State budget allocates millions more to Chicago State University

Thanks to an increase in higher education from the state, Chicago State University will receive a boost in funding for the 2019-20 fiscal year and it includes $33.7 million in capital upgrades. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
Thanks to an increase in higher education from the state, Chicago State University will receive a boost in funding for the 2019-20 fiscal year and it includes $33.7 million in capital upgrades. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

State budget allocates millions more to Chicago State University

Wendell Hutson, Contributing Writer

Keeping a campaign promise to invest more in higher education, Gov. J.B. Pritzker made sure the state’s 2019 budget included a funding boost for Chicago State University.

The 2019-20 budget, which goes into effect July 1, allocates $36.9 million to CSU for general operations, additional expenses and its pharmacy program; $33.7 million in capital upgrades (distributed over six years) and includes $15.8 million to build a simulation lab for the health science and pharmacy program.

State funding previously for CSU was $34.6 million for fiscal year 2018, $38.2 million in 2017 and $21.7 in 2016.

CSU President Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott said while she requested a 20 percent funding increase from the state, she is grateful for five percent.

“We are pleased with the leadership of Gov. Pritzker, our legislative leaders and the General Assembly,” said Scott. “Their commitment to CSU scholars and the families of Illinois is valuable.”

The new budget will also increase general funding for higher education by $154 million or 8.2 percent, which is the largest since 1990, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Included in the budget is $1.16 billion to cover daily operations at Illinois’ nine public universities, which is a 5 percent increase over last year.

And beyond four-year institutions like CSU, community colleges are getting a funding boost too. The state budget increases funding by 12.3 percent from the 2018-19 school year for community colleges, which is up $33.2 million for a total

budget of $303 million. City Colleges of Chicago is set to receive $27.6 million, while Moraine Valley Community College in Bridgeview will receive $43 million, and $35.7 million goes to South Suburban College in South Holland.

Pritzker said the funding increase was long over due and was necessary if state universities and community colleges are to remain competitive with out-of-state institutions.

“We’re investing in the things that really matter in this state,” said Gov. Pritzker at a June 5 press conference after signing the $40 billion spending plan. “Many of these things haven’t been addressed for 20 years.”

The rising cost to attend college has made it difficult for many students especially those from low-income households to attend, which is why Pritzker said the state’s Monetary Award Program grant would also see its funding increased by $50 million to $451.3.

In 2018, CSU enrollment was 2,964 and Scott said last year, nearly half of its students received a MAP grant, which helps cover tuition for low-income students.

“The increase in funding for the MAP grant was vital to higher education funding in Illinois,” said Scott. “More than 95 percent of our undergraduates receive financial aid and depend on funds like the MAP grant to complete their

education.”

Tuition and fees at CSU for full-time, newly admitted students for the 2019-20 school year is $12,704 for a full academic year. The rate applies to both in-state and out-of-state U.S. students.

And housing costs vary depending on occupancy type. A single room rate is $4,210 per semester and a double room rate is $2,250 per semester minus the cost for a meal plan, which ranges from $1,426 to $2,112 per semester.

As the only four-year, public university on the South Side, Scott said CSU is a unique educational institution because it is ranked as the number one public university in the state and the second highest in the nation for educating and supporting black student scholars; ranked third in the nation by the American Physics Society for graduating blacks in physics each year; its School of Pharmacy is ranked number one in the Midwest by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy for educating minority student scholars; and CSU has a 100 percent job placement rate in healthcare fields.

Scott added that the extra money from the state this year would ultimately help CSU continue its mission of educating students.

“Our first priority is the success of our students. This budget will help us implement data-driven decisions around best practices for student success programs,” said Scott. “We also have plans for improved and increased technologies in the classrooms and wrap-around student services to enhance student learning.”

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