U Of I To Seek More Money In 2015

The University of Illinois is planning to request more money from the state in 2015 after years of flat or falling state funding.

Christophe Pierre is the U of I's Vice President for Academic affairs.  According to The News-Gazette he said Monday that the preliminary budget for the 2015 fiscal year includes requests for about $87 million above this year's $663.4 million appropriation.

This year's allocation was flat after a 6.2 percent cut the previous year.

Pierre says the planned request for more money indicates some optimism about the university's budget.

He says the extra money would help recruit top faculty and students and keep the university competitive.