MACOMB, Ill. — Update: WIU's Board of Trustees approved the resolution that would lay off an unspecified amount of employees. Find WQAD's reporting on that vote here.
On Monday, Aug. 5, dozens of Western Illinois University faculty and students, along with community members, protested against an upcoming vote by the Board of Trustees set for Tuesday morning. That vote could result in an unknown number of employees being laid off, from tenure-track faculty to support staff alike. It comes after 35 faculty contracts were not renewed at the end of June.
It's unclear whether employees at WIU's main campus in Macomb, its Quad Cities campus in Moline or both will be impacted. People near the main campus say job losses could affect the town surrounding the university.
"Everybody's vulnerable," John Miller, president of the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI), said. UPI is a union representing university employees.
Union leaders, WIU faculty, community members and students all spoke during the press conference Monday morning. More than 100 people attended.
"All of us here today have worked hard to uphold (the) vision and mission of WIU. However, if I am laid off, there will be a gap and a hole at WIU," Dr. Sharon Hunter, an African American Studies instructor at WIU, said during the conference. She added that the layoffs would only damage WIU's relationship with its students.
One university graduate, Hannah McGinty, said some students are talking about whether or not they should transfer.
"If Western is going to fail, they can't afford to fail with it," McGinty said during the conference. "If you let the university fail, if you continue with these layoffs, there will be no Macomb."
Miller said the board needs to work with faculty on solutions to the university's financial problems, not lay them off. He suggests asking the state to fund WIU as a system, rather than a single campus.
"It would be a significant increase in funding for our institutions after decades of underfunding," Miller said. He also said that every time WIU has a layoff, it loses about a thousand students the following year. Since the spring of 2019, enrollment across both campuses has dropped from nearly 8,000 to less than 6,500.
The board of trustees meets Tuesday morning, Aug. 6, at 8 a.m. News 8 reached out to the university for a statement, and school officials said one will be released after the meeting.
Illinois State Rep. Gregg Johnson, who represents the Illinois Quad Cities metro area, sent the following statement regarding the layoffs.
“My heart goes out to the dedicated faculty and academic support staff at Western Illinois University who are facing layoffs. The uncertainty and hardship that these individuals and their families are experiencing is deeply troubling, especially just weeks before the fall semester begins.
"These layoffs are not just numbers on a page; they represent real people – our friends, neighbors, and community members – who have devoted their lives to educating and supporting our students and the loss of their contributions will be felt deeply across the WIU community in Macomb and Moline.
"We must address the root cause of this issue – the need for proper education funding. Without it, institutions like WIU will continue to face such dire decisions. Furthermore, economic development is crucial, especially at a time when our region is seeing more layoffs. We need to reverse this trend to ensure the stability and growth of our communities.
"I am moved by the solidarity and determination of everyone involved. We are not just fighting for jobs; we are fighting for the future of our community. Each layoff represents a story, a family, and a future that now faces uncertainty. This is a time for us to come together, to support one another, and to demand solutions that preserve the integrity of our educational institutions and the well-being of our community.
"I will work tirelessly with my colleagues and community leaders to find ways to support those affected and to advocate for the stability and growth of our region. To those affected, please know that my office is here to support you in every way possible. We are committed to helping all those affected by these layoffs and we will do everything we can to connect you with resources and services to help you through this difficult time.”
Illinois State Sen. Mike Halpin, who represents much of the Illinois Quad Cities metro area down to parts of Macomb, provided the following statement.
“The cuts at Western Illinois University are very concerning. As the State Senator for the region and Co-Chair of the Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee, these layoffs will hurt the families of the faculty and staff affected and the students who depend on them for a high-quality education, the local businesses who support and provide services to the university and those employed there, and our economy throughout western Illinois.
"The University should be as transparent as possible with those affected, help those laid off with all appropriate transition planning, and work to ease the pain for all involved. We will continue to advocate for increased funding for WIU and for all of our Illinois colleges and universities because we know our future success is directly tied to their ability to educate our students and drive our local economies.”