Spring Break
Budget presented to state committee
IBHE recommends 1.5-percent increase to state universities, no action taken
Sarah Whitney/Senior Reporter
Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News
SPRINGFIELD -- Eastern administrators appeared Friday before the Illinois House Appropriation Higher Education Committee to answer questions representatives had about Eastern's fiscal year 2007 budget.
The committee meeting came the day after the Illinois Board of Higher Education approved a 1.5-percent increase in state funding to state universities and $6.6 million dollars for new programs.
Last year was the first time in four years that the state approved an increase in funding to public education institutions.
"Now the 1.5-percent increase, we're very thankful for, but I need to let you know that's not enough," Hencken told the committee.
Since 2002, Eastern has taken $11 million in cuts, Hencken said.
Presidents from Illinois State, the University of Illinois and Northern Illinois expressed similar concerns.
"It makes it very difficult to keep tuition rates (low) if the state only gives a 1- to 2-percent increase," said ISU President Al Bowman.
He pointed out that with expenses such as higher electric rates and deferred maintenance, it's harder to remain competitive against other state schools when it comes to attracting the best faculty.
Since 1992, state funding for ISU has dropped from $92 million to $81 million.
"If we continue on this path ... you'll have a very expensive public university system," Bowman said.
Last year, IBHE approved a new nursing degree at Eastern, but Eastern has received no state funding for the program.
"We're going to have a B.S. in nursing degree, but as of now we don't have 10 cents in our budget for our B.S. in nursing degree, which everyone says is important," Hencken said.
Private donations and reallocating dollars from other university programs is what has funded the program thus far.
Each university president addressed the committee, highlighting areas where his university had succeeded in the previous year and then touched on where funding was needed for the university to continue to operate. The committee then questioned the presidents.
The committee meeting came the day after the Illinois Board of Higher Education approved a 1.5-percent increase in state funding to state universities and $6.6 million dollars for new programs.
Last year was the first time in four years that the state approved an increase in funding to public education institutions.
"Now the 1.5-percent increase, we're very thankful for, but I need to let you know that's not enough," Hencken told the committee.
Since 2002, Eastern has taken $11 million in cuts, Hencken said.
Presidents from Illinois State, the University of Illinois and Northern Illinois expressed similar concerns.
"It makes it very difficult to keep tuition rates (low) if the state only gives a 1- to 2-percent increase," said ISU President Al Bowman.
He pointed out that with expenses such as higher electric rates and deferred maintenance, it's harder to remain competitive against other state schools when it comes to attracting the best faculty.
Since 1992, state funding for ISU has dropped from $92 million to $81 million.
"If we continue on this path ... you'll have a very expensive public university system," Bowman said.
Last year, IBHE approved a new nursing degree at Eastern, but Eastern has received no state funding for the program.
"We're going to have a B.S. in nursing degree, but as of now we don't have 10 cents in our budget for our B.S. in nursing degree, which everyone says is important," Hencken said.
Private donations and reallocating dollars from other university programs is what has funded the program thus far.
Each university president addressed the committee, highlighting areas where his university had succeeded in the previous year and then touched on where funding was needed for the university to continue to operate. The committee then questioned the presidents.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story