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* From the Southern Illinoisan…
In a special meeting, the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees on Wednesday authorized a plan to allow the Carbondale campus to borrow from the Edwardsville campus until which time the state of Illinois approves a full annual state appropriation to the SIU System. […]
As to the borrowing authorization, the board’s affirmative vote on the resolution allows Carbondale to borrow up to $35 million in unrestricted funds from the Edwardsville campus. Under the terms of the borrowing arrangement, the Carbondale campus’s leadership is directed to develop a financial sustainability plan of necessary reductions to address the fiscal crisis facing the Carbondale campus, excluding the School of Medicine.
Dunn said the approved resolution attempted to address some of the concerns that have been expressed by constituency group leaders on the Edwardsville campus since Dunn announced the borrowing proposal in a System Connection letter this past month. For instance, it set a cap on the amount that can be borrowed from Edwardsville — $35 million — and reemphasizes a requirement that Carbondale come up with a plan to reduce costs by July. […]
If there is no state budget by the beginning of the 2018 fiscal year on July 1 or other actions taken to “sufficiently sustain Carbondale operations,” the resolution calls for SIU System President Dunn to make a recommendation that the board declare a “short term fiscal emergency” for the Carbondale campus, excluding the School of Medicine. […]
The Carbondale campus has depleted all of its available sources of unrestricted funds as the state’s budget impasse has dragged on for close to two years. As of February, the campus had an unrestricted cash deficit of $23.2 million. The School of Medicine had a positive balance of $59.2 million. Without a state budget, it is projected the Carbondale campus will exceed the available unrestricted funds of the School of Medicine in May 2017. The School of Medicine, primarily based in Springfield, sits under the umbrella of the Carbondale campus.
* Related…
* WIU to demolish long-vacant 20-story Higgins Hall in July: When Higgins was built, Roselieb said, Western Illinois University’s enrollment was much higher. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Roselieb said, enrollment at all public universities in the state started a downward trend that continues today. As a result, Western doesn’t need the number or residence halls that it once did.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 2:25 pm
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Thanks Bruce.
And now that you have bought new GOP House and Senate sears in S IL, SIU can expect no more than lip service.
Sad.
Comment by Winnin' Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 2:34 pm
“So close, so very very close. Almost there. Just a little bit longer.”
B. Rauner
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 2:37 pm
Wow so many commencement speach opportunities for Bruce
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 2:43 pm
Thoroughly predictable, given the actions of the governor.
He’s not stupid, he’s not incompetent, he knows what he’s doing and this is what he wants.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 2:44 pm
What an achievement! Way to go Bruce & billionaires. Time to pop open one of the $6,000 bottles of wine.
Comment by James Knell Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 2:47 pm
This is like watching, which town, Carbondale or Edwardsville gets to keep a university and the schools are trying to save themselves from the governor.
State universities are saving themselves from closing and the state’s governor.
That’s where Illinois’ higher ed is.
I’d have much more sympathy, I really do for the towns, students, and faculty, but the last response(s) by the universities’ presidents at times make me feel less for those presidents
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 2:50 pm
@Willy - I totally agree that most University Presidents have been their own worst enemy in making any compelling case for the additional resources that are absolutely required to at least stay open.
Carbondale seems to be dying, Edwardsville is booming ( And I am talking both the University and the Community ). Which will survive?
And I recall reading not long ago that the enrollment is about equal between the two campuses.
Comment by illini Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:02 pm
As an SIUC grad married to the daughter of two SIUC faculty, I love southern Illinois. We hope to move back there once I retire. However, as SIUC slowly grinds to a halt and collapses, there will be nothing left to go back to.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:03 pm
So, Southerners, how does that vote for Terri Bryant look about now? Baron Von Carhartt strangling your economic engine, and not a peep from your GOP delegation. . . *Crickets*
Comment by Ray del Camino Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:15 pm
Thanks, Randy. Blago’s hand-picked State Superintendent has outdone himself at SIU. Unprecedented turnover, especially at Carbondale, of chancellors and top admins. Enrollment dropping like a rock at Carbondale and growing at Edwardsville. A new chancellor was to be hired for Carbondale last night, but in a classsic Dunn move two new candidates turned up at the last second, totallly jamming up the process.
What if we don’t see a full higher ed budget until 2019? Is Dunn gonna ask the U of I for a handout? Why not borrow from the money factory for doctors? They have almost twice the reserves of Edwardsville.
Yeah, Rauner owns the higher ed funding mess. Free and clear. But make no mistake, Dunn owns this sleazy cash grab, no chancellor, and the slow death of SIU-C.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:16 pm
The senate needs to get over its Madigan complex and pass the life line –Mendoza testified in front of embarrassed senators on Tuesday that SIU’s money is sitting in an account and ready to go.
Comment by Go Dawgs! Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:16 pm
===Why not borrow from the money factory for doctors?===
Try reading. They don’t have to borrow it. They’re spending it right now.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:19 pm
largest employer south of springfield–and guess what, aint no low wage manufacturin jobs going to replace these good jobs.
Senate needs to get over its Madigan complex and get SIU’s money down to them. Mendoza told embarrassed Senators on Tuesday all she needs is the approp authority to cut the check–the funds are there to spend.
Comment by Go Dawgs Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:21 pm
@Ray - you and @Wordslinger have rightly called out Southern Illinois for its overwhelming support of Rauner, his agenda and all his bought and paid for surrogates.
And @G’Kar - Southern Illinois can still be a good place to live so long as you chose your friends carefully and are careful not to engage in discussing politics with strangers.
Comment by illini Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:25 pm
Rich, I read it, just didn’t understand that sentence. Thanks for the catch.
Comment by Arthur Amdersen Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:27 pm
We are toast down here. If you want to see SIUC before it’s gone come now, because this Institution is just about done.
Comment by Saluki Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 3:44 pm
@Saluki - many of my high school classmates ( 50 years ago ) attended, graduated and became productive contributors to the economy of Southern Illinois.
Some friends have retired from the University as well. And I know several business owners who have seen the writing on the wall and have decided to sell out while they could and could still get a good price for their hard work.
As an aside, my nephew was offered a full ride 7 years ago to SIUC. He opted to follow his Dad and three other generations of our famkily to UIUC where he only got a $1000 scholarship. Carbondale, unfortunately, has been losing its drawing power for some time.
Comment by illini Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 4:01 pm
Lets hope southern IL figures out who they vote for matters, and votes differently in 2018.
Comment by Mama Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 4:10 pm
So Carbondale has already drained the med school dry, now they move on to the next blood supply in Edwardsville. Textbook definition of a “death spiral.” That’s governin’!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 4:17 pm
Congratulations Brad Cole!
Your downstate mayors must be thrilled.
Comment by Juvenal Friday, May 12, 17 @ 6:53 am