A callback of funds from the state is a growing possibility in the minds of many university administrators and state bureaucrats.

Added to already tight university budgets and the possibility of further cuts in the next academic fiscal year (July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004), this news makes many people nervous about the quality, availability and affordability of higher education in Illinois.

Sue Kaufman, president of the University Professionals of Illinois, said there’s growing discussion throughout the state about the possibility of a mid-year recision.

“On some of our campuses, presidents have indicated to people in the union that they are gravely concerned that this will happen,” she said.

NIU President John Peters already had communicated the possibility of a mid-year recision in his State of the University Address on Sept. 30. He said the university’s senior staff and deans have been discussing the issue.

Some steps already have been taken to prepare for the worst.

“We’re holding back resources just in the event that we do have a recision,” said Ivan Legg, NIU executive vice president and provost. “We put a word of caution in the budget just to make sure that we’re prepared for the possibility, but we haven’t done anything yet because we don’t know if there’s going to be [a recision].”

Though preparations have been made, a mid-year recision, followed by budget cuts in the next fiscal year, would jeopardize some university programs.

“If we are required to take additional spending cuts in our appropriated general revenue fund, we will have to cut deeper,” Peters said in the address. “And we will have to be guided by the institutional priorities that preserve our core mission and continue our momentum.”

Preserving the educational mission of the school means that programs that do not directly support the university’s mission statement probably will receive the largest cuts.

“There is a point of no return,” Legg said. “At some point, if things get real severe, we may have to look at selective cutting. But we haven’t considered anything at this point.”

Student Trustee Jesse Perez also has fears about what’s to come. If budget cuts are made, he and the rest of the Board of Trustees will be the ones to approve the new allocation of funds.

“It’s really a double-edged sword with this,” he said. “If there is a recision, who knows what’s going to happen? Who knows where the cuts are going to come from? But it’s important that we stay focused on the university’s mission to stay competitive with other universities.”

Perez and others have decided to remain focused on the positives, though.

“Still, NIU is one of the lowest-priced public universities in the state,” he said.

The outcome of Tuesday’s elections may influence where the Illinois General Assembly decides to make cuts, and some people have hopes that elected officials will make saving higher education their first priority.

“Once the election settles down, whoever is elected is confronting a very difficult situation,” Kaufman said. “George Ryan has the opportunity to be a hero for higher education if he chooses to. Whether he will do that or not, I don’t know. As far as that’s concerned, all bets are off.”