What losing billions in federal grants means for universities, and the nation
The Trump administration has so far frozen about $11 billion in research funding. University leaders say no other source can fill the void.
Tag: higher education
Plan to overhaul higher education funding meets U of I opposition
A plan to overhaul the way Illinois funds public universities is running into stiff opposition from the state’s largest higher education institution, the University of Illinois System.
‘This is like leaving home for us’: Chancellor Robert Jones on departure from U of I, Trump targeting higher ed, and leading through COVID
Jones will soon head to the University of Washington in Seattle. He starts on August 1, 2025.
Illinois may allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees. Some rural students say it would make a big difference
One of the big selling points of attending community colleges is the lower tuition cost. With that in mind, the legislation limits the costs of the four-year programs.
Visa terminations causing panic for Illinois students and educators
The Trump administration’s move to terminate the legal immigration status of hundreds of international students is leaving Illinois educators scrambling to find ways to help.
Pritzker to call for expansion of 4-year degree offerings at some community colleges
Gov. JB Pritzker plans to offer a proposal in his budget address Wednesday that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees.
University of Illinois System expands transfer guarantee to all state high school graduates
On Wednesday, the U of I System announced it will expand that its Transfer Guarantee to any Illinois high school graduate who meets the grade and credit requirements.
More Illinois universities are covering tuition for low-income households, but issues with cost remains
In Illinois, state funding for higher education dropped by nearly 40% since 2000. Public university tuition has increased 121% in the same time. Students from low-income homes are receiving financial aid, but face other costs.
Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 bills to pass this session
Bill allowing digital driver’s licenses also clears General Assembly.
Illinois to report for first time how many prisoners are taking college courses – and how many are waiting for access
There will be public data for the first time this year on the enrollment, demographics and waitlists for higher education programs in Illinois prisons, thanks to the Higher Education in Prison Act.
After Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign plans to use socioeconomics, geography instead of race in admissions
“We’ve had a holistic review process that considers all sorts of factors and that [race] has been one of them,” said U of I spokesperson Robin Kaler. That will not be true next year, she said.
‘Don’t stop now’: The new Illinois budget’s impact on higher ed and college students
DEKALB — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker just signed a nearly $47 billion budget into law. That includes substantial increases to the need-based student Monetary Award Program — or MAP Grants. WNIJ’s Peter Medlin talked with Partnership for College Completion policy manager Mike Abrahamson about what it means for Illinois college students. Peter Medlin, WNIJ education
As tax dollars dry up, university ag schools turn to agribusiness dollars and industry projects
From Iowa to Oklahoma to Kansas, universities are working more closely with agribusiness in search of ways to pay for projects where tax dollars have become more scarce. Critics worry that agriculture schools might focus more on industry than the public interest. Read Part I and Part II of this series. AMES, IOWA — Iowa
Corporate money keeps university ag schools ‘relevant,’ and makes them targets of donor criticism
Large donors can put universities in potentially awkward positions when faculty conclusions conflict with the interests of those benefactors. Data collected by Harvest Public Media and Investigate Midwest show corporations have given at least $170 million to ag colleges in the past decade. Read Part II and Part III of this series. CHAMPAIGN — A major donor to the
Pritzker Protects K-12 Spending From Cuts, But Advocates Say More Investment Is Needed
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined a proposed budget for the next fiscal year this week that keeps state spending on both K-12 and higher education mostly flat. If approved by state lawmakers, this would be the second year in a row that Illinois hasn’t invested in its school funding formula. The formula, passed