University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen is proposing lawmakers adopt a five-year funding guarantee if the U of I agrees to maintain certain performance levels.
During the public radio program "The 21st", Killeen said some certainty has to be inserted into the higher ed funding process. He said the U of I should be rewarded for excelling in different areas.
"In terms of graduation rates, enrollment, participation, Illinois native students and diversity settings, all the success metrics. And in return the state would provide a five-year outlook of a predictable funding base that we can plan around in order to recruit and retain world-class faculty," Killeen said.
He said he's willing to expand his proposal to include other public colleges and universities. Illinois State University President Larry Dietz has touted a similar plan, and said Illinois State would be willing to join the U of I.
Dietz said the proposal would have to be tweaked for each school signing on, to capitalize on that institution's strengths. Both Dietz and Killeen bemoan the uncertainty brought on by the recent budget impasse.
