Tuesday, July 6, 2010

State budget cuts crippling colleges

State funding doesn't flow like the fountain at the University of Illinois Springfield.

"Money is very tight right now," said Tearched Scott, a graduate student.

Scott transferred to UIS from NIU because it was cheaper. He's worried rising tuition and fees meant to help mend state budget cuts will price some students out.

"Education should be one of the last things to be cut, because students need to have the opportunity to make the most out of their lives," said Scott.

The governor is cutting 46 million dollars from all three U of I campuses, with 8 million coming from UIS. Add to that the 9 million the state owes the campus and the state is short changing the university by 17 million dollars.

"It's going to be very difficult," said Richard Ringeisen, UIS chancellor.

The higher education cuts were featured in a July 2, 2010, news story by WICS-TV.

Watch the story on News Channel 20's website