Subhead: WIU Could Get Bigger Share
If House Bill 1581, 'Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act,' continues to advance, and eventually passes and is signed into legislation, Western Illinois University could get a bigger piece of the state funding pie.
On Thursday, in a 12-4 vote, HB1581 moved out of a House committee, and could face a full House vote in the near future, in spite of pushback from the state's largest university. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana, whose district is home to the state’s flagship University of Illinois, establishes a needs-based formula for distributing new funding for universities, like the evidence- based funding used for K-12 schools. The new funding bill increases university funding by close to $135 million each year over the next 15 years, with funds distributed under a method that sets an adequacy target for each institution and gives priority to those institutions furthest away from their target. Funding would still be subject to appropriations set by the General Assembly.
'The Adequate and Equitable Funding formula will ensure Western Illinois University remains affordable and accessible to students, and competitive in our efforts to retain students from our region and throughout Illinois,' said WIU President Kristi Mindrup. 'Adequate funding will also position WIU to grow while expanding excellent, sustainable academic programs and services that foster student success and fulfill our unique mission to strengthen our communities, region and state.'
On April 16, WIU faculty, staff and students, along with community members, will convene in Springfield for the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) 'Teach Out at the State Capitol,' as part of the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding Advocacy Day. To register, visit tinyurl.com/HigherEdAdvocacyDay.
