ISU’s Dietz lobbies for funding boost

Posted on March 21, 2019

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The long road back from the years without a budget continues for Illinois’ public universities, as Illinois State University’s president presented his case for a ten percent funding increase.

ISU President Larry Dietz shared the positive news as well as a request for more money with lawmakers in Springfield Thursday.

“A full-year Monetary Award Program funding and two percent operating increase over FY 2018 signaled a return to stability and reinvestment in public higher education. Confidence in Illinois State University remains high, and in the 2018-19 academic year, the university enrolled its second-largest and most diverse freshman class in over twenty years,” Dietz told a House appropriations committee.

Dietz is seeking a 10 percent increase in state funding — to $73 million. When State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) asked what ISU would do with it, Dietz replied, “The first part of that would be in student support, student retention programs. After that, academic programs, and probably the third would be in some deferred maintenance.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…