While four MVFC schools have pledged FCOA scholarships (NDSU, SDSU, USD, and UNI), the three MVFC schools in IL are facing a growing fiscal crisis. Cuts to athletics, namely FB, are not currently being openly discussed. However, it would seem probable that at some point it will surface in the next few years. Things may get interesting.
Re: SIU (remember Randy Dunn?):"The Southern Illinois University system will take a $40 million cut next year if Gov. Bruce Rauner’s fiscal year 2017 budget proposal is enacted — a fact that SIU President Randy Dunn said could lead to a “wholesale ending of programs” at the university’s three campuses."
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/dunn-rauner-s-fy-budget-proposal-will-lead-to-wholesale/article_b7c1727b-f10c-533a-b4f0-fa4b1eceafad.html"Randy Dunn, president of the Southern Illinois University system, is asking staffers at the system’s three campuses to find ways to cover a potential loss of $49 million in state support."
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/siu-system-to-consider-million-in-cuts/article_d86c4e0d-711b-5899-81a0-140eae78a403.htmlRe: WIU:"Western Illinois University announced Friday it would cut $20 million over the next two fiscal years, including cutting 100 jobs, as a result of the state budget impasse and probable reductions to state funding for higher education.
President Jack Thomas says the university has reduced $5 million from its budget for fiscal year 2016, but to meet operational expenditures for July and August, the university needs to cut $4 million more by June 30."
http://www.wgem.com/story/31327994/2016/02/26/local-university-to-cut-100-jobs-in-20-million-budget-slash?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Jennifer_Tapley_-_WGEM_NewsThe others:"An epic budget battle in Illinois led Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade the credit rating of three of the state’s public universities late Wednesday, the latest setback for schools that have been starved of funding for eight months and now face possible accreditation challenges.
Northeastern Illinois University and Northern Illinois University had their credit ratings lowered to just above junk status, while Eastern Illinois University’s rating is now below investment grade. That means analysts consider revenue bonds issued on behalf of the school to be a credit risk for investors.
“The downgrade is driven by EIU’s increasing vulnerability to the ongoing state budget impasse given its thin liquidity, declining enrollment and high reliance on state funding,” Moody’s said in a statement. “Liquid reserves are expected to be exhausted by the end of the fiscal year.”
Moody’s has held a negative outlook on all eight Illinois universities it rates since the fall because of their diminishing cash flow. Analysts said there was no indication that Illinois would allow its public universities to borrow money during the budget impasse, despite the strain the ordeal has placed on their operations.
Universities in Illinois have not seen a dime from the state in eight months..."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/02/25/illinois-budget-battle-leads-moodys-to-downgrade-several-state-universities/"All that is a glaring failure on the part of state leaders over several administrations. A college student who mismanaged things this badly would be on academic probation.
Understandably, college administrators and legislators right now are focused on the budget meltdown in Springfield. Because of the deadlock that started July 1, public universities aren’t getting their state funding, and they also have to cover for students who aren’t getting their income-based scholarships from the state.
Eastern Illinois University has already laid off staff. Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas is trying to postpone a plan to cut 50 of 632 full-time faculty positions. Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn says this year’s underfunding is creating a crisis.
But patching together a state budget for this fiscal year won’t be enough. Illinois higher education resembles infrastructure that’s been jury-rigged with duct tape because of years of disinvestment. Professors aren’t getting raises, fewer classes make it harder for students to meet graduation requirements, employees have been laid off."
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/7/71/1205546/editorial-illinois-higher-education