The Illinois General Assembly has announced an $11.6 million state budget increase for UI System’s 2019 fiscal year in a message to students, faculty and staff. This will be a 2 percent increase from the $594.6 million budget from the 2018 fiscal year. The 2019 fiscal year will begin July 1.

This will be the second straight, full year with a budget since the two-year impasse.

According to the email, the budget will aim to “extend affordability efforts that include a four-year, in-state tuition freeze; to build on enrollment growth that has set system-wide records for five straight years; to expand the world-class faculty and facilities that define our classroom and research excellence; and to support the public good through groundbreaking initiatives such as (Discovery Partners Institute) and the (Illinois Innovation Network).”

The budget will also provide $145.2 million for capital projects across all three universities, including the Integrated Bioresearch Laboratory at the University, $401 million statewide for the Monetary Award Program and $25 million for a new state scholarship program.

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