Illinois' higher education leaders at odds over proposed budget - Dawn Rhodes, Chicago Tribune

Presidents of the state’s nine public universities wrote a letter openly opposing the budget that the state higher education board presented at its meeting in December. In unusually blunt terms, the presidents told the board its request to state lawmakers was too conservative and would “place further burdens on public universities” after “two years of financial calamity.” “The divestment in Illinois public higher education must stop now,” the letter said. “The continued lack of support threatens to further erode confidence in the state and its institutions of higher learning.” Budget negotiations, some feel, offer a chance for the higher education community to promote its institutions and push lawmakers to make them a fiscal priority. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-higher-education-budget-proposal-20180111-story.html