Several other public universities are approaching the state’s callback in funds much the way Eastern is, by cutting spending in equipment and leaving vacant positions unfilled.

But the University of Illinois, which has the largest public university budget, is looking at raising tuition by 10 percent to cover its share of the callback.

All of Illinois’ 12 public universities face the task of giving a combined total of $70 million back to the state from their current budgets to help cover the state’s $500 million budget shortfall.

The first cuts came in the form of a $25 million general funds callback, and the second hit was a request that universities pick up the $45 million tab for employee insurance.

Eastern must cut about $2.3 million for the callback, and university administrators have developed a plan to come up with the money from equipment reserve accounts, leaving unfilled positions open and cutting back on deferred maintenance spending.

Western Illinois University, which is similar in size and budget to Eastern, has been asked to return $2.7 million in state funds. But unlike Eastern, Western had anticipated the state’s financial problem and placed $741,100, about 1.1 percent of its budget, in a reserve account, John Maguire, assistant vice president for university relations, said.

On top of that is $1.9 million requested from Western for the group insurance bill.

“The manner in which we’ve done the second round of cuts is more decentralized,” Maguire said.

Western will come up with the cash through reduction in travel opportunities for employees and leaving vacant positions open. No plans have been made for layoffs, Maguire said.

Western has also delayed or canceled the purchase of some equipment and supplies. For example, in the University Relations Office, Maguire decreased publication of its newsletter from weekly to every other week and canceled some workshop and travel opportunities for office employees. His office gave back $807,000 using those measures, Maguire said.

Classes for spring and summer have so far been unaffected, Maguire said. Increasing tuition wouldn’t produce the same results at Western as at many state universities because of its guaranteed tuition program, wherein tuition increases only impact incoming students.

“Tuition and fees make up roughly a third of what comes into the university budget, in terms of appropriated funds,” Maguire said, adding that Western has yet to decide whether to enact an increase to aid the process.

Northern Illinois University’s president, John Peters, announced to his constituents that their cut would be between $3 million and $6 million, Melanie Magara, assistant vice president for public affairs, said. While Western is comparable in population to Eastern, Northern’s enrollment is near 24,000.

After receiving news of the cuts, Peters asked all university vice presidents to make cuts to their areas, just as Eastern’s interim President Lou Hencken decided to do.

Peters’ rule was that all cuts had to be “invisible” to students. That meant no reduction in the level of service, no cutting class sections and no faculty reduction. The vice presidents were also asked to make cuts that wouldn’t impact salaries, lay people off or otherwise hurt faculty and staff, Magara said.

“What that leaves are operational dollars,” Magara said, and in November Peters enacted a freeze on hiring and equipment purchases.

Since Northern is unsure exactly how much it will have to return, all deans and department heads are being asked to draw up budget scenarios that would give back a percentage of money, but Magara said she didn’t know the actual formula or percentage.

Despite the fiscal approach of other universities, the University of Illinois is supplying its share of the state’s callback by raising tuition, and possibly cutting course sections.

The U of I has been asked to give back a combined total of $34 million from its campuses in Chicago, Springfield and Urbana/Champaign, equaling about 4.2 percent of their general funds budget, Randy Kangas, director of the Planning and Budget Office, said .

Originally, U of I planned to raise tuition 3 percent at Chicago, 4 percent at Springfield and 5 percent at Urbana/Champaign. But after word of the budget cuts were received, the decision was made to increase tuition on each campus by 10 percent, Kangas said.

U of I’s financial woes are part fiscal year 2002 cuts, Kangas said, and part cost increases for things like Medicare costs for the fiscal year 2003, which begins July 1.

Increases in tuition will generate about $10.7 million, Kangas said. And the plan for digging up the rest of the money is still being developed.

The goal is to protect academic quality, Kangas said, mirroring a priority Eastern administrators outlined in their strategy. Also like Eastern, U of I will leave vacant positions open and delay some projects. Library hours will likely be cut, though, and Kangas said sections of classes may “very possibly” be cut.

So far, U of I’s departments are being cooperative.

“Most units know we have severe problems,” Kangas said.

Illinois State University will cut $4.1 million from its $261 million budget, and President Victor Boschini has asked all of the vice presidents “to work closely with deans, directors and department heads to set aside 2 percent of spending plans within each unit,” a letter distributed to faculty and staff said.

“I believe this decentralized approach will generate recommendations from those who know the most about priorities of their area and and will avoid across the board cuts from individual areas,” Boschini said in the letter.

Some summer classes will be cut and some deferred maintenance and facilities improvement projects will be put off, the letter said

Illinois State will work to develop a long-term plan to control staff increases, the letter said, in order to save money in upcoming years.

What won’t be affected, Boschini said in his letter, is a 6.8 percent overall salary raise or capital improvement plans including the College of Business Building, Center for the Performing Arts and rehabilitation work at Schroeder, Felmley and Julian Halls.

Boschini also said Illinois State will not ask for an additional tuition increase like U of I’s.

“We must continue to make the investment in higher education as affordable as possible.”