Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Illinois colleges are running out of cash amid state budget battle - Katie Lobosco, cnn

Illinois' public colleges are taking drastic measures to stay afloat. Thirty teachers at Western Illinois University were laid off. Hiring is on hold at Kishwaukee Community College and faculty were asked not to travel. Chicago State University says it won't be able to pay the bills after March 1. And that was all in January. Struggles could worsen as the state begins its eighth month without a budget. Lawmakers remain deadlocked, which means that Illinois' 12 public universities and 48 community colleges haven't received a dime of state funding -- which can account for as much as 30% of the budget at some schools. The spigot has been turned off at a time when state colleges were already tightening their belts. Many have received less and less state funding each year, and seen a decline in enrollment. http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/29/pf/college/illinois-budget-colleges/