2008 Woodie Awards
Eastern reacts to IBHE changes
Sara Cuadrado/ University Reporter
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
An ongoing debate has been questioning the affordability and rising cost of higher education, and Eastern is not exempt from this debate.
"Unabated rises in tuition rates will make higher education less affordable for many people," said President Bill Perry.
Perry said enhanced state funding for public universities leads to the moderation of tuition rate increases.
According to Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, public higher education depends on two main sources of income: tuition dollars and state appropriated dollars. She said as one increases or decreases, the other needs to change as well.
"The state of Illinois has seen a decrease in state support for higher education over the past years," Nilsen said. "Consequently, the need for tuition dollars has increased."
Perry said Eastern is working to raise scholarship money and practice cost avoidance. One way Eastern is saving money is by conserving energy and water. Perry said they continue to look for ways to operate more efficiently.
"We are an affordable public university with a superior educational experience for our students," Perry said.
Nilsen said Eastern also runs very successful energy saving and recycling programs to minimize the need for extra dollars. She said Eastern looks at every cost-saving possibility.
"We have a textbook rental program, which is highly regarded throughout the state," Nilsen said.
According to Nilsen, Eastern has also established over 100 new student scholarships over the past five years and raised money to support annual operations and capital improvements.
As the future fiscal year budgets are planned, Perry said they will be sensitive to the affordability issue.
In terms of all higher education, Perry said he believes a combination of strategies involving all higher education providers will come about as a useful approach to lower costs.
"More affordable higher education is essential to our country," Perry said.
The effort must be a partnership between the federal government, the state government and the university, he said.
This would involve the state providing more investment in the cost of operations in public universities; both state and federal governments providing more need-based grants in aid; and the university raising scholarships, practicing cost avoidance strategies and continuing to develop efficiencies in operations.
"We are working with our state legislature to carry forward the message that higher education is educating the next generation of teachers, business leaders, healthcare providers and that investment in higher education is an investment in the future of the state of Illinois," Nilsen said.
"Unabated rises in tuition rates will make higher education less affordable for many people," said President Bill Perry.
Perry said enhanced state funding for public universities leads to the moderation of tuition rate increases.
According to Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, public higher education depends on two main sources of income: tuition dollars and state appropriated dollars. She said as one increases or decreases, the other needs to change as well.
"The state of Illinois has seen a decrease in state support for higher education over the past years," Nilsen said. "Consequently, the need for tuition dollars has increased."
Perry said Eastern is working to raise scholarship money and practice cost avoidance. One way Eastern is saving money is by conserving energy and water. Perry said they continue to look for ways to operate more efficiently.
"We are an affordable public university with a superior educational experience for our students," Perry said.
Nilsen said Eastern also runs very successful energy saving and recycling programs to minimize the need for extra dollars. She said Eastern looks at every cost-saving possibility.
"We have a textbook rental program, which is highly regarded throughout the state," Nilsen said.
According to Nilsen, Eastern has also established over 100 new student scholarships over the past five years and raised money to support annual operations and capital improvements.
As the future fiscal year budgets are planned, Perry said they will be sensitive to the affordability issue.
In terms of all higher education, Perry said he believes a combination of strategies involving all higher education providers will come about as a useful approach to lower costs.
"More affordable higher education is essential to our country," Perry said.
The effort must be a partnership between the federal government, the state government and the university, he said.
This would involve the state providing more investment in the cost of operations in public universities; both state and federal governments providing more need-based grants in aid; and the university raising scholarships, practicing cost avoidance strategies and continuing to develop efficiencies in operations.
"We are working with our state legislature to carry forward the message that higher education is educating the next generation of teachers, business leaders, healthcare providers and that investment in higher education is an investment in the future of the state of Illinois," Nilsen said.
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