is now part of the Proxy online but I see little activity going on for the last year or longer.  The sports stories are mostly national level professional stuff.  My two cents is the student newspaper is the heartbeat of a college or university.  Of course, I went to college in the 70s and would anxiously wait in the Seal Hall lounge for the afternoon delivery of the hardcopy Courier, 3 times a week no less.  Honestly, a kid picks a college for lots of reasons these days.  But when you narrow things down to 2 or 3 schools, I would be checking out the Student Newspapers.  Inside, you find out just how much passion there is in the student body and faculty for that college.
 
 

[rocki]

Dumb question but I will ask it anyway.  Is not there much intrinsic overlap in a college Communications program and a Broadcast/Journalism program.  I could argue that a good understanding of the former is simply a prerequisite for the latter.  Maybe combine the two departments to save a few bucks.  After that, I would find a couple of warm bodies to administer the student newspaper problem we seem to have.  The Courier is now part of the Proxy online but I see little activity going on for the last year or longer.  The sports stories are mostly national level professional stuff.  My two cents is the student newspaper is the heartbeat of a college or university.  Of course, I went to college in the 70s and would anxiously wait in the Seal Hall lounge for the afternoon delivery of the hardcopy Courier, 3 times a week no less.  Honestly, a kid picks a college for lots of reasons these days.  But when you narrow things down to 2 or 3 schools, I would be checking out the Student Newspapers.  Inside, you find out just how much passion there is in the student body and faculty for that college.
 
 

 

Personally, I agree, but I am old and am constantly being told that stuff like that isn't important anymore. It's getting to the point where I am starting to think "why are people even going to college if they just want to sit in their rooms and play on their phones/computers/tablets/etc. and not have the experiences we all remember"?

[wiu712]

As Illinois college enrollment numbers decline, budget deficits pop up.
From "The Center Square:  Illinois"
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinoi ... 24ffe.html
 
 

[wiu712]

WIU Faculty Senate takes no action on request for referendum of no confidence in interim provost, president.
From WGEM-TV News:
https://www.wgem.com/2024/09/11/wiu-fac ... president/
 
 

[wiu712]

WIU enrollment tops projections, but down from a year ago.
From Tri-States Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local-news/20 ... a-year-ago
 

[wiu712]

WIU Board of Trustees Meeting: 09/27/2024


 
 

[wiu712]

WIU budget remains ‘a work in progress’.
From Tri-States Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local-news/20 ... n-progress