Chicago State University Teams Up with Other Illinois Public Universities

Joint campaign seeks reinvestment in Illinois higher education 

CHICAGO, IL. – Chicago State University joined forces with peer universities across the state to build awareness of the need and value for robust funding in Illinois higher education. The universities rallied together to launch a statewide campaign on Thursday, May 23, 2019.  The campaign includes a video message from university students, emails to alumni and appearances from university presidents around the state asking the community and legislators for their support of higher education. 

“Adequate funding for Illinois public higher education is vital to closing the wealth gap that exist in many Illinois minority communities”, said Zaldwaynaka Scott, Esq., President of Chicago State University.  “Illinois residents deserve a strong and equitable public higher education system. We are asking the community to join us, take action and contact their legislators; ask them to invest in higher education”. 

The campaign called, The Time is Now: Re-invest in Illinois Higher Education focuses on the importance of increased funding for Illinois public universities so that these institutions can continue to drive economic growth and development in the state by developing its workforce, which will attract businesses to the state and keep families in Illinois.  Chicago State University alone contributes more than half a billion to the state’s economy every year.   An increase in funding would create jobs and spur more economic activity statewide and provide students with much needed improvements to campus buildings, classrooms and new technology on campuses.  

During the FY16-FY18 Illinois budget crisis, funding for higher education throughout the state of Illinois was significantly reduced by hundreds of millions of dollars forcing universities to defer maintenance and realign resources to ensure student success.  Since then, the state has seen an outmigration of college students attending universities out of Illinois due to the uncertainty of state support.    

The Illinois General Assembly is set to conclude its work on May 31, 2019 and is discussing appropriated and capital funding for its’ Illinois public universities.  All universities have submitted a proposal detailing their capital and operational needs for this year’s budget and are requesting a funding increase.  

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