Chicago State University Prepares to Lay Off 900 Employees
Chicago State has entered the death spiral. It’s just a matter of time.
The Chicago Sun Times reports.
Cash dwindling, CSU sending out layoff notices to all 900 employees
Days after Chicago State University cancelled spring break to shorten its semester, the South Side university told all staffers Friday morning that layoff notices are coming unless the state passes a budget that includes university funding.
But CSU President Thomas Calhoun Jr. didn’t say when the 900 employees, himself included, could actually lose their jobs.
“The actions taken today are necessary to fulfill our legal obligation and to make necessary reductions, so that we can continue running the university in the absence of state funds,” Calhoun said. “It is our sincere hope that the governor and legislative leaders will do the right thing and provide funding for public universities before these layoffs would have to be executed.”
The University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100, which represents about 330 CSU employees, said some were told they could lose their jobs April 30, others August 15th.
CSU is among many victims of an eight-month budget battle between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic legislative leaders who have yet to allocate any state funding to Illinois’ 12 public universities and countless other state programs.
So the university on 95th Street has taken several other emergency measures, including spending its reserves, to compensate for the lack of state money which accounts for about 30 percent of its budget. That’s a greater ratio than Illinois’ other public colleges. CSU officials also said they’ve covered state MAP grants over the past two semesters for students while awaiting reimbursement from the state.
Cash dwindling, CSU sending out layoff notices to all 900 employees (The Chicago Sun Times)