Higher Education

U Of I Trustees Approve $600,000 Settlement With Salaita

By Jeff Bossert & Hannah Meisel • Nov 13, 2015

The University of Illinois and professor Steven Salaita have reached a $600,000 settlement, but he will not be teaching at the U of I. Including legal fees, the total will be $875,000, according to his attorneys. University trustees approved the settlement on an 9-1 vote at their meeting today in Chicago.

In a press release, the U of I says Salaita will receive the lump sum payment, and the university has also agreed to pay his attorneys for any legal costs he has incurred. The proposed agreement stipulates that it does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by the U of I.

U of I Interim Chancellor Says 'Distractions' Not Misconduct Cost Thomas AD Job

By Jeff Bossert • Nov 9, 2015

Senait Gebregiorgis / Illinois Public Media

University of Illinois Interim Urbana Chancellor Barbara Wilson says the decision to fire athletic director Mike Thomas came after a law firm’s release of a final report into abuse allegations within the football and women’s basketball programs. But speaking in a morning news conference, Wilson says the dismissal is tied to ‘distractions' and not any misconduct or violations of policies or standards by the now-former Athletic Director.

U of I AD Mike Thomas Fired

By Willis Kern • Nov 9, 2015

Illinois has fired athletic director Mike Thomas as it prepares to release the final report from its investigation into mistreatment of football and women's basketball players. Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson says the report found no wrongdoing by Thomas. But she says ``a change in leadership was needed in order to move forward.''

Universities Struggle Without State Budget

By ap • Nov 6, 2015

The lack of a state budget is putting stresses on Illinois' public universities that still aren't receiving money from the state. Larger schools such as the University of Illinois are faring better than smaller schools where enrollment has fallen, or fundraising is harder. Those schools have seen layoffs and furloughs, funding cut for athletics, and cash reserves raided. Alan Phillips, chief financial officer at Northern Illinois University, says it would be ``very difficult'' to get through a full year without state funding.

Mitsubishi Donates To Heartland CC Scholarships

By Charlie Schlenker • Nov 5, 2015

The Mitsubishi Plant in Normal is preparing to close, but the company says it still wants to remain a part of the Bloomington Normal Community. The Mitsubishi Motors USA Foundation is redirecting its efforts from a national focus to concentrating on charitable works in the twin cities.

Ryan Gremore of the O'Brien Mitsubishi Dealership has announced a nearly $53,000 scholarship gift to Heartland Community College benefiting five graduates each from Bloomington, Normal Community, and Normal West High Schools for five years.

Congressman Davis Introduces Student Loan Bill

By ap • Nov 2, 2015

Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis wants to give employers a hand in helping to pay off student loan debt for the recent college graduates they hire. The Taylorville Republican introduced a bill in the House this week that will let those employers offer a tax-free benefit of just over 5-thousand dollars to attract new hires --- and also help current workers with continuing education. Davis says current student loan re-payment programs are unfair.

ISU Senior Shares Her Success Story

By Michael Hill • Oct 31, 2015

Among the students graduating this year is a woman who was told college was "not for her." Brooke Hausmann is a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Major in the College of Education at Illinois State University. She has faced challenges from an auditory processing disorder and becoming hard of hearing. With the help of professors and students, she was able to succeed where others thought she would fail. WGLT's Michael Hill talks with Brooke to hear her story.

Lack Of Funding For Universities Creates More Problems

By jpbrown • Oct 28, 2015

Illinois' public universities have gone without state support during the nearly five months legislators and the governor have been caught in gridlock. IPR's Amanda Vinicky reports on how that's creating a double fiscal whammy.

ISU Forecasts Minimum 10% State Cut Next Year

By Charlie Schlenker • Oct 22, 2015

Illinois State University Trustees will take up a budget resolution forecasting at least a ten percent cut in state funding next fiscal year. That is on top of whatever reductions come in the current year budget now deadlocked in Springfield. Jay Groves is an ISU spokesman.

Bradley U Names New President

By Charlie Schlenker • Oct 16, 2015

Bradley University's new President is a respected legal scholar, attorney, and graduate of the Peoria school. Gary Roberts is currently Dean Emeritus and a law school professor at Indiana University. He is an expert on anti trust and sports law.

Bradley Trustees Chair Dout Stewart says Roberts is a forward thinking, innovative, and proven leader. Roberts replaces Joanne Glasser, who retired earlier this year.

Roberts will take over January first from interim President Stan Liberty.

Salaita’s Hope Of Teaching At U Of I Continues

By Jim Meadows • Oct 15, 2015

Steven Salaita was back on the U of I campus this week for the first time in a year. He’s teaching now at the American University of Beirut. But he says he’d rather be teaching at the University of Illinois.

State Universities Pondering Legal Action To Force Allocation

By Willis Kern • Oct 14, 2015

Some officials at public universities in Illinois are at least floating the idea of taking legal action against the governor and the Illinois legislature over the absence of a state budget. During an appearance on GLT's Sound Ideas, Illinois State University President Larry Dietz said it's not likely that will happen, but admitted some educators are considering going to court.

Dietz Says ISU Not Prepared To Cut Classes

By IPR • Oct 5, 2015

Leaders of several state universities and community colleges are sounding the alarm as they begin month three of receiving no money from Illinois. State support for Illinois’ 12 public universities and its 49 community colleges is the largest part of the state government that isn’t being funded during Springfield’s budget impasse.

NIU Joins Mumps Plagued Campuses

By AP • Oct 2, 2015

County health officials have confirmed that a Northern Illinois University student has mumps. University officials say they're working with the DeKalb County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide more community information. Illinois' outbreak has centered on the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign campus, where more than 100 cases have been confirmed. Two cases were confirmed last month at Eastern Illinois University. Nearly 30 have popped up at various schools in Bloomington Normal.

University Presidents Urge End To Illinois Budget Stalemate

By AP • Oct 1, 2015

The presidents of Illinois' nine public universities are urging Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and leaders in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly to end the ongoing state-budget stalemate. The presidents said in a letter to the governor and lawmakers on Thursday that uncertainty over how much state money the schools will get this fiscal year and when they'll get it is beginning to damage their ability to teach and do research.

U Of Illinois Finds Bird That Escaped From Clinic Handler

By Willis Kern • Sep 29, 2015

An American kestrel that the University of Illinois used as an educational bird of prey has been found after escaping last week. The bird, named Thistle, has one eye and can't survive in the wild. She escaped Sept. 23 from a handler at the University of Illinois Wildlife Clinic.

The clinic said Tuesday that Thistle was found in west Champaign and entered her travel crate ``to eat a meal hungrily.'' The Wildlife Medical Clinic and the College of Veterinary Medicine posted online that staff are ``rejoicing'' in Thistle's return and are grateful for the community's help finding her.

IWU Selects Hamline U. Provost Eric Jensen As Next President

By Charlie Schlenker • Sep 14, 2015

The next president of Illinois Wesleyan University will be Eric Jensen. Jensen is currently the the Provost of Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Hamline has nearly 5,000 students in its liberal arts, business, and education programs. It also has a law school. Jensen has also taught economics and overseen a policy program at William and Mary, the nation's second oldest University.

IWU Prepares To Name New President

By Charlie Schlenker • Sep 11, 2015

Illinois Wesleyan University is getting set to name its next President. The school in Bloomington has announced a news conference Monday to unveil the selection to replace Richard Wilson. The search has been ongoing since Wilson announced in December of last year that he would retire when a successor was named.

Pres Candidate Walker Unveils 'Day One' Platform During Eureka Stop

By IPR's Cass Herrington • Sep 10, 2015

Wisconsin Republican Governor and Presidential Candidate Scott Walker stopped in Eureka to unveiled his "on day one" campaign platform at President Ronald Reagan's alma mater. IPR's Cass Herrington reports.

Walker spoke from the stage where the 40th president gave his first political speech as a college freshman. Walker likened himself to Reagan who he calls a fighter for small government and American values.

NIU Enrollment Down, Retention Up

By Jim Browne • Sep 10, 2015

The number of students enrolled at Northern Illinois University has dipped slightly, but retention rates are improving. The university reported an enrollment of 20,130 students, a decrease of about 2.3 percent from last year. NIU President Doug Baker says: "We are not where we want to be, but there are encouraging signs of progress." The one-year retention rate for last year's freshmen increased 1 percentage point, to 72 percent. Baker says the university also has been recruiting higher-achieving students.

Higher Education

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