Dive Summary:
- Though the fiscal year ends June 30, Illinois' nine public universities have received only $673.7 million, 65% of the $1.2 billion in funding appropriated for them.
- The universities would have received only 55% of total appropriations by this time if not for an increase in tax revenue received by the state during April, and the universities should receive the remainder of appropriations by December.
- As a result of this trend, the schools have had to implement cost-saving measures such as eliminating low-enrolling courses, postponing capital improvements, limiting travel expenses, increasing tuition and implementing salary and hiring freezes.
From the article:
... Just recently, Northeastern Illinois University eliminated low-enrolling courses it otherwise would have kept and cut down on utility costs, said Mark Wilcockson, vice president for finance and administration at the school in Chicago.
Such cost-saving measures have become the norm, he said. ...