EIU Media Relations

Statement on Commission on Equitable Public University Funding

A Viable Path to Adequate and Equitable Higher Education Funding

Jay D. Gatrell, Ph.D.
President
July 30, 2024

Equity-based funding for higher education is a student-focused strategic investment that will more effectively distribute public funds toward the goal of ensuring a thriving Illinois for all.  Eastern Illinois University applauds the Commission on Equitable Funding for providing Illinois' public universities with a formula that simultaneously provides a pathway to achieving adequate and equitable funding.

Adequacy as a core standard has been adopted for our State's K-12 funding formula and it is time we apply the same foundational principle to the funding of our public universities.

I am grateful to the Commission’s leadership--Senator Lightford, Representative Ammons, Chair Kothari, Deputy Governor Torres, and the entire Commission for positioning Illinois’ higher education system to adequately and equitably fund one of the State's strongest engines of social mobility —  its universities. For that reason, the Commission's methodology is good for Illinois and EIU.