News Release

URBANA-The University of Illinois will receive a $10.1 million increase in its base state operating appropriation to $708.2 million total under a fiscal year 2007 budget approved by the General Assembly. University initiatives across the three campuses will receive an additional $2.4 million in grant funding from the state, and Illinois VENTURES, the U of I technology commercialization entity, will receive $750,000 in state economic development funding.

The 1.8 percent increase in the general revenue appropriation for the University marked the first year since fiscal 2002 that the U of I, and state higher education in general, received an increase in operating funds.

University of Illinois President B. Joseph White applauded the governor and the legislature for a budget that he said affirms the importance of higher education in Illinois.

"The University of Illinois is the state's most valuable asset to the people of our state to have a prosperous future," White said. "I am grateful for the leadership of the governor and the legislature in helping with the resources to achieve continued academic excellence and affordable education for nearly 70,000 Illinois students."

The state of Illinois is the single largest source of funding for the University of Illinois, providing more than $1 billion of the University's $3.6 billion annual operating budget. In addition to the $710.6 million general revenue appropriation, the state is expected to make nearly $389 million in payments on behalf of the university for employee pension and health care benefits.

University initiatives contained in the $7 10.6 appropriation include the following:

$1 million for the CHANCE program at the University of Illinois at Chicago;
$800,000 for the Hispanic Center for Excellence at UIC;
$500,000 for library digitalization at Urbana-Champaign;
$350,000 for the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center through the Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences;
$350,000 for the Pathways to Health Professionals program; and
$300,000 for campus-based work force development programs.

In addition, the UIC Operation CEASEFIRE program, a successful violent crime deterrent in Chicago area neighborhoods, will receive $6.4 million in community grants through the state Department of Corrections, and CFAR's grant funding was increased by $1 million to $4.5 million. CFAR is the Council on Food and Agricultural Research, which supports projects that have a practical impact on the state's food and agricultural industries. CFAR is based in Champaign; researchers at the U of I and other public universities compete for CFAR grants.

Students at the U of I, and other Illinois universities will see more financial aid.

The need-based Monetary Award Program is in line for an additional $7.56 million, for a total of $354.3 million. A new grant program, called MAP Plus, would give $500 grants to students whose families earn too much to qualify for regular MAP grants, which can be used for college costs such as books and room and board.

A capital budget was not appropriated for the third year in a row.

The University of Illinois enrolls nearly 70,000 students at its campuses in
Chicago, Springfield and Urbana-Champaign, educates thousands more off-campus
(including on-line) and has more than 558,000 living alumni. The state's top educator,
the University of Illinois awards more than 17,000 degrees each year.

University of Illinois receives $12.5 million state budget increase

'An affirmation of the importance of higher education'