WIU alumna: State funding would expand student opportunities

As Illinois public universities confront mounting fiscal pressures due to decades of state disinvestment amid a broader landscape of financial challenge for Illinois, they have been navigating an added issue. Just last year, the Illinois General Assembly allocated a 3% increase in appropriations to universities, yet institutions received only 1%, with the remaining 2% being held by the Governor’s office in contingency. This winter, students from Eastern Illinois University to Chicago State University and Western Illinois University have been speaking out, including before the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), about the impact of state underfunding on their academic and campus experiences.

JayLhien Colbert, a recent graduate of Western Illinois University and currently graduate student there, shared her thoughts.

As a student and alumna of Western Illinois University, I have experienced firsthand how programs, offices, and services create opportunities for students to learn, grow, and thrive. From academic advising to student organizations, these resources provide guidance, community, and pathways to explore our potential. Every event, mentorship opportunity, and program reinforces the university’s commitment to supporting students on their individual journeys.

Over the past year, I have seen the dedication of faculty and staff as they continue to provide meaningful experiences for students. Even with challenges, their creativity, resilience, and investment in student success shine through. The programs I’ve participated in, whether through leadership initiatives, community-building efforts, or campus events have helped me develop skills, connect with others, and envision new possibilities for my future.

Additional state funding would allow these offices and programs to expand and enhance the experiences already available. It could provide students with more opportunities to explore their passions, build leadership skills, and engage in experiences that prepare them for life after graduation. From my perspective, investing in these programs is an investment in students’ growth, creativity, and potential.

Campus life continues to be enriched by student-led organizations and initiatives. Students innovate, collaborate, and create community in ways that reflect the values of our university. Additional support would allow these leaders to focus on impact and engagement while expanding the reach of their programs, creating even more spaces where students can connect, learn, and grow.

Even as enrollment trends fluctuate, the university community demonstrates resilience, pride, and dedication to student success. With strategic investment, we can strengthen recruitment, retention, and the opportunities available to students, building upon the university’s existing strengths.

I am grateful for the experiences I have had at WIU and the guidance and mentorship of faculty, staff, and peers. State funding is not only a tool to support programs—it is a way to expand possibilities, empower students, and enhance the community that makes WIU feel like home. By investing in these opportunities, we ensure that future generations of students can explore, learn, and thrive in an environment that nurtures their potential.

JayLhien Colbert earned her bachelors degree from Western Illinois University in May 2025 and is currently pursuing a graduate degree from the institution.

Comment: ‘The difference between between equity on paper and equity that students actually experience’

As Illinois public universities confront mounting fiscal pressures due to decades of state disinvestment amid a broader landscape of financial challenge for Illinois, they have been navigating an added issue. Just last year, the Illinois General Assembly allocated a 3% increase in appropriations to universities, yet institutions received only 1%, with the remaining 2% being held by the Governor’s office in contingency. This winter, students from Eastern Illinois University to Chicago State University and Western Illinois University have been speaking out, including before the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), about the impact of state underfunding on their academic and campus experiences.

Gabriel Pellebon, a psychology and sociology double major at Chicago State University, delivered the following remarks at the Jan. 21, IBHE regular business meeting.

"Good afternoon, and thank you to the Illinois Board of Higher Education and to Kennedy-King College for hosting this meeting and giving students the opportunity to be heard.

My name is Gabriel Pellebon, and I’m a Psychology and Sociology double major at Chicago State University. CSU has been a place where I’ve grown academically and personally, but my path here hasn’t been easy. Like many of my peers, I’ve had to balance full-time coursework, campus involvement, and the realities of limited institutional resources.

That’s why the passage of an adequate, equitable funding formula and the release of the remaining 2% allocation isn’t just a budget figure—it’s the difference between access and delay, between equity on paper and equity that students actually experience. As a neurodivergent and dyslexic student, I’ve seen how funding gaps directly affect our ability to succeed. This very board has found that our institution has been severely underfunding for decades. Causing many who work at CSU to take on additional roles, lessening their bandwidth and impacting student supports. For some time now, issues complying with my accommodations have led to weeks of uncertainty, stress, and out-of-pocket costs just to stay on track. That constant worry feeds into the anxiety and academic paralysis that make learning harder than it should be.

The funding formula and remaining 2% will go to making sure every student has access to their resources on time. CSU can finally invest at scale in their students through staffing and operations. I can only imagine how many others are struggling in silence without the access or stability they need to thrive.

Your support of the remaining 2% to CSU would mean a real, measurable difference in how students start and sustain their semesters. And broader than that, I urge you to support the Adequate and Equitable Funding Formula so that institutions serving students like us are resourced fairly and fully, with accountability measures and oversight codified. 

Thank you for the opportunity to speak and for your continued attention to the needs of Chicago State University and its students. Go Cougars!"

Comment: ‘This is not an isolated issue—it is systemic’

As Illinois public universities confront mounting fiscal pressures due to decades of state disinvestment amid a broader landscape of financial challenge for Illinois, they have been navigating an added issue. Just last year, the Illinois General Assembly allocated a 3% increase in appropriations to universities, yet institutions received only 1%, with the remaining 2% being held by the Governor’s office in contingency. This winter, students from Eastern Illinois University to Chicago State University and Western Illinois University have been speaking out, including before the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), about the impact of state underfunding on their academic and campus experiences.

Nmari Ward, a senior physics major at Chicago State University delivered the following remarks at the Jan. 21, IBHE regular business meeting.

“Hi my name is Nmari Ward and I am a Senior Physics major with a concentration in engineering. I currently reign as the 2025-2026 Miss CSU and I am happy to be here representing CSU and Cougar Nation. Even though I have been successful at CSU, there are some issues that the institution faces as a result of decades of disinvestment.

First, faculty are routinely placed in classrooms that are unfit for meaningful instruction. Unfit classes reduce the quality of engagement, limit feedback, and ultimately undermine learning outcomes. This is not an isolated issue—it is systemic, and it places an unreasonable burden on instructors who are expected to maintain the same standards with significantly fewer resources.

Second, we are a Division I institution, and we recently launched Chicago's only Division I Football Program, yet we lack adequate training, housing, and hosting facilities for our students. As a result, students are required to find off-campus training options, often at other schools or public facilities, and they must pay for transportation themselves. This creates financial strain, inequity, and logistical barriers that disproportionately affect students who already face limited resources. It is unacceptable for a D1 school to rely on external facilities while students absorb the cost and inconvenience.

I urge you to support the state's release of the 2% to Chicago State University. I also urge you to boldly support the passage of the equitable funding formula because CSU is uniquely positioned to create impact that reaches far beyond campus. Investing in CSU is an investment in Chicago itself.

Chicago State plays a critical role in developing teacher pipelines that serve both the university community and the city at large. By strengthening these pipelines, CSU prepares future educators who understand the realities of Chicago’s classrooms and are committed to serving them. This support not only addresses workforce needs in education, but also helps stabilize and strengthen schools across the city.

At a time when Chicago needs well-prepared, community-centered teachers, directing the released 2% and equitably funding CSU, ensures resources are going where they can do the most good—supporting students, educators, and neighborhoods simultaneously.

This decision would affirm IBHE’s commitment to equity, access, and long-term educational impact. I strongly encourage you to proudly support the state's investment in Chicago State University and all public institutions. 

Thank you."