Chicago State sanctioned over financial strife - Jodi S. Cohen, Chicago Tribune

Chicago State University was sanctioned by the Higher Learning Commission, the agency responsible for accrediting the school. The university will remain accredited as it works to resolve the agency's concerns about financial strife. In continuing fallout from the statewide budget uncertainty, Chicago State University on Tuesday was notified that financial strife has put the institution's accreditation at risk. The sanction from the Higher Learning Commission, the agency responsible for accrediting the school, could erode public confidence and affect student enrollment, which already is projected to decline significantly this fall. The university will remain accredited as it works to resolve the agency's concerns. The South Side public university, which depends heavily on state funding, was hit hardest by the budget stalemate in Springfield that left universities with no funding for much of the last academic year, and then only a fraction of the financial support they had received in the past. Chicago State declared a financial emergency earlier this year and then laid off one-third of its employees, or more than 300 administrators and staff, after the spring semester ended. About 10 faculty members were recently laid off. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-state-sanctioned-20160712-story.html