EIU Media Relations

EIU Budget Update -- A Letter to Students from EIU President David M. Glassman

Dear Students,

It has come to my attention that some EIU students are worried about Eastern offering summer and/or fall classes. I would like to take this opportunity to assure students and their families that there is every expectation that an appropriation from the state of Illinois will eventually come, and your outstanding EIU education will continue uninterrupted.

You may have heard some of the rumors circulating this year regarding funding of public universities in Illinois. All public universities receive funding from the state every year; this funding offsets a significant portion of the university’s operational costs so that tuition can be kept as affordable as possible for our students. This year, due to the state budget impasse in Springfield, no Illinois public universities have received any state funding as of yet.

Across the state, universities have had to cut back in areas of non-instructional activity, and in some cases a number of employees have been laid off. Once the state passes a budget, which I believe will happen soon, public universities will begin to receive their funding and institutions of higher education will once again be able to provide the full breadth of services expected, and EIU will be able to move forward on our pathway to success.

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions and thank you for being EIU.

Sincerely,

David M. Glassman
President, Eastern Illinois University