By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – Illinois State University doesn’t have plans to layoff any faculty this academic year, unlike some of the school’s counterparts around the state.
“We’ve been very conservative about our spending. We have a solid enrollment. We’ve had a low debt ratio. We have good credit and a strong brand,” said ISU President Larry Dietz. “And so it puts us in a little bit different situation than some of the other institutions.”
Eastern Illinois University announced this week it’s planning to send 30-day layoff notices to an estimated 200 non-instructional employees. Dietz said it’s unfortunate Illinois still doesn’t have a budget eight months into the fiscal year.
“I’m certainly empathetic to actions that are being taken by the leadership of other institutions,” said Dietz. “They need to be, obviously, doing what’s best for their institution given this budget impasse.”
Dietz added the students who are being affected by the state’s budget woes “have done nothing wrong.”
“They applied to our institutions in good faith. They have spent some of their tuition dollars in good faith, anticipating that they’re going to get a quality education in good faith,” he said.
A plan to fund higher education has passed through the General Assembly, but Governor Rauner has plans to veto the bill, saying there is no funding stream for the plan.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
