Eastern students aren’t the only ones who could be left worrying about a smaller summer school curriculum.

The University of Illinois is faced with $31 million of its operating budget or 4.25 percent in cuts to be put away until the state requests reserves this fiscal year.

The university doesn’t have a definite plan for summer school and the $58 million or 8 percent in cuts next year.

“It’s going to impact the classroom,” said Randy Kangas, assistant vice president for planning and budgeting. “It’s hard to round up cash this late in the year.”

Eastern’s plans include cuts to summer classes with low enrollment and partially shut off air conditioning in certain buildings Friday afternoons and during weekends. The air conditioning plan will save the university $50,000 this fiscal year.

The U of I’s budget has seen a $105 million decrease now with cuts to equal a total proposed budget of $699 million over three campuses.

A proposed $6.4 million in cuts will be at the Chicago campus, $482,000 in Springfield and $6.8 million in Urbana-Champaign.

Kangas said the university will be cutting building improvements this year.

“We had money in our budget that we were going to use for facility renovation and facility type issues,” Kangas said.

The first steps are $4 million cuts in administrative spending and $13.7 million in deferred maintenance.

Illinois State University will give back a proposed $2.4 million or 2.7 percent this year.

The university is concentrating on administrative costs and holding construction, a difficult task because only three months are left in the FY03, said budget director Barb Blake.

Reaching out to the “whole shared governance,” cuts in construction and other areas will be planned to be as “harmless as possible,” she said.

Tuition increases and summer school cuts are undecided at Illinois State.

“We’re certainly going to have summer school this year. Next year is undecided.”

Eastern is planning for around 5 percent or overall $1.8 million in tuition increases, said Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs.

Western will give back $1.8 million or 2.9 percent.

“We’re going to go with summer school for this year,” said budget analyst Bonnie Barker.

The reductions were planned for, but everyone is adjusting to positions left unfilled. Barker said five spots in her department alone are not filled.

“It means more work, but we’re getting it done,” she said. “Our No. 1 concern is construction projects and no lay-offs.”

The university is building a new residence hall as planned.

Western is up against a proposed 8.2 percent cuts in next year’s budget.

Southern Illinois University was asked to hold 2.7 percent in reserve this year.

Overall, the majority of the 13 state public universities have to plan for at least 2.7 percent losses this year and about 8 percent for next year.

Eastern is asked to put 2.7 percent, or $1.4 million, in reserve this year and 8.2 percent next year.

The university’s summer school cuts are especially difficult because classes extend past June 31, the last day of this fiscal year.

“The FY04 budget cut is very severe, and part of this summer’s schedule falls in FY04,” said Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs. “My overreaching principle is to offer summer classes, but it remains imperative that we review each offering closely for financial viability.”

State universities are planning for a proposed budget cuts next year that do not have to constitutionally be approved by the legislature until May 31. The losses will total $112 million across higher education.

When cuts will be called back this year is uncertain.