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The "Crisis of Confidence" series is a multi-year effort by the Tri States Public Radio to document the impact the two-year state budget impasse had on Western Illinois University and the ongoing recovery efforts at WIU. State support for public higher education institutions has been steadily declining in Illinois for more than a decade. But the issue was compounded, during the state's historic two-year budget impasse during Fiscal Years '16 and '17 which left public colleges and universities with little state financial support. At Western Illinois University, that drastic cut in state appropriations resulted in significant budget cuts, employee furloughs, and layoffs.

New Efforts To Fund Illinois Higher Education Attracting Bipartisan Support

Democratic State Sen. Pat McGuire speaks about Republican Representative Mike Fortner's (on right) higher education proposal. Also pictured from left to right is Republican Reps. Dwight Kay, Norine Hammond and Terri Bryant.
Democratic State Sen. Pat McGuire speaks about Republican Representative Mike Fortner's (on right) higher education proposal. Also pictured from left to right is Republican Reps. Dwight Kay, Norine Hammond and Terri Bryant.

Illinois colleges and universities have gone without state money since last summer.

There haven't been a lot of spending measures in Illinois garnering bipartisan support from lawmakers. These new attempts have brought together members of both parties. But, the legislation is just a Band-Aid in the larger budget fight.

Democratic State Sen. Pat McGuire speaks about Republican Representative Mike Fortner's (on right) higher education proposal. Also pictured from left to right is Republican Reps. Dwight Kay, Norine Hammond and Terri Bryant.
Democratic State Sen. Pat McGuire speaks about Republican Representative Mike Fortner's (on right) higher education proposal. Also pictured from left to right is Republican Reps. Dwight Kay, Norine Hammond and Terri Bryant.

  Public universities have laid off workers, cut programs and threatened to close because they haven't received state support. A proposal by Rep. MikeFortner, R-West Chicago, would give them a third of their usual state funding and pay for one semester of Monetary Award Program grants for low-income students.

"We want to see all of higher education funded,"Fortnersaid. "But right now, this stop-gap would provide the critical piece to bridge us across."

Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, supportsFortner'smeasure.

"I'm proud to stand here and support this bicameral, bipartisan effort to keep all nine of Illinois' public universities open," he said.

 Another proposal by Rep. Rita Mayfield,D-Waukegan, has attracted a few Republican supporters. It would only provide funds to five schools, which are Western Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Northeastern University and Chicago State University. These schools are considered most at risk of closing.

Fortnerpointed out that Chicago State is set to close its doors May1stand some other four-year colleges say they're unsure if they can last until fall.

Neither piece of legislation gives money to community colleges.

Copyright 2016 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Sarah Mueller