Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

NEIU “can’t sustain operations through summer,” announces a furlough day every week

Posted in:

Illinois

* From Northeastern Illinois University…

TO: University Community

FROM: Sharon Hahs, President

DATE: March 8, 2016

RE: Budget Update 3-8-16

Effectively immediately, all Administrative and Professional and non-negotiated employees will do one furlough day per week beginning the week of March 14. I mentioned at the Open Budget Forum on February 23rd that furloughs could be a part of our cost-savings measures. Given that the budget impasse is entering its ninth month, the University is now compelled to begin its furlough program. This is necessary because we anticipate that our tuition revenue and reserves will be diminishing to the point where we can’t sustain operations through summer and into fall. The furlough program, spending freezes, holding positions vacant, and other actions are intended to provide cost savings to bridge operations to the next major infusion of funds (the FY16 appropriation or fall semester tuition revenues).

We are continuing to negotiate with our collective bargaining units. Additional details about the furlough program are being put in place, and you will receive information and FAQs very soon. Even as we implement the program, we will discontinue it when our state appropriation is received (assuming it will be adequate to meet this year’s cash flow requirements).

The decisions we are forced to make are incredibly difficult and certainly painful both economically and personally. This is an action that we all regret having to take, but for the sake of our students and Northeastern, it is a necessary one. Working together, we will endure these unprecedented times.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our University and our students. Your commitment will take Northeastern into the next 150 years stronger and more resolute in fulfilling our mission.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:00 pm

Comments

Raunner: ‘The mission continues! DESTROY IL. Just for ME. Because I CAN. Mawah ha ha. Nobody can stop me!’

Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:07 pm
“Hang in there” - Fake Gov. Bruce Rauner.

“Furloughs? I don’t want furloughs, I want closures” - Fake Gov. Bruce Rauner

What a sad state of affairs.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:08 pm
“Excellent. Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.”

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:13 pm
I think it’s safe to assume that the dumb people — the low information voters as they’re sometimes called — love this.

This gets votes — and that’s all that counts.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:13 pm
To blame this on Madigan requires one to ignore the constitutional role of an Illinois Governor and amendatory vetoes, among other things.

Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:14 pm
How many colleges and universities will have to close before Rauner will decide to fund higher ed.?

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:15 pm
Word +1

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:20 pm
Afternoon Rich,

Gov Rauner would like to announce to all institutions of higher learning “The beatings will continue until morale improves”.

Best,
ck!

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:20 pm
My office got a heads-up about this last Friday since we’re gonna get the calls about it.

Still a punch in the gut, even when you know it’s coming.

I’ll repeat what I’ve said before: to Governor Rauner, this is a feature, not a bug.

Hang in there, indeed.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:21 pm
Most Illinois families live paycheck to paycheck.

Suddenly losing 1/5 of their salary creates unsustainable, shocking financial damage to many families. This damage isn’t necessarily reversible if and when a budget arrives. It takes 7 years to cure a credit score.

The hostages are now taking buckshot to the hindquarters.

Many will choose to disappear rather than continue to be abused while waiting to find out they are casualties.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:22 pm
Argh. Anonymous @ 5:21 pm was me.

Comment by thunderspirit Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:22 pm
==How many colleges and universities will have to close before Rauner will decide to fund higher ed.?==

All the publicly funded ones, ay least until Phoenix University rises from the ashes of a burned out Illinois as the primary provider of college education in the state, and of course DeVry, it is Rauner’s model for education:

“Bruce Rauner – @GovRauner
Excited to visit the talented students of @devryuniv Advantage Academy, a great model for education here in IL”

Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:24 pm
I’ve stopped blaming The Bruce. He’s a . He can’t help himself. My ire is now directed at anyone who won’t vote to override this .

Comment by MSIX Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:25 pm
Apologies for the missing words. I guess some characters aren’t allowed.

Comment by MSIX Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:26 pm
@ Mama 5:15 p.m. == How many colleges and universities will have to close before Rauner will decide to fund higher ed.? ==

I think they’re going to let the “free market” (whatever *that* means with respect to higher ed) determine that — all part of shakin’ up Springfield … and shakin’ up Charleston, Macomb, Edwardsville, Carbondale, the South Side of Chicago and now the Northwest Side. It’s beginning to look like 19th-century social Darwinism on steroids.

Comment by olddog Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:27 pm
This is terrible. The first classes to go will be those with less enrolled. Those are typically the ones needed for seniors to graduate.

Comment by present Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:33 pm
–It’s beginning to look like 19th-century social Darwinism on steroids.–

AKA “squeeze the beast” for the “necessary shakeout.”

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:38 pm
@ wordslinger 5:38 p.m.

Yes. Exactly.

Comment by olddog Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:46 pm
Tell me again how this is helping the business community?

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:53 pm
The problem with this issue is both Madigan and Rauner are both so out of touch with reality they do not realize how bad it is hurting middle class and low income families and students. I hope they are happy with their political points while Illinois falls further and further behind with an uneducated workforce and children going elsewhere out of state for school.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:55 pm
Thanks Bruce. Thanks Minority Leaders.

Comment by Austin Blvd Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:59 pm
–The problem with this issue is both Madigan and Rauner are both so out of touch with reality they do not realize how bad it is hurting middle class and low income families and students.–

The General Assembly has passed appropriations for higher education and MAP without GOP votes.

The governor has vetoed them. The General Assembly has failed to override the vetoes.

This is the first time since ISU opened in 1857 that there is not a state appropriation for higher education.

What’s new this fiscal year?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:13 pm
so….i guess we will have to wait until after the general election before some of the republicans will want to distance themselves from “our awesome gov”???

Comment by bccs staff Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:19 pm
They just need to remember the insightful words of the Governor, “Short term pain for long term gain.” I’m sure that will make everyone feel better.

Comment by Tough Guy Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:32 pm
==He can’t help himself. My ire is now directed at anyone who won’t vote to override this. ==

Voted against Jimenez this morning because she voted against overriding on MAP. Fantasizing about travelling north tomorrow to take a crisp $50 bill from Dunkin and then voting against him.

Comment by Whatever Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:38 pm
typical action from an Ivy League boy

Comment by Etown Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:45 pm
Blame Dunkin?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:54 pm
This so outrageous on so many levels. Rauner is the worst, the absolute worst governor this state has ever seen.

Comment by Higher Ed Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 7:01 pm
What’s the big deal? If unions would just “Go away” and some lovely corporate partner could profit from our higher learning institutions everything would be fine. Ask our governor, he’ll tell you. Oh wait…. That’s what he’s not telling you.

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 7:37 pm
Word at 6:13 is spot on, and the trickle down devastating economic impacts of Rauner’s “dereliction of duties”.

Comment by XDNR Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 7:44 pm
It could be the University situation that creates the pressure for a budget deal, but since most universities are in Republican districts, the Governor will just allow a vote on University and MAP funding only, and while it will be nice to have that issue settled we’ll be right back where we are now.

I was so hopeful for a Rauner administration, now I know how my Democrat friends felt in 2004 after two years of Blago.

However I will also add that now we are on our THIRD Governor that can’t work with the Speaker. Maybe the Governors aren’t the problem here.

Comment by Not it Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 8:16 pm
While I understand Madigan is hardly blameless for the massive deficits, I don’t remember centers of higher education being destroyed in his decades in Springfield. They are being destroyed in Rauner’s relative months of officeholding in Springfield. To blame this on Madigan is foolishness. It’s a Rauner goal; social darwinism at its finest.

Comment by The_Equalizer Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 8:36 pm
recall needed ASAP

Comment by 13th Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 8:39 pm
how convienient state university hired a football coach for $25mil while other univeristies are suffering in state funding.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 8:43 pm
==how convienient state university hired a football coach for $25mil while other univeristies are suffering in state funding.==

Don’t exaggerate, it’s only $21mil.

Comment by MSIX Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 8:51 pm
The long term will be bad. The vacant positions and non filled tenure lines, will create a larger pool of part time/underpaid/ mostly unprepared adjuncts who will then drive away more students. Then conservatives will complain about how little college graduates don’t know and the cycle begins anew.

Comment by Dr X Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 9:00 pm
But to be clear -are they saying they won’t be open in the summer, or the furloughs will allow them to open in the summer?

Comment by Dr X Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 9:01 pm
Rauner’s new name is Raunan the Destroyer! He can’t be satisfied until the State of Illinois, its schools and institutions are in ruins and the formerly well-paid public workers are dressed in rags and begging for shiny pennies from their corporate overlords.

Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 9:18 pm
Northeastern will be open all spring and summer and into the fall. The furloughs and other measures taken will ensure that.

Comment by NEIUadvocate Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 9:56 pm
Drip…drip…drip…

Comment by Superstars Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 10:13 pm
This wanton destruction continues but still no sign of the magical political leverage it is meant to produce.

Arrogance plus ignorance is a dangerous thing.

Comment by Peon Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 10:38 pm
Never forget what Kristen McQueary said:

“I find myself wishing for a storm in Chicago — an unpredictable, haughty, devastating swirl of fury.”

That is exactly what is happening across Illinois.

Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 10:51 pm
This is just so sad.

Comment by SadStudent Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 3:41 am
The big hit will be when schools lose acredidation due to cuts they’ve had to make to stay open. That will truly be the end for many. No way you go for an engineering, medical, law or other degree at an unaccredited school. IT isn’t easy to get back either.

Comment by State Engineer Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:00 am
Lets not forget the Democrat majorities for the last twelve years have decimated higher ed funding to pay for all of their social programs. There is more than enough blame to go around here.

Comment by Leatherneck Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:18 am
=== Lets not forget the Democrat majorities for the last twelve years have decimated higher ed funding to pay for all of their social programs. There is more than enough blame to go around here.===

Yet somehow the schools always got their appropriations.

The difference is that the schools got *nothing* this year.

Comment by Stuff Happens Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:26 am
===Democrat majorities for the last twelve years have decimated higher ed funding to pay for all of their social programs. There is more than enough blame to go around here.===

1st, “Democrat”, ugh, c’mon, be better.

2nd…

Nope. Rauner personally vetoed the funding for Higer Education. That’s all… ALL… on the Governor.

Bruce Rauner has chosen to not fund Higher Education with his vetoes.

That’s on this governor, or any governor making that choice.

If any state universities close, it will be on the sitting governor. Governors own thibgs like this, they always do.

“Democrat”… ugh.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:29 am
Last year:

ARS biological science technician Kristina Glenzinski (right) mentors NEIU student Etai Kalimi.

In March 2015, ARS staff at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), in Peoria, IL, mentored a group of students from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) (designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution) for a week-long scientific immersion program. This unique partnership between NCAUR, the USDA Hispanic Serving Institutions National Program, and NEIU is to encourage the next generation of scientists to carry on ARS’s legacy of outstanding research.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/services/Introduction/archive/April%202015/ARSandYou%20index.htm#NCAUR

This year- program is cancelled. No funding.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:29 am
More on the Science Immersion Program-

https://www.facebook.com/NEIUAdmissions/posts/10152197740740350

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:31 am
==There is more than enough blame to go around here.==

Blame? Plenty, but who took a bad situation and turned it into an unequaled disaster?

Comment by AC Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:31 am
Oh no. What a catastrophe. How did Rauner ever think of this? Here’s a news flash - MC staff have been forced to take unpaid leave days for years. State employees (pause for gasp) have been laid off for years.

Comment by weltschmerz Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:44 am
Note to SAPlings: Cross all Illinois public universities off your college search lists. Love, dad.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:46 am
And this is supposed to help improve the overall economy of Illinois how exactly???? Can we have a recall vote please????

Comment by kygirl73 Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:52 am
Meanwhile at EIU, all faculty are being asked to take a 17% pay reduction over their last three paychecks for this FY with hopes that the state will pony up so the faculty could get paid back.

http://www.dailyeasternnews.com/2016/03/08/upi-discusses-salary-reduction/

Comment by CrossTabs Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:52 am
@crazybleeding:

Didnt you know that by reducing income by 1/5 there will be such an expansion of the economy there will be no need to raise taxes!

You spend more with less income.

/snark/

Comment by Jack Stephens Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 8:58 am
—…with hopes that the state will pony up so the faculty could get paid back.–

I hope to replace Martellus Bennett at tight end for the Bears next year.

We’ll see who gets lucky first.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 9:32 am
These furloughs combined with Rauner imposing a doubling of health insurance cost will financially destroy many of these people. Note: the AFSCME contract health insurance is what most University employees receive, even if they are not in an AFSCME bargaining unit.

Comment by Jimmy H Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 10:54 am
I could be off in my thinking of this and don’t wish to continuing ‘beating of a dead horse’ but it would seem with the non-passing of a budget causing the eminent closing of colleges and universities in Illinois plus the non-action taken by anyone or group against this immoral act at the state or local level, what comments and/or potential action does the Illinois Congressional Delegation suggest or say?
As you can tell, this travesty remains beyond my realm of comprehension. Thanks..
Ruckus - Las Cruces, New Mexico

Comment by Ruckus Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 11:43 am