Contact: Jennifer Creasey
University of Illinois System
Cell: (217) 649-3548
jcreasey@uillinois.edu
The University of Illinois System has joined with all of the state’s public universities in a united effort to advocate for robust funding to Illinois higher education. The universities launched a statewide advocacy campaign today that includes a call-to-action for alumni and appearances from university presidents around the state to build grassroots community and legislative support for higher education.
“The University of Illinois System, along with our colleagues in public higher education, stands united in our commitment to move Illinois forward. Along with nurturing human capital, our state’s public universities are economic engines that drive progress and prosperity through education, research discovery and preparing our state’s future workforce,” said Tim Killeen, president of the U of I System.
“Increased and stable state funding is critical to providing greater access and affordability for our students, and necessary to continue building on the power of the world-class enterprises and programs that impact literally every corner of our state. Investing in higher education is an investment in Illinois’ future,” Killeen said.
Additional state funding would address the most critical needs across the U of I System at its three universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield by expanding student affordability initiatives, maintaining the excellence of the faculty and staff, and supporting facility and infrastructure maintenance.
The statewide campaign, called The Time is Now: Re-invest in Illinois Higher Education, focuses on the importance of increased funding needed for Illinois public universities. The U of I System alone pumps $17.5 billion into the Illinois economy annually, supports 171,000 jobs statewide and awards more than 22,000 degrees every year. Healthy higher education systems attract businesses to the state and keep families in Illinois. An increase in funding would create jobs and spur economic activity statewide, provide students with greater financial support and fund much-needed upgrades to campus buildings, classrooms and technology.
Illinois Connection, the legislative advocacy network for the U of I System, has built a grassroots advocacy campaign, encouraging the nearly 400,000 alumni living in Illinois, as well as its 86,000 students and 25,000 faculty and staff to contact their state legislators and urge them to vote for a budget increase for higher education and to fund a capital bill before the end of the spring session on May 31.
The U of I System is seeking $692.5 million in state operating funds, an increase of $97.9 million from fiscal year 2019. By comparison, the system received $804 million from the state in fiscal year 2002. The system also is requesting $722.4 million in capital funding to address deferred maintenance needs, major renovations and new construction for innovation and workforce development projects.
During Illinois’ two-year budget crisis, funding for public higher education was significantly reduced, forcing universities to defer hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs and hold down operating costs, including faculty and staff hiring. Since then, the state has seen a growing outmigration of college students attending universities outside Illinois.
The Illinois General Assembly spring session is set to conclude on May 31.
