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With the State of Illinois facing what some are calling the worst financial crisis in its history, Western Illinois University, along with other state institutions and agencies, is significantly affected by the delay in state reimbursements. President Al Goldfarb recognizes that the collective strength of our thousands of alumni and friends throughout the state of Illinois can have an enormous impact. Please read Dr. Goldfarb's letter below to learn more about this critical situation and what you, our alumni and friends, can do to help.
Best Regards,
Roger Clawson ‘77 Amy E. Spelman ‘98
WIU Alumni Council President Director of Alumni Programs
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Dear Western Illinois University Alumni and Friends -
As many of you are probably aware, the State of Illinois is in the midst of a severe financial crisis, and this crisis is affecting your alma mater. Due to delays in reimbursements to the University from the State of Illinois, Western Illinois University is facing critical fiscal challenges. After receiving some payments last month from the State of Illinois, the University is still expecting reimbursements totaling $29.4 million.
In order to meet our monthly payroll and to avoid furloughs, we are continuing to conserve resources wherever possible within our University operations. Since the Fall 2009 semester, we have asked all departments to limit spending to immediate operational needs only, and we have curtailed numerous events and most travel in an effort to save money. Recently, the Department of Theatre and Dance announced that this year's Summer Music Theatre would go on hiatus in order to save resources, as well as to revamp the program. All vacant positions for the Spring 2010 Semester are being held, and all purchases over $500 must receive approval from the department's vice president.
Earlier this month, I joined with all other public university presidents and chancellors in the state urging Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes to honor the state's commitments of supporting and setting a payment schedule to allow the universities to manage our respective cash flow and sustain operations. As of Jan. 25, the taxpayer-supported public universities collectively remained more than $735 million behind in state payments of their total appropriation.
As I have stated in the past, our primary goals at Western Illinois University continue to be to provide quality academic programs and educational resources to our students and to retain all of our employees; however, without full funding of our appropriations, we will be forced to take even more drastic actions that will diminish the educational opportunities of our students.
I greatly appreciate your continued support of your alma mater during these very challenging times. I encourage you, as alumni and friends of this great institution, to contact Gov. Quinn and your legislators about this critical fiscal situation.
Sincerely,
Al Goldfarb
President
Western Illinois University
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