The continuing budget impasse in Springfield is not affecting fall enrollment at Illinois State University. During Sound Ideas, President Larry Dietz said ISU will have the same number of students as fall 2014, despite a decrease in the statewide high school graduation rate.
"Early indicators for us is that we may be about where we were last year. Which, in itself, would really be, in essence, an increase, because the number of students that are graduating from Illinois high schools has started on a decline,” he explained.
Other state universities are seeing a decrease this year, with students attending school outside of Illinois due to state budgetary concerns. Dietz says he remains optimistic that Springfield lawmakers will come to an agreement.
“There’s work groups that are working all the time. We’re in communication all the time with those individuals who are working on various proposals,” he said.
ISU developed contingency plans for dealing with the impasse if it continues past the summer, but the school is not prepared to announce them at this time.