By Howard Packowitz
MACOMB – Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas has resigned amid dissatisfaction with the way he handled the school’s financial troubles.
In a statement, Thomas said the university would be best served by new leadership during a critical time.
Critics and supporters of Western’s first African-American president have accused the other of racism, with opponents suggesting Thomas would have departed sooner if he had been white or even Asian, according to news reports.
The Quad-City Times also reported WIU enrollment has fallen 35 percent over the last 10 years, which the school attributes to reduced state government support, an exodus of Illinois college students to other states, and declining population in areas near Macomb.
During the decade, enrollment of black and Hispanic undergrads increased more than 60 percent.
“Despite the difficulties our state has faced with regards to the budget and loss of population, our University remains resilient,” said Thomas.
“Without a doubt, I have had to make some difficult decisions – including ones that have sometimes been very unpopular, but nevertheless were always made with the best interests of the overall University’s future at heart,” Thomas said in the statement.
He went on to say, “These decisions were made necessary due to a decade of decreased state appropriations (from $56.2 million in FY 2011 down to $47.2 million in FY19), the two-year, unprecedented statewide budget impasse, and enrollment decline due to the large outmigration of high school students from the state of Illinois, demographic shifts in the state, population decline in the region that we serve, and challenges with economic development.”
Thomas leaves office June 30. He’ll continue to make an annual salary of $270,528 for the next two years while on administrative leave. Thomas has been offered a tenured faculty position when he returns in 2021.
Thomas became Western’s 11th president in 2011, replacing retiring President Alvin Goldfarb, who is a former Illinois State University provost.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
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