Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas warns legislators that higher education is on the verge of collapse without state intervention. Public universities and community colleges like WIU have struggled to make ends meet after not getting state funding due to the continuing budget stalemate.
Thomas says the school is laying off 100 employees and students are leaving for colleges out of state.
"Individuals want to know whether or not we're going to be open so that they can do four or five years at our institution. And not just those prospective students, our current students are questioning us."
Western Illinois University is one of several universities in the state that was losing students even before the political stalemate.
About half of its students are minorities and about 40% are the first in their family to attend college.