Higher Education Coalition Kicks Off Statewide Push for State Funding
Group Unites to Urge Lawmakers, Governor to Solve Months-Long Funding Stalemate
SPRINGFIELD – The time is now for legislators and the governor to find a solution for the stalemate over higher education funding as colleges and universities face a growing crisis heading into its seventh month, a new coalition announced on Wednesday.
The Illinois Coalition to Invest in Higher Education hosted a news conference at the Statehouse to outline what’s at stake in the ongoing funding stalemate and how that is affecting and will affect campuses around the state.
The Coalition is a collection of business, labor, and organizations representing public and private colleges and universities coming together to urge immediate action. Illinois universities and colleges have gone without hundreds of millions of dollars in MAP grants and operational funding since July, and aid has not been included in relief packages approved by legislators and the governor since the summer while they have not reached agreement on a full-year budget.
Coalition members discussed a number of problems facing Illinois campuses from the ongoing lack of funding and uncertainty about when funding will be approved, including:
· Students being unable to graduate or continue classes because their Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants that let them afford college are held up
· Prospective students – in and outside Illinois – choosing out-of-state colleges because of the funding uncertainty here
· Classes and programs being closed or suspended until funding is restored
· Employees being laid off
· Cuts creating long-term consequences for campuses – losing students and faculty/staff talent to other competitors, and projects being delayed that will cost more to complete later
The Coalition delivered a clear message: higher education cannot afford more funding delays from Springfield.
“The ongoing higher education funding crisis in Illinois is a real threat to our state because its impact is much deeper than the classrooms and productive people who fill them,” said Chris Harbourt, co-founder and CEO of Agrible, located in the University of Illinois Research Park in Champaign. “Agrible and scores of other innovative businesses like ours work to make our customers more efficient, productive and successful. Draining resources from our campuses does exactly the opposite.
“It not only hurts the thousands of students, faculty and workers on campus, but also it sends the message to business that the higher education system you depend on for your talent and support is not a priority here. We urge a quick resolution so we can refocus on creating a more dynamic, competitive workforce and business environment in Illinois.”
Tom Livingston, a University of Illinois alum and an official with CSX in the rail industry, notes business and higher ed need to work with legislators and the governor to stabilize this funding question.
“Successful states have formed strong economic and academic partnerships with their colleges and universities,” Livingston said. “Consistent investments in Illinois higher education over the decades have attracted businesses and life-changing innovation to the direct benefit of our fellow citizens.”
- Liberty - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
The unforgiven sin regardless of party is to criticize sports.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
I don’t know this for sure, but…athletic funds and public funds sometimes are held separately. The scoreboard may have been erected from donations.
- anon. - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
Higher Ed does need predictable funding, not necessarily more funding. The universities also must understand that with funding comes oversight and accountability. The state universities are NOT independent kingdoms.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
Illinois State University assistant athletic director of facilities: “The increased flexibility for our corporate sponsors allows us the potential for expanded relationships with new and existing partners.”
Does ISU offer a degree in Business Jabber?
– MrJM
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
Just a question. How much money does the U of I athletic dept role back into its general fund each year?
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:51 pm:
Dearest Kyle Hillman:
What else do they have to brag on & attempt to entice students to be there?
The State funding they aren’t getting? The MAP grants they aren’t going to be able to provide? A guarantee that they’ll be in business for the spring term? That they’ll for sure be in business for the fall term? Suspect the billboard was in progress long before raunner start screwing up higher ed in IL.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:52 pm:
Don’t let facts get in the way….
“The $950,000 authorized for the project comes from corporate sponsorships.”
https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2015/07/board-of-trustees-approves-redbird-arena-scoreboard-project/
- sparky791 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
I would be willing to bet jumbotron has not been paid for by taxpayer money.
- David Ormsby - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
Another drive-by tweet.
Uh,the new LED system will be used to help promote “corporate sponsors” (e.g. entities forking over cash” and lead to “low power consumption,” according to the school’s press release.
By all means, let’s criticize a new investment that will bring the school more money at less cost.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:56 pm:
More…
“Lyons explained the $950,000 system is funded with private money.
…
Lyons expected to not have to replace the video system again for at least a decade.”
http://www.wjbc.com/2015/12/25/isu-unveils-new-video-board-in-redbird-arena/
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 12:58 pm:
Does ISU athletic dept role any excess cash back into its general fund?
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
The institutional version of a broke dude with a 70″ flat screen in the living room and a bunch of hungry kids running around
I know, I know, corporate sponsorship, blah blah blah
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
MrJM- The ISU College of Business:
http://business.illinoisstate.edu/about/facilities/
“The College of Business at Illinois State University is proudly located in the State Farm® Hall of Business, a 21st century version of the Oxford College model. The building’s four stories wrap around an open-air courtyard, elegantly blending a small college campus environment with a corporate presence and state-of-the-art technologies. The 118,000 square foot State Farm® Hall of Business opened in 2005, and receives constant technological upgrades.”
***
Similar to their “investment” at UIUC:) The “corporatization” of the university system. Shouldn’t Rauner be proud? /s
- Jeff Trigg - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:09 pm:
“How much money does the U of I athletic dept role back into its general fund each year?”
negative $4 million. U of I spends $4 million more on sports than it takes in. A good question that should be asked about ALL of the state schools. For example, I bet the Chicago State basketball team is spending more on travel than ISU did on this video board. College sports rarely bring in enough revenues to cover their costs, except for a very few top programs in the country. The myth that college sports, especially football, brings in more money than they spend needs to end.
http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:09 pm:
It may come from a different source of revenue. It may help corporate partners in advertising their goods and services. But crying foul while spending just under a $1M for a new scoreboard to replace an adequate and operable one is just bad PR. Sorry folks but the public sees this spending and thinks the public sector has their priorities backwards.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
Who properly uses - and understands how to properly use - Twitter?! People such as Adam Schefter, Ken Rosenthal and Charles Thomas. Who needs to learn how to properly use Twitter?! Those who think Twitter is a great place for drive-by comments, jokes and items that are easily taken out of context.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:10 pm:
As my almost-alma mater, I love ISU. I realize the funds were from a different source, but the timing could have been better. Working in higher education, though, I know how often the bureaucracy makes coordination difficult.
They should have highlighted the corporate partners in the tweet.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
It looks like HyVee made a big donation towards
the new ISU scoreboards.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
I still miss Horton Field House - Rickie Johnson was awesome in 1984/5
- Kyle Hillman - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:21 pm:
Ha! This was actually a snarky comment 3 days ago in response to Rep. Ron Sandack’s original retweet of ISU’s promotional tweet.
I was more ribbing Sandack.
However I still stand by the original snark. Regardless of who paid for it get your communication’s teams together. It looks bad.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
“Those who think Twitter is a great place for drive-by comments, jokes and items that are easily taken out of context.”
#GetOffMyLawn
– MrJM
- Kyle Hillman - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:24 pm:
Also before anyone posts it. I used the wrong your… It should have been you’re. Quick typing got me again.
- Jeff Trigg - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:31 pm:
Other state schools and how much more they spend on sports than the revenues the sports generate. The amounts below come from tuition or state aid toward college sports.
NIU - $18.3 million
SIU - $13.6 million
ISU - $15.1 million
UIC - $12.4 million
EIU - $9.5 million
WIU - $9.1 million
SIU/E - $6.7 million
“Note: Chicago State did not respond to an open-records request for its financial report to the NCAA.”
- South of Sherman - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Well, Kyle beat me to it, but not before he also posted: “get your communication’s teams together”
Before one goes about snarking on higher education, one might work on one’s proficiency with the ubiquitous apostrophe.
- Kyle Hillman - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
Ha! The snark will continue, but YOUR grammar point is noted.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
I’m not defending the new ‘tron, or how it was financed, but I do hate half-posts of information. And, in full disclosure, I voted against the building of Redbird Arena when I was a student at ISU. Memory’s a bit shaky on the fees per semester, but I seem to remember about $50. But, whatever the cost, it was student financed. A lot of money back then. Would have bought at least a textbook:)
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
221 - good point on that. I tried pushing back against building a basketball gym at UIS when I was a student there. It was going to (I believe) almost double the cost of what was eventually the TRAC facility. The administration decided to move forward with it, and it was (and is and will be) a massive boondoggle - especially with the PCCC downtown.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:54 pm:
Same as it ever was in Illinois. We’re broke, but we’re not.
- Anon - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:54 pm:
While paid for with private dollars, tone deaf to the environment. For instance, in Chicago where you are competing with professional sports teams—
UIC Flames ramp up ad spend for basketball season - http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20151130/BLOGS04/151139996/uic-flames-ramp-up-ad-spend-for-basketball-season
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
“Before one goes about snarking on higher education, one might work on one’s proficiency with the ubiquitous apostrophe.”
One might also work on abstaining from ad hominem arguments based on mere typos.
– MrJM
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
===abstaining from ad hominem arguments based on mere typos===
+1
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 1:58 pm:
–Regardless of who paid for it get your communication’s teams together. It looks bad.–
Is that a variant on “perception is reality?”
In my experience, I think most people can handle the major brain-twister of distinguishing between a privately funded gadget and state support for universities.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
Cuts should start with the Illini hoops team. That abomination Groce put on the court last night proves he is overpaid no matter the funding source.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
Yeah, yeah, corporate sponsorships.
Anyone out rustling up corp dollars to subsidize the MAP kids education?
Anyone? Hello?
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
Trigg, start over. Go back to the USA Today chart and click the red “Illinois” in the left column. That will give you an expanded list of revenues by source which indicates “school support” as $836,000, not $4 million.
Did you do some cipherin’ for the Governor recently?
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
Why are we talking about sports instead of MAP Grants? Map Grants and Sports is like comparing apples to oranges.
- Jeff Trigg - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
Arthur Anderson - You may want to look again, specifically to the left of school funds, at student fees (tuition) which are $3+ million. $3 million plus $836,000 is close enough to $4 million for me.
Nope, Rauner can bite me.
- CapnCrunch - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 4:22 pm:
“student fees (tuition) which are $3+ million. $3 million plus $836,000 is close enough to $4 million for me.”
Jeff, the only institutional money involved is the $836,000($1.4 million last year). The $3 million comes from the pockets of students($25/semester) who voted to help pay off the bonds for the State Farm Center. The UI collects it from the students and hands it to the DIA. It was never going to be available for institutional use and therefore it is unfair to count it as institutional support.
- Jeff Trigg - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 4:34 pm:
CapnCrunch, sports at U of I needs $4 million a year from the state and from students/parents in addition to the revenues they generate. They do not bring in more than they spend. Its simple math. You can’t move that goalpost around. And the U of I is lucky, because they generate a lot more revenue than NIU, ISU, etc…
- History Prof - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 5:53 pm:
“The universities also must understand that with funding comes oversight and accountability.”
Anon, it is all a matter of public record. And the IHBE exercises considerable oversight. What’s your beef?
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 6:22 pm:
Sports has changed much since my playing days. The pay for professional athletes has exploded. When I graduated my teammates who played pro football made just a little more than I did as an accountant. Now they would make millions. It changes the dynamics.
Also, sports sells the school and generates millions in alumni contributions. Factor that into the cost-benefit analysis. U of I must come out ahead. Not so sure about some of the other schools.
Also note that Title IX moves a lot of money into non-revenue women’s sports. Do we want to keep these sports?
- blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 6:52 pm:
Just wondering how much Japan and Europe.spend on collegiate sports.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 7:18 pm:
Jeff, please pay attention here. Student fees collected for the exclusive use of the DIA at the UI or any other Uni are not funding additional spending. They are routinely used to fund facilities, as they are a stable revenue source for the Uni revenue bonds used to fund construction. I called the DIA earlier today to find out what the deal is with the rest of the money, and I’m told it’s not a subsidy but basically transfer payments between the UI and the DIA for shared services, reimbursements, and the like.
- A modest proposal - Wednesday, Jan 20, 16 @ 7:55 pm:
Larry Dietz really needs to rethink his university’s PR campaign…
- Jeff Trigg - Thursday, Jan 21, 16 @ 6:29 am:
Arthur Anderson - Its $3 million going from the students to the sports program. That’s the revenue side of the balance sheet. Spin the expenditure side all you want (”transfer payments between the UI and the DIA for shared services, reimbursements, and the like”) but that money comes from the students as part of their cost to go to school there.
The vast majority of state schools in the country are in the same boat. For good or bad, college sports don’t pay for themselves and they make up for that money from the students and from the state/college district/tax sources. Its probably been like that since the beginning, its no secret.
If you want to debate whether those student costs are good or bad, a necessity or a luxury or what have you, fine, but you can’t really debate the numbers on the balance sheet.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Jan 21, 16 @ 7:53 am:
Jeff Trigg,
The additional dollars given by alumni because of the continued connection to the school through sports should not be ignored. These are not always easy to estimate, but they are real. I have given more back than the cost of my athletic scholarship. Those are real dollars.