MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University is eliminating 89 positions and adjusting programs offered at the school's Quad Cities campus, according to a university news release published Friday.
The school announced that 57 faculty and 32 staff positions will be eliminated. The school will also be implementing the following measures:
- "Non renewal of 35 Unit B faculty contracts effective July 1
- A hiring suspension and spending freeze implemented on June 3
- Over 100 vacant positions eliminated from future budgets, including two vice president positions
- Department consolidation and restructuring in order to improve operational efficiencies
- Departmental operating budgets reductions
- Discontinuation of non-essential contractual agreements
- Increased efficiency through continued reductions in building operations
- Strategic reduction and realignment of student aid"
The release also states that building operations at the Quad Cities campus will be streamlined and adjustments will be made to program offerings, resulting in the relocating of 16 positions to Macomb.
"In order to address financial stability, we must recognize that our institution, like so many others across the country, must be the right size and the right shape to serve this number of students. I want to acknowledge the gravity of these decisions and the profound impact they will have on our dedicated faculty and staff, and the impact personnel reductions have on our Macomb and Quad Cities communities," WIU Interim President Kristi Mindrup said.
During a Tuesday morning meeting, Western Illinois University's Board of Trustees approved a resolution to let go an unknown number of employees, from tenure-track faculty to support staff alike. It comes after 35 faculty contracts were not renewed at the end of June.
The board said expenses have exceeded revenue too many years in a row and that all options have been exhausted.