CHARLESTON, Ill. (WAND) - Eastern Illinois University is implementing a Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) as it faces budget concerns. Eligible staff members were sent an offer to leave their position by Dec. 31, 2025, or Jan. 31, 2026, depending on their role. In exchange, the school would provide a one-time payment equal to 20 weeks of their current salary. 
 
WAND News reached out to EIU administration to learn how many staff were offered the VSIP and how many had accepted the incentive. A spokesperson said that because the implementation of the plan is ongoing, they could not provide these numbers. 
 
The VSIP document is dated for Sept. 1, 2025, with a timeline listing that notifications would be sent to eligible employees by Sept. 12, and those who agreed to the separation would have to respond by Oct. 3, 2025. 
 
One faculty member who received a VSIP offer was Jeff Stowell, Assistant Department Chair for the psychology department, and Vice Chair of the faculty senate. While he did not accept the offer, he was surprised by the short timeline provided to consider the change. 
 
"It's just unexpected to say in the next month I need to decide if I want to stop working here or not," Stowell said. "Quite a few of us, at least in the department a number of senior faculty received the letters." 
 
Stowell said this was the first time he could remember in the last 25 years he has worked at EIU that a VSIP has been offered. He said he is not too concerned about how departing staff would impact the school, as they have had to adjust to cuts and changes like this before. 
 
Billy Hung is an associate professor of biology as well as the EIU chapter president of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100. He has spoken to several faculty that have received VSIP offers. 
 
"We know we are under budget issues because the state appropriated a 3% increase from last year's budget, but only released 1%," Hung said. "It is probably the most gentle way they have access to reduce the budget, where people can choose what to do with their careers." 
 
However, Hung knows the program could have wide-reaching impacts. He says EIU will fill some necessary positions, but staff members will have to take on some of the responsibilities for other unfilled positions. It will be hard to determine the full impacts of the separations without knowing who and how many people were accepted, said Hung. 
 
Hung said, EIU's financial situation is not unique to the school. He said universities across the state have been struggling with state support. He hopes the state government sees EIU's VSIP as a wake-up call to support education in Illinois. 
 
"The government hasn't really been funding schools like us adequately," Hung said. "Springfield's own report shows that for every dollar needed to educate a student at Eastern, the state is only providing 64 cents. The state needs to get serious about funding an important public service and public good for our state." 
 
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