Budget cuts affect campus-wide renovations, financial aid and academics

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Lily Katz

Students take advantage of study area in the Union in Urbana, IL.

By Mary Kate Kiley, Contributing Writer

When Grace Leung, senior in LAS,  found out her required class was canceled due to low enrollment, she figured she could just take it during the spring semester.

After speaking with her advisor, however, she learned that the class might be canceled indefinitely due to budget cuts.

Repair and renovations, student financial aid and academics all may be affected due to the significant decrease in state funding this year. For some students, cut classes might make it harder for them to fulfill certain course requirements for their majors.

According to the University provost, over a five-year span, the state has made more than $113 million in financial reductions. This number only accounts for the University of Illinois campuses.

The budget is under a process of review, and is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.

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“Each department is given an allocation of funds, and they are then in charge of planning how to survive on those funds,” said Robin Kaler, University spokeswoman.

The University has sent requests to the state for projects to be funded, while many remain only partially funded. Some of the projects on campus that have been made priority include renovations to the Art and Design Building, Altgeld Hall, the Illini Union, the Main Library and the Natural History Building.

The University is expected to receive near $33 million of the all-University wide $60 million budget to allocate toward the list of projects. This does not account for other renovations the University is in need of which may fail to be resolved.

The College of Veterinary Medicine for one is in need of funding for several projects, including updates to the hospital MRI unit and roof reparations. Labs and learning spaces campus wide are in need of updates, but due to the decreased budget numerous requests like these are at risk.

Campus-wide projects are affecting more than just the physical campus. With the sizable amount of requests from varying departments across campus and the substantial decrease in funds, students are often not receiving the resources they need to achieve academic success.

“University-wide, we have been dealing with reductions in appropriations but have been effective in quality in education and research,” said Tom Hardy, executive director for University Relations.

Nevertheless, the University aims to retain its quality education despite the budget reductions. This may come as a relief to students who believe their college will not receive proper funding to continue classes vital to their education.

Hardy has not heard any reports of academic cuts, and said the University has built up reserves in order to sustain its successful academic path despite the lack of state finances.

Financial aid is another concern because of the reductions. Allegations have been made that student tuition will increase, though no significant increase has taken place so far.

Tim Killeen, University President, has voted for a tuition freeze for this academic year. The University has made the financial needs of students take precedence, especially because academic costs per year grow an estimated 5.6 percent regardless.

“I rely heavily on loans because I do not have scholarships or grants,” said Devonna Thompson, senior in LAS.

As Killeen’s decision for this year stands firm, tuition raises for the coming academic years will not be determined until the board of trustees votes in January.

Tuition changes are a real threat to some students as college expenses seem to exponentially grow.

“I don’t have any scholarships and my tuition is paid mostly on loans,” said Morgan Smith, sophomore in Engineering.

Smith explained that attending the University would not be possible for her if her parents were expected to pay more out of pocket.

The ultimate goal is to have as little change as possible regarding financial aid to those who are truly in need. If necessary, the University will compensate for financial aid through the use of institutional funds and self supporting funds in order to ensure students receive proper aid.

Despite budget cut issues, the University is working with students to ease the struggle of fulfilling required courses.

“It was initially going to be a problem for me getting the minor — which I had already almost completed except for this class — in time for my graduation next May,” Leung said. “However, the adviser managed to find a similar course in linguistics and they decided to let me take that class as a replacement.”

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