Chicago State to end school year early to save money
CHICAGO (FOX 32 / AP) — Chicago State University announced Tuesday the elimination of spring break this year to ensure its students will finish the semester before the school may be forced to close down due to a lack of state funding.
In a memo to faculty and students, university President Thomas Calhoun said the spring semester will end April 28, when graduation ceremonies will take place. The semester was scheduled to end May 13.
"These changes are occurring to fulfill the university's commitment to students regarding the completion of the semester," Calhoun wrote.
Illinois' public universities and community colleges haven't received state money since summer because of the budget stalemate between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly.
One classroom of adults seeking a Master’s degree in social work took a break to talk with FOX 32 about the financial crisis threatening to shut down their Chicago State University.
“I have a job that I work 8:30 to 5. Then I come here. And then, it's like, "Am I wasting my time?" Because am I going to get my degree that I want to get, that I'm passionate about?” said Geri Dumas.
Chedgzsey Smith-McKeever is part of the faculty at Chicago State University.
“They don't know if their classes are going to be here. And it just offends me. It offends me,” Smith-McKeever said.
While few students here could afford a wild spring break getaway, Phillip Burgess was hoping to spend the time with his family. His evening classes, a full-time job and weekend church work take 72 hours a week.
“And that 72 hours is without my family!” Burgess said.
Senior Charles Preston told WLS-TV he has already made plans for the spring break, having purchased a plane ticket to Florida to visit his girlfriend.
"I'm very angry," Preston said. "This is the sacrifices the university has to do in effort for it to still exist."
The university is trying to come up with ways to save money for the following school year, Calhoun said.
"We're looking at how to be efficient in the summer," he said. "We have a number of buildings on campus that are really minimally used, we can close those."
Calhoun has declined to say exactly when the 148-year-old university would run out of money to pay its employees. But university officials have indicated it could be as soon as March. The university has a largely low-income student body.
In January, Rauner contended Chicago State was "throwing money down the toilet" and was unwilling to make reforms.
In a letter addressed to Rauner, Calhoun replied that the school has cut both its workforce and administrative costs.
Chicago State has a history of financial mismanagement, including state audits in recent years that found the school to be a financial wreck. A state audit in December, though, found relatively few problems.
Rauner's office has also criticized what it called "waste," ''cronyism" and lavish administrator perks in Illinois' other public universities.
Chicago State is not alone. Downstate's Eastern Illinois University is also struggling to cope with the cutoff of state funds, ordering layoffs and warning of worse yet to come.
Although previous protests and rallies haven't had much impact on the stalemate in Springfield, folks at Chicago State say they are planning another one for this Saturday, right here on campus.