SIU President Randy Dunn says administrators are working to put together proposals that include dramatic cuts in state funding for the next fiscal year.
Governor-elect Bruce Rauner’s budget team has asked higher education leaders in Illinois to prepare for cuts up 30%. And while the cuts sound dire, Dunn says it’s still very early in the process:
“This is only the first instruction. It doesn’t mean that’s what the state budget will look like. But that work has begun, to create some scenarios for the Governor-elect’s budget team.”
Dunn says a 20% cut would mean a $40 million loss for the overall SIU system. He says that means leaders are taking a close look at the entire operation of the university, and asking whether or not each area serves SIU’s mission to serve students.
