None of Illinois’ public universities has received state funding since July of last year.
In February, layoff notices went out to all 900 of the CSU’s employees. University president Thomas Calhoun Jr. said in February that the school closing altogether would be a “worst-case” scenario but that the layoff notices indicate to faculty and staff that, when CSU reopens next fall, it may be a pared-down version of its current self.
The uncertainty surrounding the south Chicago institution’s future can be demoralizing, CSU students said.
“We still have to stay focused on our studies, in spite of what’s going on,” said Heilema Gray, a CSU sophomore majoring in music education. “If it does close—and we’re hoping that it doesn’t—if you continue to have a great GPA, then you can transfer to a great school.”
Students say that they have received confusing messages about what their next step would be if the school were to close. Some say that they heard that they will be given the option to transfer to Governors State University (GSU).
GSU is a public university located some 40 minutes south of CSU. Like CSU, it has been impacted by Illinois’ budgetary issues and particularly so by the lack of funding for state Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants, which were supposed to have provided up to $4,702 per student in need-based tuition and fee assistance in 2015-16.
