Western Illinois U.’s Board of Trustees cited dips in enrollment and state funding in deciding on the layoffs.Western Illinois U.
Western Illinois University will lay off 24 faculty members, including seven with tenure, in the next year, the university announced on Thursday in a news release.
In making the decision at a special meeting on Thursday, the university’s Board of Trustees cited dips in enrollment and state funding. Two academic-affairs positions are also among the cuts. An additional 62 teaching positions — which either are vacant or will be vacated due to retirements or resignations — won’t be filled, according to the news release.
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Western Illinois U.’s Board of Trustees cited dips in enrollment and state funding in deciding on the layoffs.Western Illinois U.
Western Illinois University will lay off 24 faculty members, including seven with tenure, in the next year, the university announced on Thursday in a news release.
In making the decision at a special meeting on Thursday, the university’s Board of Trustees cited dips in enrollment and state funding. Two academic-affairs positions are also among the cuts. An additional 62 teaching positions — which either are vacant or will be vacated due to retirements or resignations — won’t be filled, according to the news release.
The layoff notices, which will be sent to faculty members on Friday, give a one-year warning, as stipulated by the university’s contract with the union, the University Professionals of Illinois. Cathy Early, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in the news release that more cuts may follow, although the university’s president promised growth in other areas.
“As the state returns to what we hope is an era of fair and predictable funding, Western is making greater investments in high-demand programs,” the president, Jack Thomas, said in the news release. He also said the university would announce plans next month for investment in academic programs.
Because of a historic state-budget stalemate, public colleges and universities in Illinois went some two years without state funds. Regional campuses like Western Illinois were especially hard hit. The state’s public colleges received some emergency funding, but the political deadlock forced many to lay off faculty and staff members.
During the budget crisis, Western Illinois laid off faculty and staff members, including two tenured professors (one of whom later had her position restored). As the crisis worsened, Illinois students headed for the exits, leaving the state in droves to pursue their college education elsewhere.
“We are realigning resources to further build upon Western’s programs that are highly sought after by our students and employers,” Early said. “Throughout the institution’s history, Western has readjusted according to the times. The current realities facing public higher education call for realignment.”
Correction (7/2/2018, 12:59 p.m.): This article originally misreported that more than 100 Western Illinois faculty and staff members were laid off during the state’s budget crisis. There were layoffs, but the exact number is difficult to establish with certainty, as some announced layoffs were never carried out. The article has been updated to reflect this.
Megan Zahneis, a senior reporter for The Chronicle, writes about faculty and the academic workplace. Follow her on Twitter @meganzahneis, or email her at megan.zahneis@chronicle.com.
