The lack of a state budget remains a leading conversation at all University-related meetings. At Monday’s Academic Senate meeting, a resolution was approved urging Gov. Bruce Rauner and the legislature to pass a budget.

Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said the Provost’s Office is working on creating a new budget model for the University with the Campus Budget Advisory Task Force. She said they began work after many deans and faculty recognized that the school’s budget model needs adjustment.

She said all colleges and departments are going through a series of exercises to prepare for possible budget cuts.

Even the premier programs are being hurt by the budget impasse and action is required, urged Gay Miller, Senate Executive Committee chair.

“For other universities around the state, the future is quite bleak,” she said.

The Illinois Institute of Technology has asked students to pay back their Monetary Award Program grant credits. These students have to take out an additional loan to repay the grant or their registration will be put on lock.

Chicago State employees were asked to return their keys this week, she said.

Despite concerns over the state budget, Wilson said, the amount of students who have committed to attending the University, the yield, still increased from last year and the University received the largest amount of applications — 38,000 applications for 7,750 slots. This was an increase in applications by 11 percent.

Wilson also congratulated and offered her support for the Illinois Student Senate initiative to find a new University mascot. This would be the University’s first mascot, she said, as Chief Illiniwek was only a symbol.

@MeganAsh_Jones

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