MACOMB, Ill. — 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.
"This is the difficult year," WIU Interim President Kristi Mindrup said during the meeting. "This is the year that Western Illinois University is taking difficult but necessary action. This is the day that we make the conscious decision to not pass the buck."
It's unclear whether employees will be impacted at the Macomb status, Quad Cities campus in Moline or both will be impacted. University officials have not provided a number on how many employees will be let go, saying they would like to keep the number as low as possible.
"I know it may not seem like it, but this administration is committed to minimizing that possibility, to minimizing the number of layoffs that we actually have to make," Mindrup said during the meeting. "That's why we're working so diligently. That's why, sometimes, when we seem evasive about how many is it going to be, we're trying to make that as few as possible."
Mindrup provided the following statement regarding the layoffs.
“For the past decade, Western has been navigating the ongoing transformation of higher education and the enrollment decline due to population shifts, changes in funding, and a misguided narrative that higher education is not worth the investment.
“The future of Western Illinois University is dependent upon a financially stable foundation. We find ourselves today at a pivotal moment where we must make decisions that ensure our short- and long-term stability and success. 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. The focus of all decisions has been and will continue to be ensuring students will continue to have access to quality academic programs and engaging experiences.
“As we look toward the future, we aim to strengthen our focus on student retention and creating a seamless transfer student experience. We will position ourselves to expand into new markets, and to innovate focused strategies that attract a variety of learners seeking new types of professional development and certification. Our institution will deliver on our commitment to align with Thrive Illinois Initiatives that foster equity and access for first generation and traditionally underrepresented students. We will continue our commitment to serve rural, West Central Illinois’ workforce development needs through innovative partnerships and student experiences before, during, and after college that contribute to the quality of life in our region and beyond.”
Full recording of Aug. 6 WIU Board of Trustees meeting
Dozens of WIU faculty and students, along with community members, held a rally on Monday asking the University not to move forward with the layoffs.
"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. People near the main campus said job losses could affect the town surrounding the university.
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 on Monday that 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.
Illinois State Rep. Gregg Johnson, who represents the Illinois Quad Cities metro area, sent the following statement on Monday.
“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 on Monday.
“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.”