Timothy Killeen, the new president of the University of Illinois, met with reporters on the Springfield campus Friday.
Flanked by the chancellors of the university’s three campuses, Timothy Killeen said they were touring the state as part of a strategic planning process that would culminate next spring in a “statement of shared vision.”
When asked about the fact that high school seniors are leaving Illinois in droves to attend colleges in other states, Killeen said the solution lies in improving the business climate here.
“I’ve had a conversation with Gov. Rauner about that very topic, about retaining our talent. And to do that, we need to find opportunities. We need to grow opportunities post-graduation.”
Rauner has also called for a 31% cut in state funding for higher education, but Killeen hopes to persuade lawmakers that universities are the solution, not the cause, of the state’s financial woes.
