Western Illinois University is cautiously optimistic about what the new Illinois budget may mean for state funded universities.
The budget Illinois Governor Pat Quinn proposed last week includes $40 million dollars for higher education.
Western Illinois University is slated to receive one million dollars of that, as well as the reinstatement of 2.5 percent of its budget former Governor Rod Blagojevich took back last December.
If approved that money will help construct the long-awaited performing arts center on the Macomb campus, as well as an education building on Western's Quad Cities campus.
But WUI President Al Goldfarb says that money isn't a sure thing yet.
That's why he's encouraging non-faculty staff to continue cost-savings measures to prepare for anything.
Goldfarb says the one thing that won't be affected is the education of students.
What does this mean for students?
Goldfarb said, "We've actually done a lot to protect students during these times. We've had no reductions in classes and no increase in class sizes. Our commitment has been on instructional side of campus. I'm hopeful when next year's budget comes into play, it will be easier for us to support our new programs in nursing and engineering and take care of deferred maintenance needs on campus and our rising utilities cost increases. I think it will mean a positive experience for our students."
You'll recall WIU has a complete cost guarantee for current students, which means room and board and tuition costs hold steady after freshman year.
Goldfarb says Illinois still owes the University around $21 million dollars in unpaid state payments.
WIU used its reserves to maintain operations when the state unexpectedly called back its budget last December.
On the brighter side of things, WIU expects this year to be the best year ever for fundraising, thanks to a one million dollar donation from John Deere to help fund the University's new engineering program.
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