WIU Statement on Commission on Equitable Public University Funding

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WIU Statement on Commission on Equitable Public University Funding

March 7, 2024

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We are incredibly grateful for the work the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding group has put in to provide a framework with a realistic pathway to adequate funding for higher education that will ensure access for all students interested in a degree in higher education.

I also want to personally thank the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public Funding for completing the report of their recommendations to address public higher education funding equity, adequacy and stability in Illinois. As established by Public Act 102-0570, the "funding commission" has been meeting for more than two years to establish the recommendations outlined in the report to the General Assembly. Throughout the countless hours of meetings, data and research, the goal of equitable distribution of funding has remained.

With historic investment in scholarships and grant programs, as well as continued investment in public higher education institutions, the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor's office has shown continued leadership. We are hopeful that the next step in that leadership pathway is to pass legislation and sign into law the funding model outlined in the report. In addition to passing the model into law, it must be adequately funded. The greater the funding, the more quickly the state of Illinois will address the inequities that are inherent in the current higher education funding system.

With the commission work complete, it is now up to the Illinois General Assembly to act on this important work. While there may still be conversations on what the final product should look like, the work of equity is too important to let efforts of the commission perish. I encourage all commissioners to continue their strong advocacy for a more equitable funding system for public higher education.

According to the funding commission report, Western Illinois University falls more than 37% short of being adequately funded. Under Gov. Pritzker's Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal, WIU is slated to receive an additional $1.1 million in state appropriations. However, if the funding formula outlined in the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public Funding report was already law, WIU would have been slated to receive over $1.7 million in new state funding. The funding commission proposal demonstrates the current broken system that exists in Illinois. The proposed formula would address this inequity while not harming institutions closer to their adequacy targets.

Western Illinois University provides economic opportunity and positively impacts communities throughout Illinois. By investing in an equitable funding system, those opportunities will give more students a chance to succeed by providing our institutions with the resources to support student success. The returns for investment in equitable, adequate and stable funding for public higher education will far exceed the financial cost. However, the cost of inaction will be great and will serve to promote continued inequity. We encourage the Illinois General Assembly to act on the recommendations in the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public Funding report immediately.

Sincerly,
Guiyou Huang, Ph.D.