ISU president calls for end to budget turmoil in Springfield

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) - Illinois State University is feeling the effects of the lack of a state budget but the school remains "strong and stable," president Larry Dietz said during his annual State of the University address.

The school is feeling the state budget impasse through unfilled positions, delayed maintenance projects and lack of raises, Dietz said Thursday, according to The (Bloomington) Pantagraph (http://bit.ly/1ZkBet7 ). He said the budget uncertainty is negatively affecting current students and students deciding where they want to attend college.

"It is now time for the state to begin doing its part - to end the budget stalemate and approve fair and predictable funding for public higher education in Illinois," Dietz said.

GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic leaders in the state Legislature have been unable to agree on a state budget for the fiscal year that started July 1.

Once a budget is passed, higher-education funding "will be less - perhaps much less - than we have received in previous years," Dietz said. He also said the school anticipates allowing students enrolling for the spring semester while it waits for the state to award Monetary Award Program grants. ISU did the same thing for the fall semester.

Dietz also praised ISU for freshman enrollment being at a 26-year high, various state rankings and graduation rates. He also cited a record-breaking $36.8 million in private fundraising.

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Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com