Western Illinois University Budget - WIU president Jack Thomas

We are living with more than a decade of state reductions and unfunded mandates. We rely on our tuition dollars now more than ever, and this trend is expected to continue. We are doing everything we can to lobby our legislature to secure as much funding as possible for higher education and to reduce the impact of any cuts that may occur. We continue to actively recruit and retain students at all levels. As we continue to plan, the state budget and legislative process remain unpredictable. Should we experience further reductions in our state appropriation or further financial mandates from the state, we will again come together with the campus community to discuss how to manage through this crisis. It is always our hope to protect our employees from layoffs and furloughs. However, that is becoming more and more difficult. We must all remember the financial situation we currently face is not a one-year problem. Given what we know, I will work with my leadership team to continue planning for FY'14 and FY'15. http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=10819