* Whet Moser…
It’s not just that universities create opportunities by educating students; they create opportunities by their very existence, especially in places without other major industries. As long as the budget impasse scares students and parents away from its schools, the state loses out on both.
Yep.
* Tom Kacich…
“We had a net loss of 16,000 students last fall who went to school out of state. An enhancement of the MAP program might have kept some of those folks in state,” said [Illinois State University President Larry Dietz]. “Imagine if we kept just half of those 16,000 students. Just think what 8,000 students would have done for all the institutions in the state. 16,000 who left means conservatively $10,00 in tuition and fees that is crossing the state line. That’s $160 million a year.” […]
“The biggest issue around the leaving is the human capital and the intellectual capacity that those individuals take with them. If you go out of state you reduce dramatically the probability that person returning in state to start their business, serve a not for profit, whatever that might be. You may never get that human capacity back. That to me is the worst part of all of this.” […]
Eastern Illinois University President Davis Glassman, without referring to the governor by name, said there “has been much talk of growth needing to be a major element” of the changes the state needs.
“EIU agrees wholeheartedly and we would point out that our greatest opportunity for growth as a state will be through supporting the personal growth of our more than 12 million residents,” as in improving Illinois by investing in Illinoisans, he said.
“We take students from all backgrounds and circumstances and help them identify where they can make the most significant contributions,” said Glassman. “We then train them and arm them with the analytical skills necessary to improve not only their own circumstances but those of their communities and beyond.”
- KAA-boom - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:00 am:
My daughter had 2 choices - go to a great school out of state that was offering a scholarship or go to the University of Illinois and pay $2,000 more/year. She chose the former. I have 2 more HS students that will probably go the same route. Other state’s schools seem to covet not just our money, but our students. Illinois is slipping in a bad way.
- Not Rich - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:01 am:
Mr .01% doesn’t care about the State University system..
- Il annoyed - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:02 am:
The fact that Rauner is de-funding higher education so much is more proof positive that his agenda isn’t so much about economic growth as it is about redistributing money upward. I wish the Dems and the IL media would hammer him on this and point out just how radical his agenda is…
Universities are job creators. They are also much like roads; they help get people where they need/want to go and we should fund them even if we don’t all use each one.
- walker - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Higher education is the canary in the mine, when it comes to long term economic development.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:05 am:
Tell a graduating senior and parents they will save $60, 70+ thousand dollars and attend another state’s flagship university, and thus is how another state loses 16,000 students.
If you don’t think for one second that saving up to $60, 70+ thousand dollars doesn’t matter, and the education the student is receiving is quality, you just are blinded by Orange and Blue blinders.
- Mr. K - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:09 am:
And there’s this:
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-04-17/letter-writer-eiu-professor-has-questions-rauner.html
- Saluki - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Rauner is achieving everything he wants to achieve. Smaller public institutions of all varieties. He is simply doing it by strangulation, and not by legislation.
- Touré's Latte - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:14 am:
Got a nephew going to Alabama and a niece going to Iowa, both for less than UICU or ISU. Which came first; the flight or the fleecing? This will not end well.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:14 am:
When Eastern closes, when Southern goes to one campus, when Western is wholly unaccredited, it won’t matter, because it will be too late.
I learned a great a great deal about those like Rep. Phillips.
Reggie Phillips is more than fine with Eastern putting boards on windows and doors.
Looking to Raunerites representing state universities in their districts, they just do not care.
The silence to Rauner forcing university closures tells me I’m right about these Raunerites. The voting record on higher education by these Raunerites reinforce that belief too.
- Gruntled University Employee - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Kacich’s piece in the News Gazette was titled “University presidents help make sense of nonsense”. The article started out with “Kudos to the public university presidents in Illinois who have become so good at debunking the bunk politicians are spewing”.
My advice to Tom Kacich is, lose the pom pom’s and mini skirt and do your job, that way the university presidents don’t have to do it for you.
- Mr. K - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:17 am:
Oops — here’s the link to the full letter:
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/guest-commentary/2017-03-12/guest-commentary-breaking-bruce.html
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:18 am:
@Willy - I admit that I still wear my Orange and Blue blinders but I do understand.
But for those students and their parents who are making these decisions, I fully understand that many are opting for those out of state opportunities.
The willful destruction of Higher Education ( and our economic future ) is one of the desired results of the BVR agenda.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:20 am:
They’re also losing quality faculty. I know or know of several people who left state schools and came here (private U) because of the budget impasse.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:22 am:
- illini -
It’s all good and understandable.
It’s also understandable, as you point out that parents and students understand value in price and education, and further, right now, UIUC, of all the B1G universities is funded the lowest out of all the universities in the conference.
Dead last.
It has to be, given Rauber has funding levels well below 50% than in just 3 years past.
- Biscuit Head - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:23 am:
Both my kids were top achievers in HS with colleges nationwide beating down their door to attend.
Neither gave any thought WHATSOEVER to staying instate for college.
Neither have any intention of moving back to IL.
Not much reason for me to stick around much longer either.
I wonder how many congressional reps IL will lose after the 2020 census.
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:27 am:
My son goes to school in the Pacific Northwest. He receives a $9,000 a year academic scholarship, the state had a multi-million dollar surplus. Half the surplus was put in a rainy day fund, the other half was refunded to tax payers. Cannabis is legal and they’re reaping millions in tax revenue, crime is down and unlike our governor, I haven’t heard any negatives. The cost of living is remarkably lower and the crime is minimal. I would be shocked if he would consider moving back to Illinois. There’s plenty of blame to go around but Universities should be a priority not a hostage.
- Fav Hum - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:30 am:
Neither have any intention of moving back to IL.
Not much reason for me to stick around much longer either.
Same for me and my kids. One already enjoying life in MO, another not looking for a job in IL.
I can’t see myself here in 2, 3 years max.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:32 am:
“We had a net loss of 16,000 students last fall who went to school out of state.”
Herein lies the cruel hypocrisy of Rauner and the IPI, who are screaming about people leaving the state but who are primarily responsible for students leaving the state and further damaging our economic foundation. An IPI rep was on a panel on TV a little while ago, and she was the only one who didn’t want the Grand Bargain to pass.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:32 am:
===I wonder how many congressional reps IL will lose after the 2020 census.===
Two or three. And we will soon be the sixth largest state instead of fifth after Pennsylvania passes us. Then Ohio will and we will be the seventh largest state. How much longer before Georgia and North Carolina pass us???
- City Zen - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:36 am:
You can fix the higher ed funding problem, but you can’t fix the desired student experience. Many of my college bound neighbors and relatives chose out-of-state schools not due to any budget crisis, but for an opportunity to live somewhere else besides Illinois for 4 years: Arizona, North Carolina, Tennessee, etc.
Is UIUC as aspirational as it was a generation ago? It was for me, but no one I know has it as their #1 choice. Many more seductive choices around the country.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:36 am:
My apologies, according to 2016 census estimates, Pennsylvania has already passed us….
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:38 am:
===And we will soon be the sixth largest state instead of fifth after Pennsylvania passes us. Then Ohio will and we will be the seventh largest state. How much longer before Georgia and North Carolina pass us???===
Is the Pennsylvania State University system owed $800 million plus from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
Is the University of Georgia losing funding at a nine-figure clip due to an agenda?
Are North Carolina and North Carolina State the worst funded universities in the ACC?
Can you even imagine… THE Ohio State University being denied funding, purposely, when the University of Michigan isn’t facing Governor-Made roadblocks?
Perspective.
- Gooner - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:38 am:
One of the reasons that employers choose Illinois that Illinois has a high quality workforce.
Take that away, and we might as well be a high-wage version of Alabama.
At times it almost seems like Governor Rauner is intent on destroying this state. Had that been his goal, he would have behaved exactly as he has been.
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:40 am:
Thanks for the link Mr. K. That is an incredibly well written letter. Of course she received no response from Rauner nor will she. He learned his lesson from the sit-down with Chance the Rapper. But Rauner should answer Professor Boswell’s questions one by one and publicly. Hers are the same questions many of us have.
- Norseman - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:42 am:
The newly created Dem social media should get cranking on getting the message out about the damage to IL universities. This will resonate with middle class voters who don’t care about social services.
- ILPundit - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:48 am:
Rauner. Does. Not. Want. A. Budget.
There are two paths to the end of the crisis: 1) GOP members break with Rauner and pass a bipartisan, veto-proof budget; or 2) Rauner’s strategy gets defeated or vindicated by his loss or re-election in 2018.
I’m betting on #2
- A guy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:54 am:
I absolutely agree with the premise of this topic that cutting/starving Higher Ed spending is bad. I was at a large family gathering on Sunday and was very pleasantly surprised to hear about a number of high schoolers who were applying to UIUC and desperately hoping to be accepted. It’s still a very hard place to get into. That doesn’t negate the difficulties of the other excellent universities in the state, but I’ll take any good news I can get on that front these days.
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:56 am:
Just in my most immediate family only one of 7 in their generation has stayed in Illinois.
My nephew got his degree last year from UIUC, accepted a position in Champaign and just bought a condo. His youngest sister will get her degree from ISU next year, but is already talking about going out of state for Grad School. His other sister is in a Professional program out of state and is not looking to return. All of his cousins got their degrees out of state and have not returned.
One out of 7 - from a family that has been in Illinois since 1828.
- Gooner - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:00 pm:
illini,
Is your family in the Chicago area, or elsewhere? I’m curious as to whether migration is mostly from rural areas.
In any case, as Illinois universities decline, I expect to see more of it as employers move to states with better college systems.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
===…was very pleasantly surprised to hear about a number of high schoolers who were applying to UIUC and desperately hoping to be accepted===
… if they apply to Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, SEC schools that desperation might change to academic awards helping themselves and their (your) family.
Your anecdotal story, while sounds hopeful, is by far the exception and not the rule.
I point to - OneMan -’s post about his child last year and the number of students in 308 looking elsewhere for higher education.
Of a student can get accepted in UIUC, a system owed $800+ million by now by the state, odds are they would be eligible to save $40-60 thousand over 4 years attending Iowa, Iowa State, etc… the list goes on and on…
- illinoised - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
Rauner’s legacy will be the destruction of state universities, an anti-growth move from someone who says he wants growth but whose actions scream otherwise. I don’t believe anything he says. He lied to get elected and has lied ever since being elected.
- GlimmerGirl - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
My alma mater, Purdue University, is keeping their tuition freeze for a 6th consecutive year. Campus construction and innovative tech, ag, engineering programs are booming. And their employees are getting raises. Why would anyone who has other options remain in Illinois…things are so much better in other states (said by a transplanted Tennessean!).
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
@Gooner - my family settled as farmers in Southern Illinois. So this out migration is from an area that is already losing population and major talent to Seattle, Atlanta, Florida, Texas and Missouri.
- Annonin' - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
Capt Fax left out best lines…”couple of examples from last week:— Gov. Duct Tape says it upsets him to see so many Illinoisans leave the state to attend college, but he hasn’t done much about it except to propose a phony, unbalanced budget while hitting Democrats for supporting phony, unbalanced budgets.”
It took almost 3 years, but now the CNG has concluded DopeyDuct has the Us on a death march that is at the point of no return.
Perhaps the Us can be saved, the poachin’ of students and faculty stopped and exiting higher ed infrastructure used a the obvious place to attract jobs.
Time will tell
- AnonymousOne - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:20 pm:
Both my children, accepted at UIUC, chose Iowa for the cash benefits of academic scholarship. Not only does it make cost very comparable, but someone, someone! rewards excellent HS achievement. One has graduated and now lives out of state in a city with 3% unemployment and he doesn’t understand how people in this state put up with all this terrible treatment from our state government. He lives in the #8 ranked best city for new grads and doubt he’ll come back this way.
Second child is equally disgusted with operations in Illinois and will likely also not return. That means we’ll be out of ILlinois soon too. Why stay?
Maybe our governor believes that all the out of state/country students flocking to UIUC will stay here and be big contributors. Yeah, right.
- Fav Hum - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:31 pm:
I’m from Poshard country, (Southern IL) and live in a NW suburb. Saved serious money by them going out of state. Oldest got a job before grad, expects to buy a house about a year after graduation…
- RIJ - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:35 pm:
I worked in Illinois higher ed for 34 years, but even I have advised my siblings and their children to go elsewhere for higher ed right now, since the actual quality of the education in Illinois has been damaged. I have two nieces going to college in Iowa and a nephew going to Mizzou. I’m very proud of them - and very sad for Illinois.
- Peter Holt - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
Sure, let’s blame Rauner! Woohoo! Right! Yay! We should never, ever ask the real questions such as why have college educations gotten so darned expensive in the first place. Do any of you honestly think the educations being “earned” at any of these universities is worth the price? Come on. The let’s-all-just-get-on-here-to-hate-on-Rauner shtick is blinding you folks on the left. Blind!
- Anon - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
Just this weekend I told someone thinking about graduate school to go out of state.
Why pay as much to go to an institution that’s on the rocks when you can pay out of state tuition else where and have a program that’s fully funded.
You know what’s ridiculous? A graduate program or academic department that won’t cover fees and travel to conferences. Not even one. Not even on a limited budget.
You know what you need to do to be a relevant academic? Attend and present at conferences. You know what every other major university does? Cover conference costs.
Nothing says leave to faculty faster than budget policies that stall their careers and the research they’ve devoted their lives to.
- Doc Anonymous - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:48 pm:
Rauner fully deserves all the blame he’s getting in this post–but it would only take a few GOP votes to change things.
Southern Illinois GOP Senators Schimpf and Fowler are on record* as supporting a stopgap for higher ed & social services without Rauner’s conditions, because they understand that SIUC and community colleges are absolutely vital down here. If they hold to that–if they support their constituents rather than their governor–they can hold their seats for as long as they want them, I suspect. Or vote no, contribute to the chaos and decline, take more of Rauner’s money, but face stronger Democratic challengers–and their own consciences. You can be a principled conservative without contributing to the destruction of state government.
* http://thesouthern.com/news/local/residents-share-concerns-fears-about-springfield-dysfunction-at-town-hall/article_c3d0d4ea-b691-5e9d-b533-ffebef173284.html
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
===Do any of you honestly think the educations being “earned” at any of these universities is worth the price?===
If you don’t, make the case that a four-baccalaureate degree from these universities are indeed useless.
Value in pricing, that’s one issue. Value of the education, that’s a whole different argument.
The RaunerS feel the need to donate campaign monies so Bruce can close Illinois universities. I wonder why Bruce didn’t just say that in 2014?
Also, every governor since the 1850s has fully funded higher education here in Illinois… every one… but Bruce Rauner…
So there’s that too.
I know it felt good hitting “say it”, but saying it and it actually being honest to fact… you’re missing the mark.
- njt - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
-Do any of you honestly think the educations being “earned” at any of these universities is worth the price?-
Yes, as demonstrated here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/upshot/is-college-worth-it-clearly-new-data-say.html?_r=0
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
=== We should never, ever ask the real questions ===
Who said we shouldn’t do that?
The truth is, there is no real debate about the future of higher ed in this state except for the one about how it’s currently circling the drain thanks to this impasse.
And I’ve begged the governor to propose legislation to address this very topic. So far, crickets.
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
— “Value in pricing, that’s one issue. Value of the education, that’s a whole different argument.”—
Willy, you opened up a whole other are that this discussion can go, but not with me here and now. Have to go out for a while.
- Demoralized - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:16 pm:
== We should never, ever ask the real questions such as why have college educations gotten so darned expensive in the first place.==
Nobody ever said that; however, the conversation shouldn’t take place under the duress of failing to fund higher education. Is that really the way you want to make higher ed policy? Just starve it of funding?
==you folks on the left==
Oh please. This has nothing to do with right or left. Those that make that argument is just lazy.
==Blind!==
Way to channel your inner Donald Trump.
- AnonymousOne - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
The cost of higher ed is, without doubt, a real issue families struggle with. And they do what they can manage for their kids.
The real issue here is the snub–the devaluation of education as something Illinois should value!
Is our governor saying that by letting universities struggle and fail to stay open, he’s in favor of a lesser educated population in this state? Fewer high school grads should have the opportunity? They (we) don’t need that? Because it’s just not that important? Or what exactly is his message?
- A guy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
==Your anecdotal story, while sounds hopeful, is by far the exception and not the rule.===
True Willy. I believe I tried to stipulate to that. The part about it being difficult to get into UIUC remains true.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
=== The part about it being difficult to get into UIUC remains true===
It’s become easier, and UIUC actually lowered their entrance standards with a high school guidance counselor even stunned at some students entering.
I’ve cited it before.
- Just Me - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:54 pm:
only $160 million? All those 8,000 students need housing, utilities, food, etc. How much more than tuition does a student contribute to the area economy? The economic impact must be even more staggering.
- Janeway63 - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:55 pm:
Years ago, I went to grad school in Illinois and stayed here to work and raise a family. Now as my three children, all honor students consider colleges and we start college visits, not one of the three are considering an Illinois school. We have been to schools in Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana. This summer we will head out east. Illinois is losing its future due to the policies of this administration. Do I want them to stay closer? You bet, but I do not blame them for going out of state.
- Langhorne - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Winning.
Never happier.
Energized.
Succeded at everything ever
So, higher ed, just die.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 2:19 pm:
What are the standards these days to receive admittance to the U of I main campus?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
===What are the standards these days to===
Try the Google.
- Ryan - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 2:29 pm:
Anonymous - depends on which college you apply to at UIUC, oh, and whether or not you’ll pay the out of state or international tuition price.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:03 pm:
I thought since Oswego Willy said it was easier to be admitted that he would post how much easier.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
I used the Google Key.
It took me “0.05 seconds”
Pick a name while your at it too..
http://bit.ly/2lUBq5G
- Ron - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:21 pm:
In 2010, 32.2% of Chicago’s population had a 4 yr degree or higher. In 2015, it was up to 35.5% of Chicago’s population. One of the fastest big city growth rates in the nation.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
In 2010, Chicago’s had 569,316 people with a 4 yr degree or higher. In 2015, it was up to 648,207.
I don’t think it matters if SIU has less students. People with college degrees are moving to Chicago. The City has one of the fastest highly educated growth rates of any big city in the country.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
===I don’t think it matters if SIU has less students===
So, as long as Chicago is OK, the rest of the state can whither on the vine?
I wouldn’t run statewide with that plan if I were you.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
===I don’t think it matters if SIU has less students.===
Tell that to Carbondale.
If Rauner wanted to close EIU, one of the SIUs, unaccrediate WIU, why didn’t Rauner say so in 2014?
You think on all that, get back to all of us on your logic.
- Ron - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
I just don’t see rural Illinois attracting the highly educated.
- A guy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:31 pm:
==unaccrediate==
I certainly know what you mean, but I think you made this word up. lol
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:37 pm:
U of I at Champaign school of business admittance GPA of 3.5-3.88 on average with an ACT score of 28-32. So if you have a 3.5 GPA you would need an ACT of 30-32, no easy task.
Iowa requires a 3.6 and an ACT of 26 to be admitted to the school of business.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
President Killeen has said how the U of I system is behind $750 million… nearly 6 months ago.
The article clearly states the admission standards have been lowered, calling the move “unusual”
If you think lowering admission standards and refusing to fund a whole system by at least $800 million, (and climbing daily) a university system “better” than the University of Iowa not facing these issues, or purposely lowering standards too, maybe you need to talk to President Killeen.
If you know more than the university president… lol
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
@Anonymous@3:25 - show some respect for everyone on this site and pick a name - then I might respond to you.
- Ron - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 4:07 pm:
Sorry, post at 3:25 was me.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
I don’t have my head in the sand about the money problems, but I do know that my college student daughters at UIUC and SIUE are receiving an excellent education. UIUC daughter just earned third consecutive semester on Dean’s List and named James Scholar.
I also have to laugh about the admission standards “being lowered” when they’re almost identical to my qualifying scores 42 years ago. GPA of 3.6 and 32 ACT got me in to Finance, but would have cut it close for Accounting.
Further, whatever is being posted as the standard for Engineering is less than the stats of the actual enrolled class.
Killeen has a muzzle on him with a big “R” on each side. Look for another short-termer. I’m hoping for Gov. OW to slide AA into the spot in a couple years, then watch the fur fly!
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 4:42 pm:
Thanks Ron - to two of your posts.
You are probably correct in stating that rural Illinois is not attracting the “highly educated” ( a definition here as to what exactly you mean could be helpful ) yet there are a good many positions in different fields where a degree is mandatory. As I said earlier, most of the next generation of my family have moved elsewhere but because of the lack of opportunities in their fields.
And I do take exception to your rather cavalier attitude as to whether SIU ( and add EIU, WIU and other Regionals ) have a decline in enrollment.
The students who enroll here are more likely to be local and who want to remain in the area after graduation.
Not everyone can go to UIUC ( Univ of Chicago or Northwestern ) nor would they necessarily want to. The Regionals provide them with other options and encourage them to remain in state. But when we as a state remove those opportunities by encouraging this out migration what are we to think.
Granted, Chicago has its draw, but it is not for everyone. I turned down a job in Chicago in the early 70’s and my younger brother ( also a graduate of UIUC ) turned down two excellent job offers from Fortune 100 companies to return to Southern Illinois.
So if you are saying that Chicago is a magnet, perhaps it is, but that shows a very short sighted view of the issues we are really talking about as a State.
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 4:51 pm:
@ArthurAndersen - Maybe Gov OW could find a spot for me as well!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 4:55 pm:
If I were to run, to decide to run for Governor of Illinois, I’m going to need an extraordary amount of help.
Not “Superstars”…
… women and men, willing to tell me when I’m wrong, tell help me succeed when we know we’re doing right.
So, expect changes… lol
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 5:07 pm:
Mr. Anderson, you are correct sir. It is still tough to get admitted to programs like business at the U of I. This Oswego Willy says it is easier but no one has seen one statistic from him that shows it is easier than a year or two ago.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 5:17 pm:
From the Tribune, I guess some can’t read(?)
===After years of pursuing higher-paying international students and watching in-state enrollment fall, the University of Illinois’ flagship campus shifted course this year, increasing financial aid for students from Illinois but also taking the unusual step of accepting lower test scores.
An analysis by The Associated Press found that ACT test scores for incoming freshmen from Illinois dropped for the first time in at least a decade.
…
The school’s strategy followed pressure from lawmakers, university trustees and parents to enroll more in-state students, and it appears to have worked: The number went up by 11 percent.
The $5.4 million increase in financial aid — primarily for low-income families and under-represented groups — comes at a time when the university’s financial picture is uncertain, primarily due to a state government cash crisis.
“In thinking about our enrollment, we did ask ourselves, have we raised the bar just a little too high?” said Charles Tucker, vice provost for undergraduate education and innovation. “We always want to attract the best and brightest students here, and we want to provide a great education for them. But, you know, we also asked ourselves, are we biased a little too much that way?”
In recent years, many state universities around the country have actively recruited more out-of-state and international students to help make up for dwindling state financial support and pressure to compete for top faculty. But those universities have been pushed by school leaders and others to enroll more students from their home states.
At the University of Iowa, for example, regents set funding levels based in part on in-state enrollment after in-state freshman enrollment fell below 50 percent. And a Washington state lawmaker pushed through legislation that tied the University of Washington’s ability to increase enrollment to maintaining minimum levels of in-state students.
In Illinois, some parents, students and educators had been shocked that certain students couldn’t get into the U. of I.
“We’ve got kids who are getting 30 or better ACT (scores) who are not getting scholarships from the U. of I.,” said Amy Malone, a school counselor at Monticello High School, about 15 miles west of the campus.
State Rep. Chad Hays, an eastern Illinois Republican, says he has raised the issue with university administrators and believes more kids from Chicago — its public schools, in particular — should be getting in.
…
The school’s changes were noticeable. Sixty-nine students from Lyons Township High School, in Chicago’s western suburbs, enrolled at the university this fall, up from 59 a year earlier.
College coordinator Lianne Musser said those accepted to business and engineering programs were as qualified as those from previous years, but in other programs, “We had maybe a couple that kind of raised eyebrows that they got in,” she said.
Sophomore business major Megan Erickson says she doesn’t mind a slight drop in test scores but that lowering them again would be a problem.
“I don’t think we should have those students here because they’re not going to make it here,” the suburban Chicago native said.
University President Timothy Killeen has made it clear there aren’t as many in-state students as he would like.
If that means another small decrease in test scores, Tucker, the vice provost, is OK with that.
“I wouldn’t want us to start on a downward path,” he said. “But if what we saw is a little ripple as we kind of level out here, I’d be happy with that.”===
“Questions?”
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 5:30 pm:
–It’s not just that universities create opportunities by educating students; they create opportunities by their very existence, especially in places without other major industries. As long as the budget impasse scares students and parents away from its schools, the state loses out on both.
Yep.–
No stuff? I wonder if every generation starting in 1818 knew that?
I think they did.
So what’s the problem with the guy in charge now? Is it a head injury, or just misanthropy? What’s the good answer with that one?
Because, head injury or misanthropy, he’s bad news, wrecking what generations of Illinoisans busted their humps to build for their children.
- AnonymousOne - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 5:59 pm:
The severe head injury caused the misanthropy apparently. Something’s wrong with him
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:12 pm:
OW, you know I never doubt your veracity, but I’m just not sure that the Trib article is specific enough to take to the bank. Does one class with lower ACT scores equal a “lowering of standards?” I don’t know. I think the best comment in that story was from the student observing that lower-ACT entrants may have a diminished chance of success.
Lack of real leadership and more interims than the Trumpers has hurt that campus as much as the missing State funding.
illini, I’m certain there will still be interims in 2019 that Gov. OW and his new UI President could slide you right into.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:18 pm:
–Something’s wrong with him–
What is the good reason for this destruction? The objective?
Bruce and Diane sure ain’t Bill and Melinda.
Is there a Rauner supporter in Illinois who wants to sell what’ he’s doing? Honestly?
What’s the ROI for this damage?
Whoops, almost forgot — every GOP GA legislator other than McCann — do you get dinner and a movie with that, or just a mint, afterwards?
- Flapdoodle - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 9:24 pm:
Ron at 3:28 — “I just don’t see rural Illinois attracting the highly educated.” –
Hmm, between us my wife and I have two docs and 3 masters, and we live in rural Illinois. Careful not to sprain an ankle jumping to conclusions, eh? Just sayin’ . . . .