West Cook News

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently announced that a $109 million health sciences building is coming to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIEU) campus.

"As the number one producer of bachelor's degrees in the area, I want to make sure that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville can continue that record of success," Pritzker wrote in an April 6 Facebook post. "My newest proposed budget makes tuition more affordable for students so it’s easier than ever for more Illinoisans to enroll right here."

Pritzker made his announcement at a press conference at SIEU, according to The Edwardsville Intelligencer. Funding for the building has been approved in his new 2023-24 fiscal year budget which also includes an $80 million boost for higher education funding and increased investments for MAP (Monetary Award Program) grants. The building will be used to accommodate the School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing. 

“Four years ago, when I took office, going to college in the state of Illinois seemed more affordable than ever before. Funding for higher education had been cut so badly that out-of-state tuition in other states was more affordable than in-state tuition here in Illinois, and that’s not right,” Pritzker said at the press conference. “My partners in the General Assembly recognized that and we’ve worked together over the last four years to make college attainable for every Illinois student. We’ve also worked to increase enrollment in all our institutions.”

Funding for the MAP grants increase is being made possible by the governor’s proposed bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, which ranks as the largest capital plan in state history. His plan represents the highest funding increase for higher education in more than two decades and comes at a time when the governor is pushing to lower tuition costs across the state.

“It means that we’re providing record-breaking numbers of state scholarships and raising the amount of each grant. As we make college tuition more affordable for students, we also need to invest in new facilities,” Pritzker said. “Rebuild Illinois capital plan dedicates nearly $2.8 billion for state and community college infrastructure across the state. Over $280 million of that is directed to the SIU System including $109 million for the new health sciences building here at SIUE.”

According to The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Pritzker pointed out that freshmen enrollment across the state has increased by 5% to its highest overall levels in six years. By contrast, college enrollment decreased by 2.4% nationwide over the past year.