University would get $1 Million more in 2006

SIUC could see a $1 million increase in the state money for 2006 if the Illinois Board of Higher Education passes its proposed budget Tuesday.

The $2.4 billion budget includes some perks for the SIU system but the majority of its requests didn’t make the list.

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The board is proposing giving all state universities $1 million each, which for SIUC will be used for a 3 percent pay raise for faculty and two building projects within the SIU system. But a request for $2.1 million for Morris Library was left out of the board’s proposal.

If the budget is approved Tuesday, it will go to the governor’s office and then on to the state Legislature, where discussion could go on for weeks. Last year, the Legislature deliberated well into the summer.

SIUC’s Transportation Education Center was given the nod from the board as well as a $5.4 million renovation to the Communications Building.

The $3.9 million center will house the aviation and automotive programs from the College of Applied Sciences and Arts. The renovations in the Communications Building will add a large, integrated newsroom for both production and news students to work.

During SIU President James Walker’s visit to Springfield last week, he made the case for the University system’s budget requests, including the $2.1 million for equipment for Morris Library. The money is in addition to the ongoing Morris Library construction, which costs $42 million, and will go toward new equipment when the library is finished in 2007.

Walker said because it is early in the budget process, there is a chance SIUC will still get the funds for the library.

“This is a project that a lot of money has been invested in, and we are coming down near the very end of it. The thing that we need to do is go ahead and complete this project,” Walker said. “We are talking about millions of dollars, but in the realm of things, it’s a very small amount of money when you are talking about $2.1 million.”

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SIUC received the original library money from the state during the 2001 budget session, even though it was not in the proposal from the higher education board.

Chancellor Walter Wendler said although the University did not get the funds for next year, he is confident the money will be approved before the construction is finished.

“This library is critical to the future of the University and this equipment is important to the central function of the library,” Wendler said.

During Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s visit to southern Illinois last week, he attended SIU men’s basketball game against Bradley where he announced he will release $800,000 for Altgeld Hall in his budget that he will give to the Legislature. Blagojevich froze the money for many state projects, including the University’s music equipment money, to review them. Altgeld Hall opened after years of renovations, but continues to house old equipment. awaiting final approval from the Legislature.

The higher education board’s budget also focuses on increasing the Monetary Award Program to help students gain access to universities. The proposal calls for a 6.6 percent increases in the state’s need-based grant program.

The state’s matching grants program, which provides universities with money to help them attract federal dollars for research projects, received a 45 percent cut from the board.

Reporter Julie Engler contributed to this report.

Reporter Andrea Zimmermann can be reached at [email protected]