UI Panel Says Savings Near Halfway Point

A University of Illinois panel looking for ways to save money in the school's administration says it's nearly halfway toward its goal of saving $60 million over the next three years.

A report on the savings was provided to The Associated Press on Tuesday, one day before it's presented to the Board of Trustees. The administrative working group says the university has achieved $26 million in recurring savings stemming from changes in procurement, information technology and off-campus leasing, among other areas.

More than half of the $26 million comes from centralizing how the university buys supplies, from copy paper to computers.

The university says the savings program was launched in late 2009 as the school's three campuses and hospitals struggle with less money and slow payments from the state.