University News

Interim President Abraham: FY21 Budget Update

May 26, 2020

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Dear University Community,

I am happy to share the news that the state legislature has passed the FY21 budget that provides operating and capital funding for Western Illinois University. When Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the bills, Western's share of the FY21 higher education state appropriation will be level at $49.6 million.

The Fiscal Year 2021 higher education appropriated budget also provides Monetary Award Program (MAP) and AIM High allocations for our students, funding for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and provisions for deferred maintenance/capital improvements. In addition the budget re-appropriates capital development funds for the Center for Performing Arts and the WIU-Macomb Science Building, and provides new capital development funding for the Quad Cities Riverfront Campus Phase 3. We are appreciative of the General Assembly for passing the state's FY21 budget.

The level appropriation is better than what we were expecting, given the current financial challenges. However, we understand given the structure of the state's budget bill that not all of the allocated funding is guaranteed; thus, we must remain conservative as we build our FY21 budget. In addition, we know that even with a strong Fall 2020 enrollment, we will still have an overall decline in the number of students attending WIU because of the large numbers of students graduating in the past year. Moreover, we must make financial commitments for the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff to ensure a safe return to campus in the fall, as well as the implementation of the minimum wage increase. While we have good news on both appropriations and enrollment, we must continue to look at further opportunities for savings and efficiency in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget in order to reach our goal of achieving a balanced budget.

I extend my deepest gratitude to our faculty, staff and students for everything you've done in the past 12 months to ensure we remain a strong and viable University, and again, I thank our state's leaders for their continued support and commitment for Illinois public higher education. As we do our part to provide outstanding educational opportunities for all, we look forward to a bright future for Western Illinois University.


Wishing you the best,

Martin Abraham
Interim President


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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