The Illinois General Assembly and the governor approved a budget and spending plan for the new fiscal year. The budget called for a two percent increase in appropriation for Northeastern from Fiscal Year 2018. It also includes $90.1 million in capital funds that includes $79 million for an Education Building as well as $11 million for deferred maintenance projects. We are studying the provisions in the implementation legislation to determine any potential cost to the University. The approved budget will place the University on more solid footing in the coming year.
This would not have been possible without alumni speaking up for higher education and Northeastern Illinois University.
Thank you to alumni who wrote, called and visited Illinois legislators on behalf of Northeastern Illinois University. Your NEIU pride and support really did make a difference.
Alumni Advocacy Resources
Northeastern Illinois University’s fight for funding and public higher education
Access to Opportunity
Northeastern is a pathway to an excellent and affordable education. For the third year in a row, U.S. News & World Report announced that Northeastern had earned the No. 1 spot for students who graduate with the least amount of debt among Midwest regional universities. Did you know that a recent Economic Policy Institute study found that high-wage states are those with a highly educated workforce? Also, according to a 2014 U.S. Department of Labor report, workers with a bachelor’s degree earn 65 percent more than workers with a high school diploma. The earnings gap is nearly double for workers with a master’s degree and almost 140 percent more for workers with doctoral or professional degrees. NEIU values access to a life-changing degree.
Economic Impact
Public universities in Illinois enroll nearly 200,000 students and send about 50,000 graduates into the workforce every year. At Northeastern, our alumni base is nearly 80,000, and 65,000 are living in the state of Illinois. Universities leverage state support by attracting more than $1.2 billion in external funding that supports the state’s economy today and fosters groundbreaking, research-based innovation that creates the new businesses and jobs of tomorrow. NEIU alumni contribute a large and positive economic impact to the state of Illinois.
DID YOU KNOW?
This year and last year, Illinois public universities have received only a fraction of the state support we depend on. We are weathering the most difficult financial crisis in our 150-year history due to the ongoing Illinois state budget impasse. State appropriations for public higher education operations have decreased over the past 15 years.
Contact your elected officials about the key role that higher education plays in meeting future workforce demands and the importance of keeping a college education affordable. Calling is always the most effective method.
Volunteer with the Alumni Association. Be a mentor. Offer an internship. Stay connected. Be inspired. If you haven’t already, sign up for our e-newsletters. And above all, come visit! Our students and faculty are outstanding, and want to get to know you.
With inconsistent and decreasing state support, your donations are essential to student success. Donations to Northeastern’s Leader Fund provides help where the need is the greatest across the University.
With your support, We WILL win this fight and overcome the state budget impasse. Show your NEIU pride today and take action!
Read more: "Illinois Public Universities: Investing in Illinois' Future"
Follow recent news stories and events covering the current State of Illinois budget crisis and its impact on Illinois public higher education.
ILHIGHEREDCOALITION blog
Read more NEIU News.
Northeastern Illinois University Alumni Serving as Elected Officials as of January 2024
U.S. Senate and Congress
Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D - 3rd District), B.A. 2014
5624 West Diversey Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60639
Illinois General Assembly
Senator Sara K. Feigenholtz (D - 6th District), B.A. 1978
3223 North Sheffield Suite A
Chicago, Illinois 60657
Senator Laura Fine (D - 9th District), M.A. 1999
1812 Waukegan Road, Suite A
Glenview, Illinois 60025
Senator Natalie Toro (D - 20th District), B.A. 2013
3140 West Montrose
Chicago, Illinois 60618
Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D - 31st District), B.A. 1993
10 North Lake Street, Suite 112
Grayslake, Illinois 60030
Representative Dagmara Avelar (D - 85th District), B.A. 2010
1050 West Romeo Road
Romeoville, Illinois 60446
*Representative Elizabeth Hernandez (D - 2nd District), B.A. 2015
6117 West Cermak Road
Cicero, Illinois 60804
Representative Jawaharial Williams (D - 10th District), B.A. 2007
2404 West Madison Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Cook County
The Honorable Karen A. Yarbrough, M.A. 1996
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
118 N. Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Chicago City council
Alderperson Jessie L. Fuentes, B.A. 2013; M.A. 2018
26th Ward
1746 North Kimball Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60647
Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., B.A. 1998
27th Ward
4 North Western Avenue, Unit 1C
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Alderman Felix Cardona Jr., B.S. 1999
31st Ward
4606 West Diversey Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60639
*Leadership appointment
