>>> THE ILLINOIS STATE BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED THIS WEEK INCLUDED INCREASED FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

THAT WAS WELCOME NEWS TO NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY WHICH HAD SEEN SOME FINANCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL TURBULENCE IN RECENT YEARS.

AND ALSO, JUST REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ITS FACULTY TO AVOID A STRIKE.

CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, JOSI RICO, SAYS THE INCREASED FUNDING WILL OFFER SOME MUCH- NEEDED STABILIZATION FOR ITS DIVERSE STUDENT BODY.

>> WE SERVE THE POPULATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

50% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE WOMEN, 60% ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST AND LONGEST FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION.

SO IN ORDER FOR US TO FULFILL THE MISSION OF WORKING-CLASS STUDENTS, FIRST-TIME COLLEGE GOING STUDENTS, STUDENTS THAT REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, WE NEED STATE SUPPORT BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO STAY ACCESSIBLE, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR TUITION AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

SO, THE 7% INCREASE WHICH COMES OUT TO ABOUT $40 MILLION OTHER PREPARATIONS FROM THE STATE ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR WORK WITHOUT AN ADDITIONAL TUITION INCREASE THIS YEAR.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT GOING ON FOR THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE HAD A TOUGH YEAR, THESE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR US AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES.

I CAME ON AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITH MY FELLOW BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MOST OF US ARE NEW, IN MARCH.

WE HEARD BY OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, EVERY MEETING WE HAD , HOW DIFFICULT THE BUDGET CRISIS, THE LAST ADMINISTRATION AFFECTED THEM, HOW DIFFICULT THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED THE LOW ENROLLMENTS.

WE WERE THE ONLY UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR THAT WERE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, THAT DID NOT GO ON A STRIKE.

A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH WORK THAT WE DID AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO BUILD THAT'S TRUST AND OPEN COMMUNICATION AND A LOT OF IT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS WE SAW IN COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO