CARBONDALE - Higher education is a line item that is insulated from this year's potential state budget debacle that currently has 50 percent slashed throughout state services.

There are ramifications however, if the current budget stands as is, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale could see a sizable dent in enrollment.

At issue is a student financial aid program known as the Monetary Award Program, which is designed for Illinois residents who attend Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need.

"The proposed cuts have student financial aid jeopardized," said SIU spokesman Dave Gross.

Of the $440 million currently available for MAP, SIUC gets about $18 million. With a 50 percent cut, the Carbondale campus could lose up to 2,250 students who would be without financial means to afford tuition. Overall, the SIU system of 7,000 total students would be cut in half, Gross said.

Otherwise, operation budgets for schools within the SIU system are "relatively intact," Gross said.

Illinois' acceptance of federal stimulus money assured that education and health care budgets would not be cut, Gross said.

"Lawmaker pledged no cuts to K-12 and higher education budgets," Gross said.

Speaking from Springfield on Wednesday, Gross reported the General Assembly discussed legislation concerning the borrowing of $2.2 billion in long-term notes to fund five state pensions. That undoubtedly affects SIU employees. Gov. Quinn is expected to respond soon to the proposed legislation that would free other money to help retain state services, Gross said.

There are a myriad of state contracts within the SIU system in the way of economic development, public health and research that is feeling the pinch of the proposed 50 percent sweep.

SIUC's Center of Autism Spectrum Disorders would lose funding to provide assessments and therapy to children throughout the region.

The same goes for SIUC's School of Social Work integrated assessment program that provides support to the Illinois Department of Human Services for children who enter child and family services care, Gross said.

Jim Clark of the Illinois Education Association that represents the graduate assistants, civil service, tenured and non-tenured faculty unions at SIUC said no paperwork has been issued as to any layoffs as a result of the proposed budget.

"We appear to be OK. We're off the radar," Clark said.

Tenured faculty has additional support in that the collecting bargaining agreement with SIUC prohibits layoffs, he said.

The security could be short however.

"We're OK for a year but beyond that? SIUC hasn't played hardball on job security. The state needs to find a revenue stream," Clark said.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

618-351-5076