Charlie Schlenker

2 weeks ago | nprillinois.org | Charlie Schlenker

The future of a state-funded program to increase the diversity of faculty at colleges and universities in Illinois is in doubt as the Trump administration continues to pressure higher education to abandon DEI values. The effort is called the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois program, or DFI. Illinois has funded tuition and $10,000 stipends for between 100 and 115 graduate students from nontraditional or underrepresented backgrounds in each of the last four years.

3 weeks ago | nprillinois.org | Charlie Schlenker

A group of state attorneys general is asking educators at all levels to have courage in the face of lost funding and lawsuit threats by the federal administration. The administration is attacking Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility policies, or DEI, on a variety of fronts. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is among the collection of 15 top lawyers for states and the District of Columbia who have issued guidance on how to deal with administration demands.

1 month ago | nprillinois.org | Charlie Schlenker

Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen calls Trump administration plans to zero out home heating and cooling help for "very low-income" people "cruel."The president’s spending plans recently forwarded to Congress would eliminate the $4 billion Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, or LIHEAP. The administration has also laid off all staff that administer LIHEAP. About $378 million remains to be distributed under current congressional authorization.

1 month ago | nprillinois.org | Charlie Schlenker

Amid an asbestos industry cover-up of the dangers of the cancer-causing fibers, it took many decades for a ban to happen in this country. That cost more than 130 Bloomington-Normal residents their lives. Neighbors, family members, and employees of the United Asbestos and Rubber Company on the west side of Bloomington were all affected. Panelists said they fear the past is prologue during a recent discussion of asbestos workplace dangers at the McLean County Museum of History.

1 month ago | nprillinois.org | Charlie Schlenker

Over the last decade, state funding for Illinois State University has dropped by more than a third after inflation. And it has declined as a share of the total university budget for more than three decades. That could change if the state legislature passes a measure this spring. The last five ISU presidents [at least] have yearned to change the way the state funds higher education to a per student basis instead of a lump sum.