* Chicago Magazine…

Illinois has bled more students than it’s brought in for a while, but the trend has accelerated in the past couple of years as the state’s budget woes have exacted a toll on the University of Illinois and other public schools. In 2014—the most recent year for which data are available—Illinois saw a net emigration of 12,700 students, a 70 percent increase over a decade.

The big repercussion is that talented students may never return. “It’s a serious brain drain,” says William Morrison, a college counselor at Highland Park High School. It’s common for students to stay put after graduation: Almost half of the Urbana alumni who are alive still reside in Illinois.

At the root of all this are cuts in state funding that have forced Illinois schools to raise base tuition and fees. At Urbana, in-state rates rose 59 percent over the past 10 years, to a minimum of $15,700 and a maximum of $20,700 (not including room and board), depending on the major. At the same time, financial aid through the state’s Monetary Award Program, which provides need-based grants to residents, doesn’t go as far as it used to. It’s not even clear from term to term whether funds will be available: In a survey released in December by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 47 percent of Illinois schools said they couldn’t guarantee that students would continue to receive in the spring semester awards they got in the fall. […]

Illinois had the highest net migration of college freshmen to other states’ public schools in 2014 (the latest year for which figures are available). While 3,300 students came to Illinois from elsewhere, almost 16,000 fled. California lost about as many students but saw a bigger influx—9,500.

* Chart…

* Related…

* State of the Standoff: Some universities ‘running on fumes’: Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn said the budget uncertainty has created “a crisis of confidence that caused students to go elsewhere.”

       

90 Comments - Anonymous Lee - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 9:49 am: The damage that the GOP has caused to our economy is irreversible. - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 9:50 am: Before anyone chimes in that the tuition increases are due to “bloat” and inefficiency more so than the loss of state support, do a comparison to similar institutions in other states. - wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 9:52 am: On our watch. What generations before us worked mightily to build for the future, we’re destroying through willful, stupid neglect. I am ashamed. - Norseman - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 9:54 am: Rauner’s legacy for the State of Illinois. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 9:55 am: ===Before anyone chimes in that the tuition increases are due to “bloat” and inefficiency more so than the loss of state support, do a comparison to similar institutions in other states=== The difference is the opportunity for Merit Scholarships, MAP, and the devaluing of our state universities by adding no funding to them. You can’t expect parents to choose a school like Eastern if the university has to write a letter they plan to be open the whole year. Parents are voting with their wallets, students are voting with their futures. “It’s worth driving 10, 11 hours or flying home less regularly if I don’t have $90,000 in student loans.” Students say that. Not parents. The value of a UIUC education isn’t what it was 5 years ago. Sorry. - Been There - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:00 am: ===While 3,300 students came to Illinois from elsewhere,==== I’m not so sure about these figures. It must only be considering “elsewhere” as only from the US. The U of I itself says they had over 3,400 freshmen come from other countries. So I assume all of the other state universities had some foreign students also. http://isss.illinois.edu/download_forms/stats/fa16_stats.pdf - Blue Bayou - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:03 am: Until IL and other states understand that spending on higher ed is an investment and not a cost (in the negative sense), we are going to continue to have this kind of problem. The really sad fact is that there are amazing faculty and researchers out there for the taking for any state that starts to build their institutions. IL could quickly have the best universities in the region and in the nation if it would turn around the funding. - Simple Simon - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:03 am: Where students get educated is not the whole story. Where they go to live afterward is the better tale. And Illinois is a net importer of college graduates due mostly to quality of life issues of Chicago, so says NYT. Other importers are CA, N.Y., mountainous states and coastal states. Most Midwestern states are exporters of college graduates, including Iowa and Indiana. Shows we need to use Chicago as our economic engine. - thunderspirit - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:04 am: So, in summation, things are working exactly as planned by Governor Rauner. - DuPage - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:05 am: Schools in other states are picking up on our situation. I keep hearing radio ads from Arizona State inviting students to take their classes online as a more affordable alternative. - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:07 am: Been There - Yes, this is only looking at where U.S. students go to college. I’m not sure there is data as readily available to compare international enrollment from state to state and how those trends may have changed. What is important to note about the “ban” that some say isn’t a “ban” is that those international students pay more in tuition which helps slow the growth in tuition for U.S. students. - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:08 am: Vote against Rauner before you leave the state. - Stark - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:08 am: As a recent graduate, this is spot on. It’s clear Illinois doesn’t have young people’s interests at heart, so I moved. - City Zen - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:09 am: ==It’s common for students to stay put after graduation: Almost half of the Urbana alumni who are alive still reside in Illinois.== This comment is in dire need of context. Many of those alumni date back to a time when UIUC’s population was over 80% Illinois residents, so you’d expect them to stick around. That number is down to 60% now. Is the pool of in-state prospective students smaller or is it that UIUC prefers cashing those larger tuition checks from China. - Chicagonk - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:09 am: Instead of blaming sides, why don’t people offer some suggestions for how to attract students that recognize the state’s stagnating population and uneven distribution. My suggestions might be radical, but this is what I would do: - Fold EIU into the SIU system making EIU a satellite campus - Turn Chicago State into a satellite campus of NEIU. - Target investment towards campuses that are part of larger metro areas (SIU-Edwardsville, WIU-QC, UIC-Springfield, Northern, UIUC, UIC, and NEIU). - Blue Bayou - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:10 am: Simple Simon, right on. We need investment and a long-term plan, plus lots of infrastructure fixes. - 340 E Randolph - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:16 am: Maybe Rauner’s plan all along was to turn the state red by getting all the young people who are educated to leave. Depopulation leads to GOP rule. - Simple Simon - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:20 am: I’ve tried to post the link several times over the last few weeks, but the messages never seem to post. Google NYT Upshot college graduates. First result. - Sparky791 - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:24 am: Rauner does not care. Giv em’ his reforms and he will then solve all problems. - Saluki - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:25 am: It is absolutely KILLING us here in Carbondale. - Bowels of the Capitol - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:27 am: Here is my take on all this: –Illinois spends more on pensions and health care costs for retired state university employees than it does on current operations for state universities. That is not a bug that is a feature. Fix that through BK or some similar proceeding. –With all the population loss, Illinois doesn’t need all that bricks and mortar for higher ed. Assuming Chicago State is already toast, one or more of SIU,NIU, EIU, Illinois State, WIU, Sangamon State should close. I vote for Sangamon as a start since Springfield already has so much state govt supporting its local economy. Unpopular? You bet. Needed? Yessir. - Texas Red - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:27 am: What our esteemed leader for the past 30 plus years fails to understand is that while he can control the bills that get to the floor, he can control who gets to run for office, he can control who is in a leadership position. He can’t control people voting with their feet and either moving out of state or sending their kids to universities elsewhere. - SixByEight - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:28 am: @Anonymous Lee, “The damage that the GOP has caused to our economy is irreversible.” I think it is important to note that the year noted in the data is 2014, before any Republican was in charge and after years of Democrat control. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:30 am: I am ashamed too. I am ashamed that we all over the Midwest are gripped by radical libertarian politics which are responsible for spreading RTW laws and the current woes of this state. This is becoming an ALEC country and now with added international hostility and religious bigotry. Do we think it’s good for the Illinois brand to play hostage politics and damage the state because getting rid of Madigan and public unions is paramount to everything and a big trophy for Rauner and his allies? Do we think it’s good for the Anerican brand to have a bellicose president, trying to push around friendly countries like Mexico and Australia? I hope that somehow, some way we can get a budget passed that Rauner will sign and put an end to this. - don the legend - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:31 am: This story and all the others today have one thing in common: If in 2014, “Pat Quinn failed”, the Democrat candidate in 2018 must do a side by side and conclude Bruce Rauner has failed bigly!!! - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:34 am: - Bowels of the Capitol - 1) because… the constitution, and the refusal to pay into what was needed. You should love Pat Quinn, he made the payments. 2) run on closing state universities. Wonder why Rauner didn’t but chose to hurt Carbondale, Edwardsville, Macomb, and Charleston by not funding their economic engine. You’re welcome. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:35 am: And nobody cares apparently. I’m not ashamed, I’m mad as hell about it. - Arock - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:38 am: SixByEight - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:28 am: @Anonymous Lee, “The damage that the GOP has caused to our economy is irreversible.” I think it is important to note that the year noted in the data is 2014, before any Republican was in charge and after years of Democrat control. Hey don’t confuse them with the facts. They built a mess in this State and will not agree to any changes(compromise) in the system to correct the course. I see Madigan sitting on the sideline waiting for the compromise to show up at the House and the only bills he will be interested in are the ones that raise taxes and revenue. - State Rep Mike Fortner - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:42 am: One measure that could help encourage Illinois students to stay at Illinois colleges and universities is HB 464 that I have introduced this year. It would create a tax credit for Illinois residents who spend tuition money in Illinois. It would apply to 25% of tuition up to $2500 per year. It would only apply to tuition spent at institution eligible for a MAP grant. It won’t solve all the problems facing higher ed in Illinois, but I think it would help us compete to keep more students here in the state. - Captain Illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:43 am: As my moniker denotes, UIUC skin hangs on my wall, as does my brother, and other family, friends. These past two years are squarely on the shoulders of our CURRENT governor, and his elitist temerity squandering Illinois’ youth in higher education. No, my daughter - ready to transfer after community college - is NOT going to UIUC or any other Illinois college, rather out of state. She’s made her choice from deducing on her own the sorry mess surrounding Illinois colleges inability to provide answers to important questions, including funding and class opportunities - compared to straight forward confident answers from all five out of state institutions wanting her to attend. In the immortal words of OW - Governor’s own, and this one is a crystal trophy on Rauner’s mantel. - Crispy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:43 am: Simple Simon, right on. Have to respectfully disagree with some of the doomsaying about UIUC–not that the last two years of pain haven’t been bad for everyone, but the school remains tops-rated, especially in key programs like engineering, and enrollment figures are good (due partially to recruitment of foreign & out-of-state students who pay full freight). Plus, UIUC has resources and corporate sponsorship the others don’t have; it’ll weather the storm OK. The same can’t be said for the rest of the state system, and that’s an infamy–a terrible disservice to the state and its young people, especially. Nothing but banned words for the vicious way the state has conducted its “bidness” over the last 2 years–and especially for the Conductor in Chief. (Since he doesn’t read political news about himself, I’m hoping he gets the message via mental telepathy.) - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:43 am: Oh - Arock -, What elected Democrat felt the need to fund Higher Ed at zero? Let’s start there. Let’s discuss that today, if you think it is bad with the 2014 numbers (they are), right now, Rauner is purposely crashing higher ed at the tune at the U of I system at $750+ million… right now. Today. - Lech W - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:46 am: == 340 E Randolph…”Maybe Rauner’s plan all along was to turn the state red ” Ironically the population exodus out of Illinois will only strengthen the Dem’s hand. The one’s that stay are the one’s that MJM is offering his protection to. - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:48 am: Bowels - SSU hasn’t existed under that name in 20 years. It is UIS and is part of the U of I system. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 10:59 am: ===and enrollment figures are good (due partially to recruitment of foreign & out-of-state students who pay full freight)=== … and reducing the entrance requirements. You forget about that, or… - Iowa - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:10 am: My kid will be in Iowa this fall! Either at Iowa State or a private college in Iowa. Both schools offered substantial financial aid and/or scholarships! Heck, Iowa State gave my son a $7200 grant & I am not Pell or MAP grant eligible! I haven’t even received the financial aid award letters from Illinois State or UIS! What’s taking them so long!!! Heck even the Michigan schools are getting on the band wagon! Western Michigan sent an email saying they were reducing out of state tuition substantially & would be recalculating everyone’s financial aid awards!!!! - Piece of Work - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:19 am: Study has numbers from 2014, before Rauner took office. As we have discussed, EIU lost 23% of their student body between 2010-14. Bruce Rauner took office in January 2015. This exodus started long before Rauner. BTW, Willy tries to profess being an expert on the U of I system. In a discussion a month or two ago, he was so far off on the U of I system enrollment, it was comical. Take his comments with a grain of salt, I don’t believe he knows the U of I at all, unlike many who post here. - AnonymousOne - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:24 am: The supposed quality of UIUC is definitely not what it once was (and I am an alum). Many schools who have poached our best students have come up in their value for job propects for their grads. My kids have gone out of state to otheru Universities and did not return to our state. Opportunities are much better elsewhere. I have been saying for a long long time that our state has ignored and turned their backs on their own home grown high caliber students, sending them elsewhere. True in our case. Long before Trump’s slogan, America First, I was saying……what about Illinois students first? Most universities give large discounts to their own residents and charge 2-3 times or more to out of state/international students. Illinois tuition is no bargain for Illinois high school grads looking to attend. Why not look elsewhere, not only to get your degree but then to have more job opportunities than our state offers? - Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:26 am: PoW: And you think the failure to fund higher ed has helped that trend? I guarantee you that recent data is going to show the exact same trend. And the Governor won’t be able to hide from sharing some of the responsibility in furthering that trend. - Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:28 am: ==Illinois doesn’t need all that bricks and mortar for higher ed== You want to have that discussion? Fine. But, starving universities of funding is not the way to have it. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:31 am: - Piece of Work - Why won’t Rauner just close EIU, he refuses to fund higher ed, and instead of fixing what you point to as the failings of higher ed, Rauner is exacerbating and forcing schools like Eastern to consider their own existence. I never mind being fact checked. It’s Rauner and the blind followers as yourself are that refuse to see facts. If you think it’s “better” that the whole system is losing $750 million due to Bruce Rauner, that’s fun. If you want to correctly spread to all the students, that’s fine too, LOL - ITEngineer - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:34 am: I don’t know maybe we could try ignoring politics and study the strategy other states are using against us? Joining the Midwest Student Exchange Program would be a good start? Good article on the tactics being used here: http://archive.jsonline.com/news/education/illinois-budget-woes-spark-uw-recruitment-full-court-press-b99766353z1-388336951.html - wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:36 am: Higher ed (including the critical vocational needs served by community colleges) and infrastructure are actually core functions of state government, and they can be done well. And when done well, they are the foundation that attracts private capital. That’s not a theory, that’s a fact proven by experience. Yet for two years, we’ve gutted those core functions while the chief executive pretends he’s some Soviet-central-planner-mystic who can “grow the economy” and “create jobs” through legislation, making up loony whoppers about “dozens of manufacturers lined up” to relocate once he gets his way. And if he doesn’t get his way, all the real responsibilities charged to state government can go down the tubes, as far as he’s concerned. It’s just depressing and stupid. - illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:54 am: @CaptainIllini - Like you, my Orange and Blue run deep ( 5 generations ). My youngest brother, myself and at least 8 of my cousins have all received undergrad or graduate/professional degrees from UIUC. Yet, of my 7 nieces and one nephew ( all top 10%, etc ) only my nephew has graduated from our Alma Mater. And he is very gainfully employed in Illinois. All the others have failed to return after completing their degrees , or even seriously consider in-state employment. So who is the big loser here? - PoW - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:55 am: Willy, didn’t Rauner recently appropriate money for EIU? Check on that and get back to us. The trend was really downward waaaaaay before Rauner became guv. Those are just the facts. Where were the Dems when all of this trouble was brewing??? That’s right, asleep at the switch or ambivalent. - Anon - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 11:56 am: I’m a university faculty member. We’re not just losing students. We’re losing faculty and staff who are bolting for other jobs. As a result, we’re losing talent and valuable institutional knowledge. Of course, we aren’t replacing people. It is so easy to destroy and so hard to build. As far as I can tell, the Rep Party M.O. (e.g. debt ceiling, SCOTUS nominee, state of IL) is to break, destroy, and ignore the rules of gov. institutions. How this doesn’t amount to treason I don’t know. - facts are stubborn things - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:01 pm: If we could just get term limits and further reform in workers compensation, non of this would matter/snark. - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:02 pm: Iowa I hear ya! My kids’ hard work and excellence was pretty much dismissed by Illinois (while some friends who were much lower on the totum pole were admitted). Go figure. But they became Hawkeyes who gave them generous merit scholarships (we don’t qualify for financial help) and they received excellent education and got top notch jobs. Go figure. Those in this state would have you believe that nothing matches the quality of ILlinois. DOn’t know about that when the jobs received are looked at. IN any case, Iowa is great! You will not be sorry in any way - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:05 pm: - Piece of Work - Piece mealing monies that DO NOT fully fund higher education is not making EIU whole, and further Rauner vetoed Higher Education budgetary funding when he had the chance. Rauner is not a friend of Illinois’ Higher Education. ===The trend was really downward waaaaaay before Rauner became guv. Those are just the facts. Where were the Dems when all of this trouble was brewing??? That’s right, asleep at the switch or ambivalent.=== Again, stop ignoring the purposeful exacerbation by Rauner not funding higher education. Rauner is governor now. If Rauner wants to close EIU, that is on the Governor that closes the doors and boards up the windows. Rauner is not a passenger to the “now” If you continue to ignore the Rauner lack of budgetary funding for higher education that just shows your ignorance to the realities of the situation. This is the second time I have to remind you. Please keep up, read, comprehend. Rauner’s choices are Rauner’s. Can’t explain away vetoed. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:15 pm: Blaming Rauner for the decline in higher education for the period of 2004-2014 is comical. Democrats have been unwilling to change the biggest drain on state funding the higher education- the health care and pensions of the employees. Protecting that has been way more important for Speaker and his allies than the kids. Who is on the hook for all of that overspending? The kids not the Speaker’s generation. Shameful - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:25 pm: ===Blaming Rauner for the decline in higher education for the period of 2004-2014 is comical.=== Refusing to fund higher education by Bruce Rauner these past two years is this issue. ===Democrats have been unwilling to change the biggest drain on state funding the higher education- the health care and pensions of the employees. Protecting that has been way more important for Speaker and his allies than the kids.=== So Rauner decided to refuse funding for higher education in retribution or… Why no budgetary funding for higher education by Bruce Rauner? Why the Veto? ===Who is on the hook for all of that overspending? The kids not the Speaker’s generation. Shameful=== “Who is on the hook for refusing to fund higher education these past 2 years, vetoing it even? The kids going out of state know it’s a governor refusing monies to a budget for higher ed. Shameful” Better. - Columbo - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:28 pm: POW & LP– You are generally correct in that the regional publics have struggled to maintain enrollment before Rauner arrived, for reasons including decreasing high school grad numbers and intensified by the fact that funding for higher education (-$1 billion) has been in a freefall since about FY 2003. And in my recollection, every one of those budgets (back when we did budgets) had a bipartisan stamp of approval on them. So plenty of blame to go around. But using that as a reason to defend a Governor who has proposed two draconian recommendations for higher education, when he has said publicly he wants to increase funding for higher education, is dubious at best. What’s comical is the folly that we can attract outside capital, businesses and create jobs while burning down our higher education system. One needs to look no further than our contiguous states, who are aggressively devouring our talent. Wonder why? - AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:30 pm: LP Blaming the man who removed all funding from higher ed for the decline in higher ed is not, in fact, comical. We’ve asked you before; name one mistake your fair Governor has made? Until you can do that, you’re a shill, and a bad one, at that. - Anonymous Lee - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:30 pm: @ARock, SixbyEight - As our host recently quipped: I was born at night, but I wasn’t born yesterday. I think it is important to note that the GOP started taking the wrecking ball to public education in 1997, when they killed Governor Edgar’s education reform plan. Since 1997, not a single Republican has been willing to join Democrats in an effort to increase general revenue, leaving our public universities starved for funding. Tuition increases were the result. During that time, freshman tuition at the University of Illinois has risen from $3300 to almost $12K a year. This is why students are choosing to go to Iowa, Indiana, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Kentucky. - PoW - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:32 pm: Willy, what state university did you attend? If you have kids, what state university did they attend? Lucky is correct, this trend has been happening for a long time. Exhibit A—My son wanted to take an intro Real Estate class at UIUC. Because of retirements and leadership, only one class was offered and it filled just as soon as enrollment opened. That was it, no other classes offered. Want to know the year? 2006-7. Other situations similar to this one existed. Don’t blame the R’s for this mess. - P oW - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:34 pm: Columbo—-Check the enrollment numbers in the U of I system. They are at a record high. - Because I said so..... - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:39 pm: =The trend was really downward waaaaaay before Rauner became guv. Those are just the facts. Where were the Dems when all of this trouble was brewing???= Excluding Rauner, Blago was the least supportive of higher ed in Illinois. He implemented cuts but NOTHING along the lines of what Rauner is currently doing. The funding uncertainty makes it impossible to plan and adjust to the state or regions educational needs. Instead, higher ed is cutting programs, faculty and staff just to keep their doors open. And for what? So Rauner can get his TA that the Raunerites have yet to prove will help the states economy. Even if higher ed miraculously got a full years appropriation this year, the damage that has already taken place will take years to repair. Yep, this is working out just as the governor had planned. - Peters Post - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:44 pm: Why does it make sense to so many commenters to suggest we close and shrink and consolidate the States Public University System. Private Universities and Colleges in Illinois are thriving. All of our Public Universities have great marketable strengths. Education is a 21st century expanding market. Thinking small will get you there. - Tone - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:48 pm: This is garbage. Chicago is filled with recent college grads from around the country. - Columbo - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 12:49 pm: PoW - Duly noted, and U of I’s numbers will probably go higher in the next few years, per their recent announcement. So what? Try as they might, most Illinoisans can’t/don’t go to the big U. What’s your game plan for the other 720,000 students in the system at other publics, privates, and CC’s? Tough luck? - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 1:00 pm: I don’t need a game plan. I didn’t create the mess and my kids have long graduated from college. However, I think ISU is doing fine as is SIUE and likely many community colleges are doing ok. Maybe the product at the other schools just aren’t very good. What’s your take? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 1:17 pm: ===what state university did you attend? If you have kids, what state university did they attend?=== That’s not the argument or address anything in my comment. ===Lucky is correct, this trend has been happening for a long time. Exhibit A—My son wanted to take an intro Real Estate class at UIUC. Because of retirements and leadership, only one class was offered and it filled just as soon as enrollment opened. That was it, no other classes offered. Want to know the year? 2006-7. Other situations similar to this one existed. Don’t blame the R’s for this mess=== Why won’t Rauner fund higher education? Why has Rauner refused to fund higher education for 2 years. That’s the question. Today. - Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 1:23 pm: ==Don’t blame the R’s for this mess== Yes, they are totally blameless in everything. No culpability at all. And the Governor? Nothing is his fault either. /s/ Give me a break. Perhaps one of you hyper-partisans can tell us all at what point in time the Governor shares any of the responsibility for anything. Because this “it’s not my fault” schtick is getting really, really old. He wanted the big boy chair. The big boy chair comes with responsibility (you know, the responsibility to govern), and he has utterly failed at his responsibility. - Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 1:26 pm: ==This is garbage.== Yeah. They made it all up. Not sure if you are aware but there’s a whole big state beyond the City of Chicago. - Chicagonk - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 1:27 pm: The state has too many downstate universities. I’m not suggesting we close these universities, but I don’t see why the state couldn’t make EIU a satellite campus of SIU for example. I also think the directional universities need to seriously evaluate whether it is worth it to have a DI football program. - illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 2:15 pm: It never ceases to amaze me when the topic on this site turns to Higher Education that we find some repeated and redundant comments. First, there are those who attempt to absolve BVR of any responsibility from this current crisis. Second, there are those who are dismissive of the contributions and economic importance of the Regionals. Third, many still blame the Universities themselves for the declining enrollment and high costs without considering that there is definitely blame to be shared. There are calls for closing and/or consolidating some of the smaller Regionals. Fourth, many are dismissive or unconcerned about the damage being done to my Alma Mater - soon to be owed close to $1 Billion in unfunded appropriations based on outdated budgets that allowed for no increase in appropriations. Yet, thank goodness, there are those who do realize the tremendous unmet potential that ALL our Universities can have for the future of our State and are willing to say so. - PoW - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 2:23 pm: Thanks Willy. By dodging an easy to answer question, you answered the question. It is foolhardy to argue with someone about a university that I attended, my wife attended and my kids attended and we know well. Apparently you do not. And, I never stated Rauner has no responsibility for these issues. But, in the case of EIU, the school administrators, Quinn and the Dem leadership are mostly responsible for demise. Mostly. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 2:31 pm: - Piece of Work - It’s not about me. I could be a state university alum that’s upset. I could have family in Carbondale hurt by Rauner not funding higher ed and it’s hurting the town I could have family on facility at Northern. I could have family not getting MAP at Northeastern I could have family that had a student flee to be schooled I’m higher ed elsewhere. The argument stands. You refuse to see the damage Rauner is doing. Why? ===It is foolhardy to argue with someone about a university that I attended, my wife attended and my kids attended and we know well. Apparently you do not=== As a “taxpayer” and seeing that Rauner is ruining higher education wholesale by refusing to fund it makes any reason besides the weight of the arguments themselves relevant. Capiche? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 2:37 pm: ===It is foolhardy to argue with someone about a university that I attended, my wife attended and my kids attended and we know well. Apparently you do not=== So, are you vying for the Presidency of… “Please Stop Funding My Alma Mater”? Geez - illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 2:38 pm: @Willy -”Capiche? - Some never will - and will always attempt to divert the discussion from the real issues! - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 3:05 pm: The subject of this post is a study about the exodus of Illinois residents to out of state universities reaching a peak of 12,700 students in 2014- a 70 percent increase over a ten year period. Hyperlartisans who know who they are blame Rauner even though he was not in office during the period of 2004-2014 and Democrats has total control of state government. Given the crisis in the situation, I would have expectedl the Speaker and his party to come to the table and work on some bipartisan solutions to this huge problem. The Governor has proposed numerous reforms- everyone has been rejected. Democrats have not proposed anything to change the policies that have caused this decline and for that most commenters blame Rauner. - PoW - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 3:10 pm: Throws hands up. Willy, you belittle posters for their so called reading comprehension. You may want to take a self awareness class or two. I’m done, even when you are spouting stuff that doesn’t make sense, you double down. Congrats. Lucky, I will let you carry the water on this one. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 3:21 pm: ===The Governor has proposed numerous reforms- everyone has been rejected. Democrats have not proposed anything to change the policies that have caused this decline and for that most commenters blame Rauner.=== “The Governor has proposed numerous reforms- the Governor can not get 60 and 30 to get them passed. That’s on any governor. Rauner has refused for two years to fund higher education and that signal, along with Rauner not wanting to make higher ed better, but destroy it by not funding it, he has exaserbsted, all by himself a bad situation to an awful situation” Better. - Piece of Work - Make an argument. You haven’t . - Tone - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 3:46 pm: Demoralized, no one wants to live in the rest of the state. Look at population growth downstate. - Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 3:52 pm: ==and for that most commenters blame Rauner.== Always the victim. I don’t solely blame Rauner. But I do assign some blame to him. He’s the Governor now. If you are the Governor and your argument is that you can’t do anything because someone else won’t let you then you have failed at being a Governor. ==The Governor has proposed numerous reforms-== Many of which never had a chance in heck of passing. Good leaders work on stuff that can actually get done. ==Democrats have not proposed anything== Not many, but a few. And I’m pretty sure the budget being put together by Cullerton and Radogno isn’t nothing. If perpetuating the victimhood of the Governor makes you feel better then go for it (which I’m sure you’ll continue to do). I find it tiresome. - Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 3:55 pm: ==no one wants to live in the rest of the state.== Except those of us that, you know, live in the rest of the state. I’ll make sure to tell everyone I know we’re not supposed to want to live here. smh - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:05 pm: The Governor has certainly not been able to get 60 because none of his reforms have left the rules committee because of the total control of the House by Soeaker Madigan - Earnest - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:12 pm: >The Governor has proposed numerous reforms- everyone has been rejected. Were there any that directly impacted higher education–I don’t remember any that were. I’m less interested in talking about the past than where we go from here. - Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:12 pm: More victimhood. Just sad. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:15 pm: (Sigh) ===The Governor has certainly not been able to get 60 because none of his reforms have left the rules committee because of the total control of the House by Soeaker Madigan=== If Rauner had 60, her stand with them on the stairs to embarrass Madigan for stopping the 60 from voting for his (Rauner’s) reforms… you know this, you are reminded daily. Bringing this back to the “brain drain”, Will Eastern be able to write another letter saying they will exist all of the next academic year? Usually that is hyperbole or snark. Now it’s a real question. A real question for Gov. Rauner. - illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:21 pm: @Willy - “Bringing this back to the “brain drain” - This is what we are talking about here. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:27 pm: - illini -, yep, you know it… The damage being done, and the drain of brains isn’t about Rauner looking for reforms, that could be achieved by a governor wanting 60 and 30. This post, about brain drain really is about today the 2 year refusal of compounding problems everyone acknowledges. Crazy. - OneMan - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:37 pm: So I want to understand the article Rich put is about dat from 2014 but this about Rauner? Just last week had a check sent from the Bright Start account to an out of state public university. Daughter visitors UIS, would have been a good fit potentially but the tour guide couldn’t have been bothered to look up from her phone, the school couldn’t have been bothered to find another faculty member when the first one bailed on her the day of the tour. When I shared my comments about this with the school no one could be bothered to return my email. The out of state school she attends gave her a 12k merit scholarship (they also give that via multistate compact now) so it costs about the same as going to an in state school. But because you think Rauner should just raise taxes and not have anything else change (which when it comes down to it is the opinion of many of you) this is all his fault. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:45 pm: ===But because you think Rauner should just raise taxes and not have anything else change (which when it comes down to it is the opinion of many of you) this is all his fault.=== - OneMan - my 308 friend, “But because you think Rauner should just raise taxes and not have anything else change (which when it comes down to it is the opinion of many of you)…” Rauner has refused to fund higher education, vetoing the last full attempt to fund higher ed because Rauner didn’t get his reforms or anything acceptable to sign funding for higher ed… “this is all his fault.” Governors own vetoes. Rauner has exaserbated (an) acknowledged problem(s) in higher ed by first purposely vetoing funding, then continually not funding higher ed. That’s where this stands. Vetoes are owned by governors. Rauner vetoed, Rauner refuses to fund, both exacerbating higher education beyond the crisis mode. With respect, OW - illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 4:54 pm: @OneMan - “because you think Rauner should just raise taxes and not have anything else change” - you are missing the point. This is about the future of our State and its Higher Ed - including the struggling Community Colleges. Hoping your daughter is happy with her/your choice but but this does not reflect well on your your experience. Yet a cousins daughter is now a Junior at UIS is excelling and is very happy with her choice. - Blue dog dem - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 5:20 pm: Why is it we tolerate higher ed raising tuition at twice the rate of inflation. Why is it we allow higher ed to raising room at board at twice the rate of inflation. Why is it we allow fonancial institutions to charge student loan rate three time the rate which they borrow from the Feds. Why is it we allow higher ed to promote five year bachelors degrees. Why is it we allow our state universities the ability to deny credit transfers on comparable classes from our state JUCOS. Why? Its not about higher ed. Its about money. Slash higher ed. - illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 5:53 pm: @Bluedogdem - good questions - but not to the point of this thread. But I can answer one of your questions - my youngest niece had Junior standing as a First Semester Soph at ISU because of the dual credit classes she took in HS. and completed her MS in 4 years. And is pursuing yet a higher degree out of state. And it is not all about money - it is about better capitalizing on the assets we have in this state. - Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 6:00 pm: I thought that some of the brain drain in Illinois might actually be deliberate. Out of state students pay a lot more to (at least) University of Illinois than home grown students. Let our kids leave for out of state schools. We need the cash from others. - Blue dog dem - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 6:18 pm: Illini. True on the thread, but i gotta rant. As one particular poster often says….College Presidents own…..and in this case it takes on a whole different meaning. Glad you had a good experience at ISU. Really good school. I could go on about my sons horrific experience at first SWIC and then SIUE, but its boring. - illini - Thursday, Feb 2, 17 @ 6:40 pm: @Bluedogdem - I understand the rant and do not disagree. SWIC and SIUE - we must be neighbors. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.