Illinois boosts universities losing students, punishes gainers

By Patrick Andriesen

03/05/2026

Illinois’ public universities have lost 13,062 students during the past 20 years, but three gained. They lost state funding while the losers got more money.

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Batinick: Enrollment falls across Illinois universities, but prices keep climbing

By Mark Batinick

05/28/2025

Illinois’ university system is losing students to other states as prices per student top the nation. The system and its funding need an overhaul, but state leaders instead are considering letting community colleges create even more competition.

TAGS: higher education

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

02/15/2023

Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Outgoing SIU president to receive $215K severance, new $100K job

07/24/2018

Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn will receive a $215,000 severance package before taking a lucrative job at the university’s Edwardsville campus.

TAGS: Carbondale, golden parachute, Southern Illinois, Southern Illinois University

Taxpayer victory: General Assembly passes bill restricting golden parachutes for government officials

By Vincent Caruso, Chris Lentino

05/29/2018

Senate Bill 3604 would limit government workers’ ability to collect extravagant severance packages, also known as “golden parachutes,” on their way out of office.

TAGS: Alex Clifford, College of DuPage, Doug Baker, Metra, NIU: Northern Illinois University, pensions, Robert Breuder, salaries, Tom Cullerton

Senate passes bill restricting ‘golden parachutes’ for government officials

By Vincent Caruso

05/03/2018

The Government Severance Pay Act would spare taxpayers the burden of providing excessive severance payouts to outgoing public officials.

TAGS: College of DuPage, golden parachute, NIU: Northern Illinois University, salaries, Tom Cullerton

Committee passes Senate bill taking aim at ‘golden parachute’ severance payouts

By Vincent Caruso

04/26/2018

The Government Severance Pay Act would restrict outgoing officials from exiting office with excessive severance pay.

TAGS: pensions, salaries, Tom Cullerton

Senate bill aims to deflate ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials

By Vincent Caruso

04/14/2018

The Government Severance Pay Act would restrict outgoing officials from exiting office with excessive severance pay.

TAGS: College of DuPage, NIU: Northern Illinois University, salaries, Tom Cullerton

NIU Board of Trustees unanimously approves $600,000 severance for former president

12/07/2017

The Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees approved an expensive severance package for former university President Doug Baker, despite the scandal ending his tenure.

TAGS: NIU: Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University

Illinois boosts universities losing students, punishes gainers

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Batinick: Enrollment falls across Illinois universities, but prices keep climbing

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

Outgoing SIU president to receive $215K severance, new $100K job

Taxpayer victory: General Assembly passes bill restricting golden parachutes for government officials

Senate passes bill restricting ‘golden parachutes’ for government officials

Committee passes Senate bill taking aim at ‘golden parachute’ severance payouts

Senate bill aims to deflate ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials

NIU Board of Trustees unanimously approves $600,000 severance for former president

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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