Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

SIU Carbondale’s woes continue with long-term funding shift to SIUE

Posted in:

Illinois

* AP…

Southern Illinois University trustees will consider a plan to gradually shift state funding from the Carbondale campus to the Edwardsville campus to reflect enrollment shifts.

Historically the Carbondale campus has had about 64 percent of state funding and about 36 percent went to Edwardsville. That split mirrored enrollment, The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reported.

However enrollment at the Carbondale campus has been declining and more students are enrolling at Edwardsville. Enrollment distribution between the two schools is now about equal with Carbondale at about 14,500 students and Edwardsville with about 13,800 students.

Trustees are to vote at the April 12 meeting on whether to “begin a phased adjustment of the state appropriation allocation in a more equitable fashion.”

* The Southern…

The first phase of the proposal, a “good-faith effort” to begin the process, would reallocate an additional $5.1 million of the state appropriation to the Edwardsville campus for FY ’19.

The proposal doesn’t lay out a definite end goal for reallocation, but it calls for System President Randy Dunn to hire an external consultant to develop a recommended formula for addressing the funding gap — and it anticipates that the recommendation might fall somewhere between $17.7 million and $23.3 million in funds transferred to SIUE.

During the state budget impasse last year, SIUC borrowed $35 million from SIUE after exhausting $83 million in reserves.

On March 1, the SIUE Faculty Senate adopted a resolution calling on the Board of Trustees to “create a new, fair and dynamic formula” to “reallocate the SIU system budget in a just and equitable manner.”

* I skimmed through the report yesterday (click here). What really jumped out at me was that SIUC’s fall 1999 enrollment was 22,596 and its fall 2017 enrollment was just 14,184. That’s a 37 percent decrease. Whoa.

Meanwhile, fall 1999 enrollment at SIUE was 11,877, compared to 13,796 last fall.

To say that SIUC’s future is bleak would be an understatement. Its legislators better get on this soon or they could wind up with a ghost town.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 11:58 am

Comments

The people running Carbondale are living in another decade. They have done nothing but rely on state funding to keep that town afloat, no effort to diversity their economy or partner with businesses. Legalizing weed isn’t just beneficial for Chicago it would be a huge investment for towns in Central and Southern Illinois. Add in a casino to Carbondale along with their wineries, this could be a great destination spot.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:06 pm
This should not come has a surprise for anyone who has been around the SIUE campus in the last five years.

Our daughter graduated last year from SIUE, she loved the school and location being close to home (Springfield) but also being close to STL where she spent a lot of weekends.

What struck me when we would visit her is the amount of kids at SIUE from the Chicago area but also kids from eastern Iowa and eastern Mizzou. The kids loved the location and the fact they continue to expand the selection majors at the school.

The campus is beautiful, there are new buildings everywhere and kids from all over Illinois and the Midwest have chosen SIUE.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:07 pm
Its even worse than it sounds. According to the BND, freshman enrollment at SIUC was down almost 20% just this year. A few more classes like that, replacing the current upperclassmen and it’ll be an even more dramatic drop in enrollment.

SIUE is a real success story though.

Comment by AndyIllini Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:08 pm
Why go to SIU if you can go to Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky… Western Michigan…

“Rauner’s not funding SIU… (X) is offering money to go there, and it’s fully funded”

Rauner watts universities closed.

It’s up to the GA to save funding for higher education.

If you represent a state university, stop listening to Rauner or your school might face its demise… with your help.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:08 pm
Sems like step one is tossin’ GovJunk and the GOPies he rented for the years of the budget impasse. Next an aggressive marketing effort to match in state costs with border states. A little streamlinin’ on the path advanced degrees (4 years to a masters) more resources for the sure job programs at Aviation and Automotive.
It is not a complicated path, but the new chancellor and the reorg plan does not add spit to the plan.

Comment by annonin' Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:21 pm
SIUE has had chancellors who stuck around for more than three years. SIUC is on their eleventh one since that time.

Comment by Majority of Me Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:24 pm
The death of S.I.U.C. is heart breaking. It literally keeps me awake at night.

Comment by Saluki Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:33 pm
22 years ago, my daughter and I cut short our campus visit after one hour. ‘Dad, this place is gross.” I was devastated. Daddy’s little girl would have been 10 miles from home. But I agreed with her.

Today, although a few improvements, it’s not a shining star.

This summer, I made a comment that many areas near the campus make me feel uncomfortable. Rich disagreed with me.
I stand by my opinion.

Months ago I suggested that if you want to know why kids aren’t going to SIUC, you should ask them. I have. It’s disturbing. But it’s reality.

I have no answers. It may be unfixable. I just don’t know.

Comment by BlueDogDem Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:48 pm
== calls for System President Randy Dunn to hire an external consultant to develop a recommended formula … ==

Got to get that out of town expert to recommend what we know we need to do … so we will have a scapegoat when needed.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 12:52 pm
===Why go to SIU if you can go to Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky… Western Michigan…===

That, in a nutshell, is what is killing SIUC. It was the preferred destination for students who wanted a change in scenery and a relatively large, diverse university. In state-tuition made SIUC the affordable preference. As state funding has declined, tuition has gone up & the out-of-state alternatives became financially competitive. In addition, the University of Iowa and Western Michigan are much closer to Chicago and Iowa State is closer to folks in the western suburbs.

Want to keep folks from leaving Illinois? Build up our higher ed.

Want to attract high tech industries to any area? Build up the local university.

Why is this investment so hard to get through Springfield? Why do we have a Governor who wants to shut down these economic drivers? (BTW, Wisconsin is starting to face the same issues.)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 1:05 pm
” SIUC’s fall 1999 enrollment was 22,596 and its fall 2017 enrollment was just 14,184. That’s a 37 percent decrease. Whoa. ” It was my understanding that downsizing was coming no matter what. Also heard recently the entire east side dorms/campus are going to be demolished. Bye-bye Schneider. SIU-E has really done itself proud.

Comment by Salukitoo Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 1:44 pm
A natural result for a state that leads the nation in population loss.

Comment by Texas Red Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 1:54 pm
- 2 years ago, my daughter and I cut short our campus visit after one hour. ‘Dad, this place is gross.” I was devastated. Daddy’s little girl would have been 10 miles from home. But I agreed with her.

I must be the same age as your daughter and my parents must be just south of where you live. I had a similar conversation with my parents back then. I’m in Libertyville now, but Cannot imagine sending my kids to SIUC. I have family down south with kids deciding on colleges over the years… I don’t know of one person who went to SIUC. I haven’t been on campus in more years than I can remember so my experience with the campus is quite antiquated.

Comment by Sands Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 1:54 pm
“Its legislators better get on this soon or they could wind up with a ghost town.

Terri Bryant doesn’t seem to know that SIUC is in her district.

Comment by Turn it up Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 1:55 pm
I accompanied my daughter to her interview for physician assistant school at at SIUC three or four years ago. It was a chamber of commerce day weather wise and thought I would wander the campus reliving old memories while she went through her processes.

At all the the trail entrances to Thompson Woods (SIU grads will know where that is) were yellow signs that looked like they marked a utility line or something similar. Curiostiy finally got the best of me and I got close enough to read one of the markers. It basically warned students not to wallk the trails at night due to crime issues and the campus police really couldn’t protect you. The Life Sciences buildings where my daughter would be spending most of her time butt up against Thompson Woods.

When she emerged from her interviews she said ” they couldn’t pay me to go to this school.” Why, I asked. First words out of the initial speakers mouth were they were “REASONABLY sure the PA program is going to survive the state’s budget issues.”

Next up was the financial aid person. Dropped her brief case on the stage asked if any one had any questions, looked around, “No, good,” then left. No presentation, nothing.

So sad. I got a degree from SIUC at a reasonable price and it eventually led me to a good career. Not sure I would recommend it to anyone now.

Comment by Leave a Light on George Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 1:59 pm
My nephew was offered a full ride scholarship plus a stipend to attend SIUC 7 years ago and he turned it down. His option was my ( and his fathers ) Alma Mater with only a very modest financial incentive. He made the right decision for his future and has no regrets.

On the positive side, two other local students from this small farming community received the same offer that my nephew turned down and both of them are now in Medical School.

There are success stories, but SIUC has lost a lot, much of which it will likely never regain.

Comment by illini Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 2:28 pm
My daughter is a sophomore at SIUC. We live in Champaign and she had absolutely no interest in attending U of I. She’s having a great experience in Carbondale and in her program (industrial design). It’s heartbreaking to see the enrollment decline. I’m not optimistic about the current chancellor either, although I hope I’m wrong about that.

Comment by SalukiMom Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 2:29 pm
Pretty clear to me -its mission is graduate campus what they are going to do with it……Looks like there is a plan its a small grad school in Carbondale

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 2:45 pm
Ironically its good news for WIU and EIU

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 2:45 pm
The decline in enrollment at SIUC is probably due to students who arrived in the 60 and 70 dying off or deciding to forgo there degree. It was said at that time period, with some truth, people keep coming but nobody ever leaves”.

I visited Carbondale last year for the fist time in at least a decade. Got off the Interstate onto Rt 13 at Marion. At first I was struck with the way things had been built up and how thriving the area seemed. That faded as I got closer to Carbondale. When I got there I was struck with how little had changed since the 60 and 70. I drove through the off campus private student housing area. It was like a time warp. The people and buildings looked a lot the same. Only the cars were different.

It was a great place. It had many excellent programs. It did great things for Southern Illinois and for me. It would be great for Southern Illinois if it were to thrive.

I have no idea how to do that. It would probably help if the Federal government would reinstate the draft. All I can say is, “Come back Delyte Morris. All is forgiven.

Comment by Bigtwich Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 3:15 pm
My father-in-law was Delyte Morris’ right hand man. Among other duties he helped to create the Edwardsville campus. But, the Carbondale campus was always his first love. Unfortunately, his memory isn’t what is used to be and while I think he would be proud at the evolution of SIUE, he would be devastated by the decline of his beloved SIUC.

Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 3:31 pm
I understand the reasoning, but when SIUC decided to ditch its party school image, it lost some of its identity. The Halloween riots were probably the last straw but being known world wide as a top party school was a big draw

Comment by Generation X Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 3:53 pm
SIUC has three major problems that may be unfixable First off, give me a break, comparing the SIUC and SIUE enrollment figures is like comparing apples and oranges. SIUE is located in a major metropolitan area that is increasing in size. Every year there are more potential students for SIUE to attract right in its backyard while SIUC is located in an area of little or no growth. In order to increase its enrollment, SIUC has to compete with every other university in the country including SIUE in attracting foreign students, out of state students, etc., in order to increase its enrollment. Which is virtually impossible. Second, two years of no appropriations due to Rauner’s refusal to sign a budget has literally devastated SIUC. It will take 10 years to repair the damage he has done. Most SIU departments are shells of what they used to be before he became governor. When faculty retire or leave for greener pastures, it is extremely difficult to replace them with quality people. Would you come to Illinois if you were a highly qualified young professor who could get a better paying job elsewhere? The result is smaller departments with older professors who have a difficult time attracting students. The third major problem facing SIUC is the “footballizing” of college chancellors and presidents. SIUC has been through a number of chancellors in the past 10 years who–just like sports coaches at smaller universities–clearly view SIUC as their initial step to the big time at the U of I, Missouri, or elsewhere. They are only here long enough to polish up their resume to get a higher paying job elsewhere. The result is that the university has no long-term coherent strategy to address its enrollment and other issues.

And, finally, give a break, no, the physical appearance of Carbondale, while not great, is not the real reason enrollment is declining. I would take Carbondale any day over the run down urban blight communities surrounding SIUE that essentially look like Carbondale on steroids.

Comment by Dutch3001 Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 4:33 pm
A lot if it is demographics plus change in college taste. We are going to have fewer students most are from northeastern Illinois and most are not interested in remote parts of downstate. It’s going to wipe out some of the small colleges SIU is going to make Carbondale a specialized campus and WIU and EIU will have to downsize.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 7:49 pm
@ Dutch

You do realize that 1. SIUE has to compete too. That is not unique to Carbondale. 2. SIUE suffered from the same lack of budget. 3. Where exactly have the chancellors from SIUC gone that are so much better? Is THAT really the strength of your argument?

Don’t reward SIUC for years of mismanagement and legalized theft of state appropriations, while SIUE has saved money and grown DESPITE being underfunded.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 8:28 pm
Sad so much tax money needs to go to outrageous pensions.

Comment by Ron Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 8:36 pm
Ya’ll need to take a look at the lead article under Downstate. then go ask kids why they aren’t choosing SIUC.

Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 8:42 pm
Dutch, your view of the SIUE neighborhood is quite wrong. The surrounding communities are thriving, just like the University.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Apr 5, 18 @ 10:01 pm
Got a good chuckle that legalizing weed and adding casinos will help improve things. Yup, that’s what college students need… i would also suggest passing legislation to have the strip clubs up the road add a daily free nacho bar and donuts on sunday morning. I went to WIU and then, it was a party school, later in life i realized that every college is a party school (seek and you will find). A multifaceted problem needs multifaceted solutions. There is data about retention rate and why students don’t return (you’d be surprised at all college retention rates of freshman who don’t return). Quality programs, instructors, funding, and even modern living conditions all play a part. All the state schools have these issues.

Comment by Dude, Where's My Campus Friday, Apr 6, 18 @ 9:06 am