To the students, parents, staff, educators, community members, and friends of Western Illinois University:

Western Illinois needs your support. The Board of Trustees has announced that more educators are to be laid off. While they hope this will help ease financial challenges, this will result in irreparable damage to the learning community we call home. These lay-offs come after 35 professors’ contracts were already not renewed for this academic year, and will include "contingent and tenure/ tenure track faculty”. What message is this sending about Western’s commitment to its students academic success? 

In a WGEM article from July 25, it was reported that Interim President Dr. Kristy Mindrup asked the Deans of each College to find 25 personnel that could be cut from - that’s 100 staff and faculty whose hard work and dedication make up the backbone of our school and wider community. We can’t let this happen.

When the professors that current students rely on are cut, the education Western promised them will be compromised. When the programs that future students are interested in are diminished, they will have less of a reason to enroll. And when WIU’s footprint shrinks further, the people of Macomb and other local communities will have to bear the economic brunt of this exodus. 

By signing this petition, you are reminding the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois’ motto: “Your potential. Our purpose.” WIU’s staff and faculty are necessary for guaranteeing all current and future students the sort of high quality education they deserve; and if Western is not committed to academic excellence and student success, then what is it committed to? 

Let's make sure the Board of Trustees sees our potential and commits to strengthening it, not weakening it.