Despite financial crisis, Chicago State University pays lobbyists, Madigan spokesman hundreds of thousands

01/23/2017

Chicago State University spent more than $200,000 lobbying Springfield politicians, while deteriorating finances caused it to lay off hundreds of employees, including professors.

TAGS: CSU: Chicago State University, higher education, lobbying, Mike Madigan, Steve Brown

Chicago State University president resigns with $600,000 in severance pay

09/19/2016

The outgoing CSU president’s exorbitant severance package highlights the need to rein in Illinois universities’ high administrative costs.

TAGS: budget, CSU: Chicago State University, higher education

Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis

By John Klingner

04/27/2016

Illinois’ public colleges and universities used to be affordable, but schools have increased tuition from 74-112 percent over the last decade to help pay for administrative hiring sprees and skyrocketing pensions.

TAGS: higher education, pensions, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

04/04/2016

Several instances of corruption and mismanagement of public property and trust came to light in March and included new developments in cases involving Chicago Public Schools’ former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

TAGS: corruption

CPS files charges against CTU for ‘illegal’ strike

By Jeffrey Schwab

04/01/2016

The union’s one-day strike is an illegal, aggressive political power play, and its attempt to coerce its members to participate violates its own constitution. Here’s a breakdown of the timeline, the law and the political statement the union is making.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Karen Lewis

Chicago State University students: Blame CSU administration for your troubles

By Ted Dabrowski

03/11/2016

CSU's bloated administration costs more than $3,600 per student, by far the highest of all Illinois' public colleges and universities. By comparison, the average MAP grant at CSU is $2,600 per student.

TAGS: budget, CSU: Chicago State University

Pension costs eat up funding meant for students

By Ted Dabrowski

02/27/2016

Illinois’ growing pension costs – not the state budget gridlock – are taking away funding for essential government services, such as education.

TAGS: pensions

Total student-loan debt in Illinois is approaching $50 billion

By Ted Dabrowski

02/09/2016

More than 1.7 million Illinoisans hold student-loan debt.

TAGS: higher education, pensions, student loans

Pensions vs. higher education

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/04/2016

Skyrocketing pensions, bloated administrations are pricing students out of college degrees

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

12/14/2015

November saw Chicago’s City Council let the term of the legislative inspector general, who is tasked with overseeing City Council, expire without hiring a replacement, as well as several other instances of breach of public trust and influence peddling around the state.

TAGS: corruption

Chicago State University

Despite financial crisis, Chicago State University pays lobbyists, Madigan spokesman hundreds of thousands

Chicago State University president resigns with $600,000 in severance pay

Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

CPS files charges against CTU for ‘illegal’ strike

Chicago State University students: Blame CSU administration for your troubles

Pension costs eat up funding meant for students

Total student-loan debt in Illinois is approaching $50 billion

Pensions vs. higher education

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students