June 2, 2021 Dear University Community, We are so pleased the state legislature has passed the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, which provides operating and capital funding for Western Illinois University. When Gov. Pritzker signs the bills, WIU's FY22 higher education state appropriation will remain level at $49.6 million. During these challenging budgetary times, particularly as we continue to experience the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are greatly appreciative of our legislators' and Gov. Pritzker's ongoing commitment to Illinois public higher education. We express our thanks for their continued efforts to protect higher education. The Fiscal Year 2022 higher education appropriated budget also provides greater allocations for the Monetary Award Program (MAP), level funding for the AIM High program, and funding for the new Common Application program, as well as funding for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and deferred maintenance/capital improvements. The budget re-appropriates capital development funds for the Center for Performing Arts on our Macomb campus and the WIU-Macomb Science Building, and specifies capital funding for the Quad Cities Riverfront Campus Phase 3. While we greatly appreciate a level appropriation and a commitment to student aid programs and capital development projects, it is essential that we continue to operate efficiently in the new fiscal year to ensure we achieve a balanced budget.