About three dozen Western Illinois University students and staff members marched across campus in Macomb Tuesday to advocate for state funding of higher education. 

WIU President Jack Thomas has announced layoffs of around 110 additional non-faculty personnel, as the school in Macomb continues to grapple with the state budget stalemate.

Around 150 people took to the streets of Macomb late Thursday afternoon to demonstrate their support for Western Illinois University and the city.

A number of university presidents testified for an Illinois Senate committee Thursday on what Illinois' budget impasse has done to their institutions.  They say nearly a year without state support has led to layoffs, students struggling to pay tuition without grants and high school students considering going elsewhere for a degree.

Western Illinois University says it will cut $20 million in spending over the next two fiscal years. The university says for the fiscal year beginning July, it will cut 100 positions.