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* Sun-Times…
After two years of funding cuts from Springfield and no end to the state budget stalemate in sight, Governors State University will increase tuition 15 percent and cut 22 programs, the south suburban campus announced.
The move comes as the campus of about 6,000 students copes with a 50 percent decrease in state funding for the 2016-17 school year. Board of Trustees members approved the changes at a meeting Friday, spokeswoman Keisha Dyson said.
Among the programs to be cut is the bachelor’s degrees in Economics, and the master’s program for education.
The tuition increase is the first in two years, and the school has cut a total of 35 degrees and certificate programs during the past two years. Last year, 63 staff positions were cut. During the 2016 fiscal year, GSU saw its state funding decrease more than 70 percent, to $6 million.
The last two years, the school has received about $18 million from the state total, less than the $24 million it received in just fiscal year 2015 — the year Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner took office, and the last year the state Legislature passed a budget.
The problems at GSU obviously long predate the Rauner administration. But things have only gotten worse since then.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:24 am
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===The move comes as the campus of about 6,000 students copes with a 50 percent decrease in state funding for the 2016-17 school year.===
That specific reality of today is not on Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Blagojevich, or Quinn.
This is not on Madigan either.
Governors own. This governor owns…
“…a 50 percent decrease in state funding for the 2016-17 school year.”
A governor can change that. A governor would have to wait to change that.
Rauner doesn’t.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:33 am
Job creators get excited about lack of ongoing education opportunities for the work force.
Anyone from the state community colleges association want to chime in on the ongoing carnage? Speak now, while you still have a chance.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:39 am
“Do Your Job” was the plea that Chance made yesterday.
I guess if BVR sees the destruction of Higher Ed in this state as being part of his job he would consider himself to be doing an exceptional job.
Comment by illini Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:41 am
The state universities were notified yesterday to go down to Springfield today to talk with the legislature…does this mean a Stop Gap Bill is imminent?
Comment by IllHigherEd Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:44 am
So I’m confused here. Two years into his first — and potentially last — term, Rauner hasn’t outlined how he plans to *fix* these problems.
I understand that they’re being caused. I get that. But what’s the recovery plan?
Where’s the blue ribbon panel for the Illinois State Higher Education Recovery Initiative?
I mean, Rauner is running out of time. Time’s up — and then what?
Comment by Bobby Catalpa Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:45 am
===The state universities were notified yesterday to go down to Springfield today to talk with the legislature…does this mean a Stop Gap Bill is imminent?===
Won’t matter unless Rauner signs it, stopgap or not.
Curious that they were told to talk to the legislature, why not have the Governor do the lift for Higher Ed?
Ah. Yes…. yes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:46 am
IllHigherEd: What’s your source for that??
Comment by Blue Bayou Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:47 am
@Willy - you have been saying this for quite some time but it is always worth repeating -
“Governors own. This governor owns…”
Comment by illini Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:50 am
What the heck is going on at IBHE now? They ousted the Executive Director (good thing) but then approved a contract to have the ED of ICCB be co-ED of IBHE last month in what is an odd and conflict-of-interest nightmare move. Then ICCB cancelled the meeting where they were supposed to approve the deal too. So IBHE is without an ED, acting or otherwise, now apparently. Is this also a feature or just a bug? Also missing is a Deputy Director for Finance and Budgeting, coincidence?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:50 am
=Is this also a feature or just a bug? Also missing is a Deputy Director for Finance and Budgeting, coincidence?=
Unless I misunderstood her, Beth Purvis said that the would like to put ISBE, IBHE, and ICCB under one umbrella.
I took that as one Board and one leader but that just might be my interpretation of her words.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 9:58 am
Among the programs to be cut is the bachelor’s degrees in Economics…
There are 17 students with Economics listed as their academic major, or 0.2% of the total student population.
http://www.govst.edu/uploadedFiles/About/University_Governance/gsu/PAM%20Pages%20Fall%202016%20V2(2).pdf
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 10:31 am
Why are they cutting Economics? That’s traditionally the BA with the highest average salary.
On the other hand, was always under the impression that GSU was a post-grad institution, so maybe the classes were too small to justify continuing the program.
Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 10:40 am
Blue Bayou this is for your question to IllHigherEd
Senate Hearings
3/7/2017 2:30PM Higher Education
212 Capitol - Springfield, IL
Subject Matter On: Testimony on the Governor’s proposed budget from the following:, Board of Higher Education, Community College Board, Student Assistance Commission, Chicago State University, E.I.U., Governor’s State University, I.S.U., Northeastern Il. University, N.I.U., S.I.U., University of Illinois, W.I.U.
Subject Matter Added
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 10:41 am
@ Been There: THANKS!
Comment by Blue Bayou Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 11:02 am
City Zen - how many students from other programs take classes in Economics? How much does that program cost, per student, compared to other programs at GSU or similar programs at other institutions? A rational plan for higher ed would look at these data points, among others, this is just blindly slashing at higher ed.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 11:29 am
The reality is that once again, this news has no immediate impact on the vast majority of suburban republicans. Suburban kids aren’t going to GSU. Until it hits the suburbanite’s pocket hard, they aren’t going to get involved. Impacts to UIUC and other state schools might have an effect. Even that is limited as lots of suburban kids are going to private universities or out of state.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 11:37 am
GSU has abandoned the surrounding 140 K-12 school districts. The program cuts has led to only 3 degrees remaining in the Division of Education: 2 undergrad and 1 grad degree. Also, GSU made these cuts without a financial analysis. We found one program that they cut where they will actually lose about $200K in tuition!
Comment by Sandi Estep Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 11:44 am
===Suburban kids aren’t going to GSU.===
Annon, even if you changed this to Suburban republican kids it still would not be true. Plenty of students from those GOP suburbs attend there. Their reach stretches all across to Joliet.
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 11:49 am
@Anonymous - I agree with you. I didn’t major in Econ, but it was one of my most enjoyable and challenging classes in college. I can only go off of the numbers provided by the school.
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 1:20 pm
A lot of damage to higher education in Illinois will be long-term. Good reputations that were built up over decades are being destroyed in just a couple years.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 1:22 pm
==Suburban kids aren’t going to GSU==
Sure they are, but they’ve got a better option 20 miles northeast: Purdue Northwest. Seems like the smarter educational buy to me.
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 1:31 pm
Anecdotal evidence. Of the 8 realitives I knew last year one stayed in state. I asked the the 5 this year none are staying in state. 20 years ago it was more expensive to go out of state. Not the case anymore. Furthermore, 2 attending Alabama got serious money for a moderately above average students.. reality is some kids are scared programs could be cut.
Comment by Echo The Bunnyman Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:09 pm
It would seem that the governor does not want the state to support higher education. It is not clear why this is the case, but it is certainly what is happening.
State support for higher ed began declining in the 1990’s. That decline in funding led to dramatic increases in tuition and an out-migration of college freshmen that exceeded in-migration. In the early 2000’s the net loss was around 10,000 freshmen. The net loss declined during the great recession, but it bounced back and exceeded 16,000 in 2014. The 2016 numbers should be available soon, but it likely they have increased significantly.
In the past month, we have seen community colleges and public universities shedding faculty and programs. Imagine how this year’s HS seniors will react. Those who can afford it will flee in greater numbers; those who can’t flee and can’t pay the higher tuition will be, as my father used to say, S-O-L.
This dismantling of higher ed is, to say the least, counter-productive. It is also disturbing and sad.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:45 pm
Could anyone ever address the elephant in the room concerning higher ed? Administrative salaries have skyrocketed. There is no justification for paying university presidents astronomical salaries, but it is a reality. The salaries and benefits for the figureheads is out of control.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:27 pm
===Could anyone ever address the elephant in the room concerning higher ed? Administrative salaries have skyrocketed. There is no justification for paying university presidents astronomical salaries, but it is a reality. The salaries and benefits for the figureheads is out of control. ===
When you run things like a business, you compensate executives like a business.
(Maybe Higher Ed shouldn’t be run like a business)
Comment by Graduated College Student Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:51 pm