The Wright Times

Issue date: 12/1/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Juan Pintor

"I don't think it's a big secret for anybody that state money is kind of a crap shoot right now," Wright College Vice President Cynthia Cordes said. In the last six months, many colleges and universities haven't received funding for improvements or finances from the state of Illinois. According to www.cdlb.state.il.us, more than $7 billion in capital improvement funds are required over the next two years to accommodate the many schools in need of additional buildings, class space, and general repairs. Cordes added that Wright is in need of such repairs and work. "The school is 15, 16 years old. It's time to start replacing," she said. But due to the low availability of funds and an ailing economy, many Illinois schools haven't received state finances that were promised.
While remodeling and construction funds haven't been approved, the state of Illinois remains behind on funding for several colleges and universities. "Essentially, the state hasn't paid its bills to any college, not just city colleges, for about six months," Cordes said. Wright College President Dr. Charles Guengerich noted that Wright only recently attained its funds for last year's academic year, adding that the state's bill paying cycle is now around 170 workdays. "It used to be less than 90 workdays but [now it's longer] because money flowing into the state's treasury is very diminished and the rate is lower," Guengerich said.
According to reporter Adriana Colindres' November 2009 article in The State Journal-Register, "Universities latest victims of state budget crisis," many schools including Illinois State University (ISU), University of Illinois (UI), Western Illinois University (WIU), and Southern Illinois University (SIU) received little or no funding since June 2009. Colindres wrote, "$743 million in general funds is supposed to go toward operating the UI campuses. To date, UI has been promised about $340 million of that money and received only about $400,000." Colindres also noted that many institutions collected less than 1.5 percent of the more than $600 million they're owed.
Guengerich added that Wright received its first quarter payment but expects delayed second, third, and fourth quarter payments. Without capital improvement funding, Wright cannot move forward with its plans to remodel certain areas. One such project would include remodeling The Gateway on the first floor of the Arts Building. This would involve revamping the office for around $1 million. Guengerich added that another potential project would involve expanding the Humboldt Park campus.
Wright student Pat Holden feels that the state's funds have been mismanaged and that the state itself remains in critical financial shape. "They have to either cut back on benefits or raise taxes pretty substantially," Holden said. "I think they have an obligation to fund the schools."
While campuses continue waiting, Guengerich noted that the city colleges are prepared. "Wright and the city colleges are okay because we have a working cash fund that will let us in a sense keep operating without having to borrow money," he said. Cordes added that the school is also considering fundraisers similar to Humboldt Park's scholarship fundraisers. But due to a lack of available capital funds, Wright, along with other colleges and universities, must stay on the capital funding waiting list.

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