University leaders testify at state budget hearings

President Bob Easter and chancellors Michael Amiridis, Phyllis Wise and Susan Koch will testify in Springfield Thursday.

Top university leaders from the three U of I campuses are scheduled to testify in Springfield Thursday at legislative hearings on the fiscal 2016 state budget.

At the same time, the Office for Governmental Relations and the Alumni Association Illinois Connection advocacy group launched a grassroots campaign to contact state lawmakers.

Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed a fiscal 2016 state budget that includes a 31.5 percent reduction in the appropriations for public universities — a $209 million cut in direct state support for the U of I.

A massive cut in direct state support will diminish the academic experience for 78,500 students and damage the university’s competitiveness, President Bob Easter and campus leaders will testify.

Traveling to Springfield with Easter are UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis, Urbana Chancellor Phyllis Wise and UIS Chancellor Susan Koch, along with vice chancellors for student affairs from the three campuses.