The University of Illinois Board of Trustees today approved a request for the state to increase the University of Illinois System’s FY2028 appropriation by 10.9% to pay for strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for students and supporting the state’s economy.
The request, if approved by state lawmakers, would add $80.5 million to the current $738.4 million state appropriation.
The additional funding, U of I System President Tim Killeen said, would allow the system and its universities to prepare students for an economy being reshaped by advances in areas such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
“We have moved into a new era of technological transformation driven by breakthroughs in areas such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence,” Killeen said. “Illinois must remain at the forefront of the research and innovation powering these advances. At the same time, we must ensure our students and communities have the knowledge, skills and opportunities to participate in and benefit from this changing economy.”
The proposed $818.9 million academic-operations appropriation would fund investments in bridge programs designed to prepare incoming students for college, undergraduate financial aid and other wrap around services and supports. The funding also would enable system universities to recruit additional faculty to meet growing enrollment demands and provide a modest compensation increase for faculty and staff. The request also cites inflationary increases in utility costs and other expenses.
In addition to the academic-operations request, the system also is requesting $88.5 million of incremental funding for the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System to address the needs of patients affected by significant reductions in Medicaid funding and tightened eligibility driven by federal policy changes. UI Health provides critical services to some of the most vulnerable populations in the state, and the additional funding would help offset anticipated operating losses resulting from significantly increased levels of uncompensated care.
An additional $1.6 million above the academic operations increase is also requested for the Prairie Research Institute. The increase will ensure PRI can continue advancing the science that is needed for the participation, protection and equity for all Illinoisans, especially for communities disproportionately burdened by environmental impacts.
Each fall, the U of I System and other public colleges and universities submit requests to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for operating funds and capital funding for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The General Assembly considers these requests as part of its annual state budget process.
