Salaries, pensions strap universities

In a Fence Post letter of March 5, a University of Illinois-Chicago official, Mr. Mark Rosati, attempted to justify tuition increases at the College of Medicine. He stated that “this is a modest increase, especially considering that since fiscal year 2002 the College of Medicine funding from the state has been cut by $21.8 million.”

Once again, our education leadership is blaming the state and taxpayers for reduced funding for their institutions — the same story we hear from K-12 educators. Yet, as is the situation with K-12, our education leadership has no problem doling out generous salaries that result in bloated pensions that the state and taxpayers get stuck paying for.

And UIC has obviously taken advantage of the system to reward their faculty and administrators with absurd pensions. For instance, the highest paid SURS retiree is from UIC and receives a pension of a staggering $414,468. Further investigation shows that UIC has two retirees receiving $400,000+ pensions; five UIC retirees receiving pensions from $300,000 to $399,000; 50 UIC retirees receiving pensions from $200K-$299K; 242 UIC retirees receiving pensions of $100,000 to $199,000. And this is just one institution of 73 colleges, universities and agencies covered by SURS. Little wonder there is “reduced funding” for actual education.

Then there is the report that our universities approved state-paid pensions for vendors that are private businesses. Mr. Rosati also states that “ ... we are working to provide more funds for scholarships.” Yet, the scholarship system in this state is currently embroiled in scandal.

As with our K-12 education leadership our leadership of “higher learning” continues to be part of the problem instead of part of the solution.

Ken Hofrichter

Elk Grove Village