University of Illinois President Joseph White says he has directed school leaders to plan for economic adversity over the next 18 months as the global financial crisis continues.

White says that includes not filling many open positions on the university’s three campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.

In a campus-wide e-mail circulated Tuesday, White said the university is preparing for the possibility of reduced state support, lower income from its endowment and greater need for financial support by many of its students.

The university has a $4.2 billion budget for the current fiscal year. State support has slightly increased the past few years.

Faculty leaders didn’t immediately return calls by The Associated Press.