MOLINE – At the Western Illinois University's quarterly meeting June 17 at the WIU-Quad Cities campus, the Board voted unanimously to approve the University's FY26 Preliminary Spending Plan.
The institution's Fiscal Year 2026 Preliminary Spending Plan is $193,332,800. The University's plan must be prepared prior to July 1 for submission to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois State Legislature and the Governor. On May 31, the Illinois General Assembly passed an operating bill for Illinois higher education, which included $57.3 million – a one percent increase from FY25 state appropriations – for Western. In spite of the increase, to balance the spending plan with projected revenue for FY26, the University will need to identify further expense reductions and revenue growth opportunities, as stated in the Board materials.
'This resolution presents a conservative step to the All-Funds Budget that will be presented at the September meeting,' Vice President for Finance and Administration Ketra Roselieb told the Board. 'Further reductions must be solidified to be presented in September alongside the revenue projects at that point for Fiscal Year 2026.'
The Board also heard from Mark Mossman, interim provost of academic affairs, regarding the elimination and/ or temporary suspension of numerous degree programs. In addition to the doctorate in environmental sciences, master's degrees in instructional design and technology, kinesiology and physics, and bachelor's degrees in economics, finance, human resource management, marketing and supply chain management. will be phased out, with the complete elimination date to be determined. For a complete list of academic degree programs and certificate programs set to be phased out or temporarily suspended, visit wiu.edu/ board_of_trustees/minutes/2025_06_ Board_Book_Final_PDF.pdf.
In addition, Vice President for Finance and Administration Ketra Roselieb told the Board during her finance report that the institution's deficit has been mitigated from $14 million to approximately $5.5 million.
The next meeting will be held on the Macomb campus Sept. 26.
