Illinois public universities ask lawmakers for equitable, evidence-based funding model

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers hope to pass a plan to create an evidence-based funding model for Illinois public colleges and universities. This comes as many of the state's colleges are tired of waiting for funding to tackle major projects.

Lawmakers believe upgrading college facilities and technology is essential to create a safe and modern learning environment.

"By enhancing our infrastructure, we not only bolster our enrollment and increase retention, but we also ensure that our graduates are prepared to meet the demands of today's workforce," said Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago).

Smaller campuses like Chicago State University receive significantly less funding than the state's flagship college. Dr. Z Scott told the House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee Monday that she would love to have the same quality buildings as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

"Look at their facilities and compare those to what is happening at Chicago State," Scott said. "Chicago State received $42 million in state appropriations, a 2% increase, which amounted to $787,000. It was not even enough to keep up with inflation or our growing union demands, reasonable demands for salary increases."

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) and Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) are leading the effort to shake up the funding process for the state's 12 public universities. Ammons said funding should be based on the needs of each college rather than a flat method of distribution.

"We've had, since I've been a member of the General Assembly a decade now, this same conversation every single year," Ammons said. "We haven't actually walked ourselves towards reconciliation of the problem and I hope that we will have an adequate opportunity to utilize the commission's work."

Eastern Illinois University leaders told lawmakers facilities have a major impact on future students. EIU Vice President of Business Affairs Matt Bierman said the university is losing freshmen to out of state schools and private institutions with better buildings.

"We continue to delay hiring, delay investing in IT infrastructure improvements, and delay critical repairs and updates to our aging state buildings for classroom instruction," Scott stressed.

A bill to create the evidence-based funding model for public universities was filed in the Senate last month. Lawmakers expect to hold many hearings about this idea when session resumes in November and January.