U of Illinois ends contract with public relations firm

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - A public relations firm hired to develop a branding plan for the University of Illinois' flagship campus has been replaced by a school committee.

According to The News-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1NN0K7U ), interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson ended the contract with the Edelman firm just after she took the job last August but did not publicize the move. The firm was hired in April 2015 for what was to have been $550,000. It was eventually paid $382,000.

Some faculty members complained Edelman was doing work that people on campus should be able to handle.

Wilson said this week she was looking for ways to save money as the university deals with reduced funding because of the state's financial problems.

The branding project was started ahead of a fundraising campaign due to start in 2017.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com