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* Two weeks ago…
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said education reforms in the recently passed state budget will definitely help Western Illinois University-Quad Cities.
Appearing before some 100 students, faculty and others Thursday afternoon at the Riverfront Hall in Moline, Rauner said he believes a number of things in the state budget will help the students immediately.
“The immediate thing is we got the budget passed,” he said. “We got the MAP (Monetary Award Program) grants fully funded (for all four years of a student’s education). We got $25 million more coming to our state institutions of higher ed. And we’ve got immediate help on getting the support for this year.”
But, he quickly added, more work is needed. Among the things he plans to tackle are adding more resources while greatly reducing or eliminating mandates, restrictions, requirements and procurement, pension, hiring limitations and bureaucracy.
“Higher education, this is our time,” Rauner said.
* Today…
.@WesternILUniv President Jack Thomas (@StudentPres) cites declines in state funding and falling student enrollment as reasons for laying off 24 teachers and eliminating 62 vacant teaching positions during BoT meeting today. #twill #higheredu #WIU
— Emily Boyer (@EmilyBoyer1) June 28, 2018
Today's layoff announcement largely affects UPI Local 4100 members. But, the BoT Chair says there may be other employee groups affected by layoffs at a later date. #WIU to layoff 24 teachers (7 are tenured), & close 62 vacant teacher positions https://t.co/1US0fYhM3Z
— Emily Boyer (@EmilyBoyer1) June 28, 2018
Yes, but the state support was about $12-million less than what @WesternILUniv has requested. https://t.co/ABDcyJQYOZ https://t.co/RiH2YhOCOF
— Emily Boyer (@EmilyBoyer1) June 28, 2018
Hat tip: Jake.
…Adding… The WIU press release is here.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
“After state universities were crushed by Bruce Rauner’s 736-day budget crisis, layoffs are still plaguing our higher education system because of his failed leadership,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Teachers and students’ futures are being jeopardized by a failed governor who puts photo-ops ahead of actually doing his job.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:42 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Today’s lession: Social Darwinism.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:46 pm
So much winning…….
Comment by Galena Guy Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:47 pm
Lived in Illinois my entire life. Until recently, I was totally unaware that we had a Western Illinois University.
Comment by PJ Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:49 pm
The beat goes on….
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:50 pm
==Lived in Illinois my entire life. Until recently, I was totally unaware that we had a Western Illinois University. ==
I’m guessing you live in Chicago?
Comment by Joe M Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Guess what? SIU-E advertises all the time in Central Illinois. Western, Eastern, SIU-C?
Not so much.
Universities have Marketing & Advertising instructors—may want to pick their brains.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:53 pm
It’s downstate, so it’s very hard to keep a company of more than six people there. There’s no convenient transportation, not much of a workforce, and it’s very hard.
Comment by Served Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:54 pm
Rauner loves higher education, just ask Dartmouth.
Those 99th GA Raunerites.
All those downstate Raunerites… lovin’ not fundin’ Higher Ed… for a whole General Assembly.
Rauner wants universities closed.
Raunerites are more than willing, and been willing to help.
What’s surprising, to me and those trying to close schools like Western… Western is still open.
I’m sure Mr. Rose is concerned. I’m sure Mr. Barickman is working on his fall syllabus for his class he’s teaching at ISU.
Right? Exactly right.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:55 pm
Are they releasing info on which faculty positions are being eliminated, and in which programs?
Comment by Dr. M Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:57 pm
I live in the Peoria media market and I see ads for WIU all the time. I have never seen one for SIUE.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:59 pm
PJ - ??! I can believe the “totally unaware” part, but I’m not sure you were actually living in Illinois.
Comment by morningstar Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 12:59 pm
Once you close universities… they stay closed…
I’m sure the impending layoffs won’t effect guidance counselors looking for options for their students looking for schools.
Passively closing universities. Raunerism. Aided and abetted by Raunerite members with universities in their districts.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Sorry, i missed that the 2nd tweet mentioned 7 tenured faculty.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:06 pm
Double sorry, the post I wrote wondering how many were tenured for some reason was blocked.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:08 pm
=I live in the Peoria media market and I see ads for WIU all the time. I have never seen one for SIUE.=
Ditto. And WIU is active in many communities with signage. They are also very supportive of schools and host a number of round tables for educators.
The western part of the state is struggling but for a few areas. Noreen Hammond continues to get a free pass even though she has voted against WIU many times and I don’t get that.
WIU won’t be competing against Dartmouth any time soon, but that is not what their role is. They provide (based on their grads that I have hired) a good education and for a decent value. They are also an important economic engine for the region.
Rauner sure talks a big game, just doesn’t translate into action.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:09 pm
You should see the smiles disappear from Raunerite faces when you point out WIU only receives 20% of its funding from the state and 18% percent of faculty and staff have opted out of the state pension (SURS Self-Managed Plan). Seriously, they think its 100% their tax money at work.
Comment by Downstater Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:13 pm
20% of zero… is zero.
The full state funding, for fiscal years, didn’t exist for an entire General Assembly.
Raunerites love that, heck they touted it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:19 pm
Wonder if they still have that Chicken place open on the square. Some of the best tenders I’ve had.
Comment by Ole General Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:23 pm
So the WIU administration announces today that twenty four folks (including seven tenured faculty) are losing their jobs - but is making everyone wait until tomorrow to discover their fate.
Sounds about right.
Stay classy, Jack. /s
Comment by Homer Macomber Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:24 pm
==Lived in Illinois my entire life. Until recently, I was totally unaware that we had a Western Illinois University. ==
Guess that disqualifies you from commenting about higher ed issues. Why don’t you read up on it and get back to us?
Comment by olddog Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:25 pm
OW, to nitpick (on my part), 80% of the tuition is paid for by students. It’s been that way for years (not that I’m defending Rauner or the bad PR he’s caused for higher ed).
Comment by Downstater Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:31 pm
===of the tuition is paid for by students===
Are ya talking about the budget or tuition?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:34 pm
OW, my bad. I meant the university’s budget.
Comment by Downstater Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:38 pm
I lived in Macomb for 18 years. That city depends so much on WIU, This is going to have disastrous effects on the economy of western Illinois. We have a house their that has been for sale for 3 years.
Comment by Rufus Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:39 pm
==“Higher education, this is our time,” Rauner said.==
What a charlatan. From the guy who proposed slashing higher ed funding 30% multiple years. Just a feckless fraud. But hey, it appears the WIU union jobs are taking the hit, so Rauner just keeps on winning, huh? So much winning…
Comment by John Deere Green Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:40 pm
“The immediate thing is we got the budget passed,” he said. “We got the MAP (Monetary Award Program) grants fully funded (for all four years of a student’s education). We got $25 million more coming to our state institutions of higher ed. And we’ve got immediate help on getting the support for this year.”
We… really??? Where was “we” during the leveraged crisis-chaos??? JB and crew need to dispel that “we” claim and soon.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:45 pm
- Downstater -
If your business has an additional revenue that was 20-% of the revenue used to run it… and it’s either totally removed, slashed, or diminished… you’d have to lay off people too.
Here’s the rub… WIU was fully funded last fiscal year (with the cuts) and this year, same.
Two whole fiscal years, not fully funded by the state as needed for its part.
That didn’t change, student tuition or not, other revenue streams or not.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:49 pm
-Are ya talking about the budget or tuition?-
Tuition dollars and state GRF allocations are commingled and serve as the base level of funding for most state institutions. It is not uncommon for institutions-particularly those without research programs-to have upwards of 80% of their total budget accounted for by tuition dollars.
Comment by DarkDante Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:50 pm
Koch brothers cheering. Less higher ed mrans lower wages. Good job GovJunk
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 1:51 pm
More lives disrupted and/or ruined. Good job, Lord Rauner.
Comment by James Knell Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 2:27 pm
This is noted by other state’s universities. I hear ads from out of state universities targeting potential students (and their parents) about their programs. They suggest things like “take some of your classes online now, they count exactly the same as on campus”. They kind of suggest getting some of the classes done early, from home, save money, etc., then finish “on campus” later. They should thank Rauner for helping them keep their enrollment up.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 2:34 pm
Sadly, many people in West Central Illinois voted for Rauner in 2014 and they will vote for him again in November 2018. But they will blame the store closures and population decline in the region on Madigan.
Comment by Rocky is Sad Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 2:35 pm
JS Mill:
Hammond seems to get free passes because she has managed to make herself look like a great defender and advocate of farmers which plays well in a lot of her District.
Personally, I don’t think she cares one bit about WIU.
Comment by btowntruthfromforgottonia Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 2:51 pm
those disadvantaged communities that can’t keep a six people workforce
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 4:11 pm
WIU had a lot to do with Hammond’s vote for a tax increase and budget last year. She had a brutal primary. Free pass? Doesn’t care about WIU/her district? You are dead wrong. That is the nonsense peddled by her opponents. She is one of the best members of GA. Disagreeing with her is fine but throwing crap at her because you don’t like her is not fine.
Comment by Hoping for Rational Thought Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 4:50 pm
===She is one of the best members of GA.===
… and yet, in the 99th GA, she was more than willing to starve WIU, as Rauner wanted because reforming Illinois was more important than a short term budget stalemate.
I don’t need revisionist history.
===Disagreeing with her is fine but throwing crap at her because…===
… an entire GA that she sat refused to fully fund higher education…
Hmm.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 4:55 pm
FWIW, SIUE, WIU, and ISU are all running teevee ads in Springfield.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 5:54 pm
Ole General “Wonder if they still have that Chicken place open on the square. Some of the best tenders I’ve had.”
Yes, Chick’s on the Square is still there. The person/people who own them (there’s locations in Burlington and Quincy also) just opened one in Monmouth as well.
Comment by Scott Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 5:55 pm
JB was in town to support local candidates and repeated his earlier statement. The crowd was large probably larger than the Freshman class will be.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 10:03 pm
Btw the Board authorised layoffs for the next year and it seems there will be more so I am kind of surprised there are not more WIU related posters here because this is a rough night.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Jun 28, 18 @ 10:05 pm
- Not a Billionare
I think most of us are just feeling pretty demoralized. We’re past angry/upset…we’re just tired.
Comment by Scott Friday, Jun 29, 18 @ 9:12 am
Illinois Higher Education has faced declining enrollment trends for some time now. There are fewer students to draw from all while out of state Schools are offering instate tuition.
IL higher Ed institutions have been VERY slow to react to known demographic trends. All while many institutions contiue to build out their infrastructures. They haven’t planned well. The significant growth in higher education operational costs will continue to haunt these institutions for years to come.
Comment by Larrym Friday, Jun 29, 18 @ 2:43 pm
From WILL article in 2017:
Enrollment has trended down at Western throughout this decade:
Fall 2010: 12,585
Fall 2011: 12,554
Fall 2012: 12,205
Fall 2013: 11,707
Fall 2014: 11,458
Fall 2015: 11,094
Fall 2016: 10,373
Fall 2017: 9,441
The declining enrollment started quite a while ago.
Comment by LarryM Friday, Jun 29, 18 @ 2:54 pm
===The declining enrollment started quite a while ago.===
The two years without full fiscal year state funding only happened under Rauner and the Raunerites that helped in the 99th GA.
So with declining enrollment, a governor purposely refuses to fully fund higher ed?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 29, 18 @ 3:00 pm
Oswego, I get that some would like to believe that IL Government failures are only because of Rauner’s last three years, however, if some stop being partisans and recognize the decline in enrollment at WIU began long before Rauner. When WIU publishes a 1000 student drop in enrollment (Before Rauner) a reduction is staff is prudent. I don’t think WIU (&other institutions) should be waiting for more and more and more state revenue before taking action to stop the hemorrhaging caused by declining enrollments. Wouldn’t you agree?
Comment by Larrym Friday, Jun 29, 18 @ 3:48 pm
===I don’t think WIU (&other institutions) should be waiting for more and more and more state revenue before taking action to stop the hemorrhaging caused by declining enrollments.===
How do you want them to pay for that when Eastern Illinois couldn’t afford to mow it’s lawns.
Nope.
It’s not a partisan thing.
It’s also not up for debate, discussion, or any argument.
Rauner in the 99th GA, thru vetoes and purposeful hostage-taking, passively starved higher education.
It’s not even up for interpretation.
“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”
That was the plan. Starve out the hostages… higher ed was a hostage.
Getting any to close is the bonus yet seen.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 29, 18 @ 3:54 pm