FAQs – The budget crisis at UIC

• What is causing the present budget crisis at UIC?

The problem is that Illinois owes UI almost $500 million.  This is creating a crisis: the university can’t pay its bills if it doesn’t receive money promised to it by the state.

• Everyone is experiencing budget cuts and financial crises.  What’s so special about UIC’s situation?

This is part of a larger shift over the past 25 years toward decreasing public support for public higher education.  In 1990, the state contributed nearly half of the university’s budget; today that support has dwindled to 16%.  Tuition has gone up for our students because state support has declined.

• What are the current effects of this eroding support?

The budget crisis is hurting public education and the people of the State of Illinois.  Poor, minority, and first-generation students–the core of UIC’s student body–are disproportionately harmed by the situation.  The quality of instruction is reduced because of larger classes, reduced services such as academic advising, and fewer course options.  Tuition has increased because the state has reduced its contribution.  Thus students are paying more but getting less in return.

• What will happen if the state fails to fund the UI system adequately?

Higher tuition will give fewer students access to higher education; faculty and staff will be harder to retain, compromising our students’ ability to make contributions to professions that support their local and state communities.  The opportunities for research and development in the state will decline, even as the state’s system of higher education prepares fewer trained professionals for careers in medicine, technology, law, and government.  This will lead to a less prepared work force, which puts our entire state at risk.

• Why should the State fund higher education at all–why can’t the trend toward greater privatization continue?

A public university is central for realizing freedom and equality in today’s world.  With the cost of private education increasingly out of reach for many, public institutions provide a crucial means of access to higher education for a large proportion of the population, and especially for poor, minority, and first-generation students. Public universities further a commitment to the public good, democratic governance, a shared quest for knowledge, and a vigorous spirit of debate for all—rather than merely a few—members of our society.

• What can legislators and government officials do to help?

The State of Illinois should cover payments owed to the University of Illinois as budgeted.  In the longer term, it should renew its commitment to public higher education and continue funding the state university system.

Join us for a day in support of public education on March 8, 2010. Details on the day’s activities are updated regularly at this blog, http://uicjointfurlough.wordpress.com/ where you can also obtain information on how to contact your state legislators.

• What is a furlough day?

A “furlough day” is a forced day of absence without pay.  At UIC, administrators, faculty, and many staff members will be required to schedule four days of absence from their jobs (or the equivalent in a pay reduction).

• Why furloughs?

Furloughs of faculty and staff are part of a bigger picture that you should know about. The University of Illinois is in the midst of a fiscal crisis.  The crisis has been caused by a lack of state funding for higher education across the state; the lack of funding has forced the university to make substantial and damaging cuts in its budget.

• Why are some faculty taking a joint furlough day?

On Monday, March 8, instead of teaching normally scheduled classes, instead of preparing for class, doing research or participating on university committees, many UIC faculty members will be taking a coordinated furlough day and using their time to support activities that emphasize the importance of public higher education.  On that day, they will help to organize public forums, workshops, and lectures, as well as private meetings with media and elected officials to speak about the value of a public university education.

• What does all of this mean to students?

Furloughs and other budget cuts across the university lower the quality and value of a UIC education.  In the most immediate sense, students lose class time and essential campus services.  Still further, the budget cuts—which may go as high as 10% across academic units—will most likely result in decreased educational opportunities for students and higher tuition.  Fewer students will be admitted and fewer courses will be offered, making it more difficult for students to graduate.  There will also be numerous interruptions in student services.

• Why should the state fund higher education?

A public university is central for realizing freedom and equality in today’s world.  With the cost of private education now far out of reach for the majority of the nation’s population, public institutions provide a crucial means of access to higher education for poor, minority, and first-generation students. Public universities further a commitment to the public good, democratic governance, a shared quest for knowledge, and a vigorous spirit of debate for all—rather than merely a few—members of our society.

• Why is the university facing such a severe budgetary crisis, and why does tuition always go up?

Because of a decline in tax revenues, the state has not been able to pay the university the money it is owed. It currently owes the university nearly $500 million. The crisis is caused not only because of lower tax revenues, but also because of a long-term decline in state support.  Currently, state revenues account for only 16% of our budget. Twenty years ago, state support was over double that amount. The only way to make up the cuts in state support has been to increase the rates of tuition. The more the state cuts its support of higher education, the higher tuition goes.

• What can students do?

Members of the UIC community—faculty, students, alumni, and friends—are doing their best to communicate both the importance of a public university education and the current threats to it.  Maintaining the university’s standards and reputation is important for all students, and you can communicate the importance of supporting public education by discussing the university’s situation with your parents, guardians, friends, community leaders, and legislators.

Students can also join us for a day in support of public education on March 8, 2010. Details on the day’s activities are updated regularly at this blog, http://uicjointfurlough.wordpress.com/ , where you can also obtain information on how to contact your state legislators.