THe admission of less than qualified students would be less of an issue if higher ed in Illinois weren't so strapped for funding. In order to get UIUC in a better financial position, IMO they should be allowed to admit a larger % of OOState students who pay a cost closer to if not what the actual value of the education is that U of I provides. If U of I had the % of OOState students attending that other Big 10 & Big 12 North(Missouri & Iowa State) the university would be less in need of state funding.

If that happened there's always the possibility(I'm not holding my breath) that as Uof I's dependence on state funding were reduced, that the other 11 state universities could see a larger % of the state funding pie.

(06-27-2009 12:15 PM)onlinepole Wrote:  THe admission of less than qualified students would be less of an issue if higher ed in Illinois weren't so strapped for funding. In order to get UIUC in a better financial position, IMO they should be allowed to admit a larger % of OOState students who pay a cost closer to if not what the actual value of the education is that U of I provides. If U of I had the % of OOState students attending that other Big 10 & Big 12 North(Missouri & Iowa State) the university would be less in need of state funding.

If that happened there's always the possibility(I'm not holding my breath) that as Uof I's dependence on state funding were reduced, that the other 11 state universities could see a larger % of the state funding pie.

UI has tried in recent years to increase the rate at which they bring in out-of-state students. The thing is that it didn't/doesn't go over well because they are an Illinois state school. It should serve the people of the state of Illinois first and foremost, and they caught grief when they mentioned that was one of the things they were working towards.

I'm not sure I understand your point about trying to equal other Big Ten or Big 12 schools. The makeup of each state is different, as are the profiles of other Universities within those states. Illinois is a heavily populated state with only one University that fits a national public profile. Most other Big Ten states either aren't nearly as populated (like Iowa) and therefore need the out-of-state kids to get enrollment up or have other in-state alternatives (like Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, etc.) that are similar profile schools.

I think if that's what you wanted to do and really shift the profile of the school to any significant degree, you'd have to increase overall enrollment at Illinois, and last I heard they actually were trying to reduce it since it has increased slightly the past few years (it was, IIRC, around 36-37,000 when I was there and it's over 41,000 now).

Does anyone have the link to the article about Ron Santo and U of I clout? It is quite delightful.

(06-27-2009 10:05 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  [quote='onlinepole' pid='4450080' dateline='1246122928']

If that happened there's always the possibility(I'm not holding my breath) that as Uof I's dependence on state funding were reduced, that the other 11 state universities could see a larger % of the state funding pie.

UI has tried in recent years to increase the rate at which they bring in out-of-state students. The thing is that it didn't/doesn't go over well because they are an Illinois state school. It should serve the people of the state of Illinois first and foremost, and they caught grief when they mentioned that was one of the things they were working towards.

I'm not sure I understand your point about trying to equal other Big Ten or Big 12 schools. The makeup of each state is different, as are the profiles of other Universities within those states.

U of I needs to make their case to State gov't that if they aren't going to receive more funding than state gov't will need to back off their insistence that U of I restrict their OOstate enrollment. OOS students pay at least 3 times the tuition cost of an instate student. The more OOS students you have the less reliant U of I will be on state funding. There are other universities in the state with a national profile. UIC has the largest medical school in the nation, DePaul has nationally recognized Accounting and Video Game Design and Production programs.

(06-28-2009 11:36 PM)onlinepole Wrote:  

(06-27-2009 10:05 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  [quote='onlinepole' pid='4450080' dateline='1246122928']

If that happened there's always the possibility(I'm not holding my breath) that as Uof I's dependence on state funding were reduced, that the other 11 state universities could see a larger % of the state funding pie.

UI has tried in recent years to increase the rate at which they bring in out-of-state students. The thing is that it didn't/doesn't go over well because they are an Illinois state school. It should serve the people of the state of Illinois first and foremost, and they caught grief when they mentioned that was one of the things they were working towards.

I'm not sure I understand your point about trying to equal other Big Ten or Big 12 schools. The makeup of each state is different, as are the profiles of other Universities within those states.

U of I needs to make their case to State gov't that if they aren't going to receive more funding than state gov't will need to back off their insistence that U of I restrict their OOstate enrollment. OOS students pay at least 3 times the tuition cost of an instate student. The more OOS students you have the less reliant U of I will be on state funding. There are other universities in the state with a national profile. UIC has the largest medical school in the nation, DePaul has nationally recognized Accounting and Video Game Design and Production programs.

U. of I. Chancellor Herman resigns

Illness

While getting missy or dubbya into Yale and other private schools by means other than merit is acceptable IMO, it's NOT so in a public institution.

Trib did another disclosure story of great length a few weeks ago in which it named the convicted political hack & felon currently serving time whose son is at NIU gratis state of Illinois. Lawmakers have been abusing the privilege of awarding scholarships within their districts since time began.

It doesnt make it right nor tolerable when uncovered.

(10-20-2009 02:23 PM)cyberdawg Wrote:  While getting missy or dubbya into Yale and other private schools by means other than merit is acceptable IMO, it's NOT so in a public institution.

Trib did another disclosure story of great length a few weeks ago in which it named the convicted political hack & felon currently serving time whose son is at NIU gratis state of Illinois. Lawmakers have been abusing the privilege of awarding scholarships within their districts since time began.

It doesnt make it right nor tolerable when uncovered.

Scholarships are one thing. But those lawmakers throw the political heat on university administrators to admit certain students with a veiled threat hanging over the university's budget (voted on by those same lawmakers). Tell the lawmaker to go to hell, and you could see your budget start to evaporate. I know this for a fact. The state universities like the U of I are caught between a rock and a hard place. If the lawmakers want to find the reason behind the clouted admissions, all they have to do is look in the mirror.

Clout - in all its forms - stinks but remains a pervasive element & fact of life in many aspects of our society.

It's even what got the Vatican to its current elevation and place in history.

Never makes it right nor acceptable.