The state of Illinois has gone almost a whole year without a budget, and this has taken a huge hit on higher education. The lack of funding to the universities this year was a huge shock for college students. Students were unaware that the universities were struggling in the first place, and it seemed like overnight the problem had become a hundred times more urgent. Students are fearing that they may not get to finish their semester or start the next semester. Universities are hosting on and off campus rallies in order to get the attention of the state legislature. Students are scared, faculty are scared, and surrounding communities are scared.
Students are struggling to understand how they can carry out with their future plans if their university cannot meet their needs. Universities are cutting employees, student scholarships, and many programs within the university. Coming from Eastern Illinois University, students have been seeing huge employee layoffs and student workers are being warned that their layoffs are coming soon. Study Abroad scholarships are not being funded though they were promised to be. The student testing center will not be available any longer to support students with disabilities. What will be cut next?
If the universities have to continue cutting programs because they do not have the promised funds to support them, then the campus environment will drop tremendously. The environment is already hectic enough with the worry that the universities may have to declare bankruptcy and close their doors.
The state has promised these funds to every state university and for them to come back on their promise is unbelievable. What will the state gain by adding new stress to its loyal, tax-paying citizens? The citizens are learning to not trust the state and soon people will move out of state. If the state cannot fund a higher education system then why raise a family there? Why would high school seniors commit to Illinois universities when they know they are struggling to keep their doors open? They won’t; they will attend college out of state. If the state is losing tax-paying citizens then how do they expect to other programs within the state?
Higher education is a huge benefit to the state. Universities create tax-paying, hard-working citizens that are vital to the function of the state. If there is no affordable higher education in Illinois, the state will lose its doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, businessmen and women, and other workers which are vital to the state’s ability to run successfully. This is a huge problem that the state needs to fix as soon as possible.
Fund Illinois!
