The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees approved a $213.4 million all-funds budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
The spending plan assumes a state appropriation of $52.1 million.
The board also approved the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriated operating budget and capital budget recommendations, which will be presented to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the General Assembly and Gov. J.B. Pritzker.Â
The board recommended an operating budget increase of $19.1 million, and a capital budget recommendation of $583.9 million for FY24. In addition, a capital renewal budget recommendation of $30.7 million was approved for critical deferred maintenance needs.
“We look forward to our ongoing partnerships and work with the governor, General Assembly and other state leaders to continue to move WIU forward and to ensure adequate funding for Western and public higher education,” said WIU President Guiyou Huang.
According to a Fall 2022 enrollment report shared with the board WIU’s total headcount enrollment is at 7,643 which is up 2.5%, including a 16.7% increase in new freshmen. That includes record-breaking numbers for international students with over 1,000 international students enrolled as Western, as well as a new international cohort on the WIU-QC campus.
In addition, Western’s Fall 2022 incoming freshmen class has increased by 154 (16.7%) with 1,074 new freshmen joining Western this fall, including numerous students from Macomb-area high schools, as well as students from 25 other states. This is the largest new freshman class that WIU has enrolled in the last five years, the report said.
The university also continues to experience significant gains in international student enrollment, along with the largest total graduate student enrollment since 2008. The total number of international students enrolling this fall is 1,108, which includes 420 new and 688 returning students. The report’s data also shows this fall’s international enrollment is an historical record for WIU. The total graduate student headcount enrollment is 2,334.
“As I’ve talked about at many meetings, forums, and events, enrollment and retention is everyone’s responsibility. Being there for our prospective students and their families, as well as ensuring the success of our current students, matters and makes a difference. Thanks to the efforts of many individuals and teams, we are continuing to experience gains in our enrollment and are getting closer to reaching our enrollment and retention goals,” Mr. Huang said.
“We’re gaining momentum, and our work continues to actively recruit and enroll new Leathernecks for Spring 2023 and Fall 2023. Our Macomb and Quad Cities campuses, as well as our online programs, provide outstanding educational opportunities for students from all corners of the globe. And once students enroll at WIU, they have the support and tools they need to succeed,” he added.
