•March 14, 2018•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

Whenever kicked out of Illinois government and politics (frequently), I have taken refuge as a visiting professor at several Illinois colleges and universities, primarily the University of Illinois. And I admit a soft spot for the sector.

Yet, higher education across the country is out of favor at present, especially so in Illinois. Since 1978 (when I was Gov. Thompson’s assistant for education), state appropriations for higher education shrank from 10 percent of the total state budget to just 3 percent in 2014.

Excluding state funding for university pension programs, Illinois has lost, in real terms, one-third of its state funding for higher education in the period.

Consider also that many citizens are also upset with colleges for, on some campuses, blocking conservative speakers, and for creating “safe zones” for students who feel harmed by controversial statements.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.