By Illinois Radio Network
CHAMPAIGN – The president at the University of Illinois thinks the school is close to a special budget arrangement that will guarantee the university nearly three-quarters-of a billion dollars a year, but lawmakers aren’t as sure.
U of I leaders are hoping to push through their special budget arrangement by promising to enroll more Illinois students at the University of Illinois.
The school’s Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Chancellor Barb Wilson acknowledged that about half the students in the state leave the state.
“About 45-percent of college ready students in the state of Illinois pursue college degrees outside the state of Illinois,” Wilson said. “When we ask students who choose other institutions, eight of the top ten reasons are financial.”
The U of I is proposing to offer more financial aid for Illinois students. Wilson said the university is ready to commit to $170 million a year, sending about 85 percent of their aid to Illinois students.
But State Rep. Kathleen Willis said more financial aid is the same as lowering the cost of a degree.
“The U of I is the elite school of the state system schools, but it’s also the highest in tuition costs of all of out state schools,” Wills said.
Tuition, room and board, and fees at the U of I can cost an Illinois student $35,000 a year. Illinois students can attend Indiana University, the University of Missouri, or the University of Wisconsin Madison for almost $10,000 less.
Wills said there’s been resistance from the university over the years to make the school more accessible.
“You got to stop fighting us,” Willis told university leaders Wednesday. “You have to realize we’re out there trying for these students. Access is everything.”
Still, Chicago Democrat Mary Flowers demanded answers from U of I President Tim Killeen about the double digit gap in graduation rates between African American and other students, which can be nearly 20 percent on some campuses.
“Are these numbers good for you? Is this acceptable for you?” Flowers asked dismissively of Killeen.
The U of I’s special request is still working its way through the statehouse.
