At the Aug. 6 Western Illinois University Board of Trustees special meeting, the Board approved Resolution No. 24.8/1, a staff reduction authorization.
“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,” WIU Interim President Kristi Mindrup said.
“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.”
Action items and reports can be found at wiu.edu/bot, and the audio of the full meeting can be found at WIU's YouTube Channel at youtube.com/user/WesternIllinoisU.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held Sept. 26-27 on the Macomb campus.
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