Timothy Killeen, president of the University of Illinois, joined top executives from eight other public colleges making the rounds of legislative leaders' offices at the statehouse yesterday in an effort to remind lawmakers that their campuses are hurting without state funds. Killeen said they were simply making the case for the future of Illinois.
"Collectively, we educate 200,000 students in Illinois," Killeen said, "and of course they become taxpayers and they basically represent the future seed corn for this wonderful state, and we don't want to put that enterprise at risk."
No money for higher education has been approved this fiscal year. That includes grants for lower income students.
On Thursday, the nine university presidents will meet with Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has recommended a 31 percent across-the-board cut for higher education, if and when a budget is passed.
