State Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, today issued the following statement on the University Professionals of Illinois rally on Western Illinois University staff reductions:
“The cuts at Western Illinois University are very concerning. As the State Senator for the region and Co-Chair of the Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee, these layoffs will hurt the families of the faculty and staff affected and the students who depend on them for a high-quality education, the local businesses who support and provide services to the university and those employed there, and our economy throughout western Illinois.
The University should be as transparent as possible with those affected, help those laid off with all appropriate transition planning, and work to ease the pain for all involved. We will continue to advocate for increased funding for WIU and for all of our Illinois colleges and universities because we know our future success is directly tied to their ability to educate our students and drive our local economies.”
***Courtesy of State Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island***
