Arin Thompson
Daily Egyptian
In light of Illinois budget woes, SIUC will not be spending any cash on getting its name out.
In April, SIUC President James Walker announced his plans to hire a marketing firm to bring all branches of SIU out of obscurity by the end of the year. However, those plans were stopped short when SIUC had to re-examine its budget.
"He thought it more appropriate to examine the needs of the core mission of the University than to market the University," said Scott Kaiser, Walker's spokesman.
But that's not to say it won't be done in the future. With less cash in the bank, the core objectives the administration will be focusing on are teaching and research.
In the meantime, the administration will continue to look for ways to improve SIU's reputation, according to Kaiser.
"That's not saying that we don't promote the University," Kaiser said. "With a very tight budget, we're going to put that on simmer instead of boil."
The 2020 Vision Committee, formed by Walker in addition to his thoughts of hiring a firm, is set to continue.
"They've made some recommendations and are putting them into a report," Kaiser said. "We anticipate it in the next couple of months."
The report will cover a whole waterfront of issues, according to Kaiser. In addition to the University's image, academic and athletic concerns, it will also encompass a number of items to be thought of in preparation for SIUC in the year 2020.
Chancellor Walter Wendler has also made plans to stabilize SIU's integrity. The Southern at 150 planning process will take individual reports from SIUC administrators to examine how to go about attaining a new look and feel throughout the University.
In a SIUC Public Affairs press release, Wendler said the administration will look at how to reduce SIU's operational cost 5 to 10 percent below what it started with this year, $10.6 million less than last year's budget.
"Southern at 150 is examining everything that we currently do and which things we want to keep in the mix," said Sue Davis, director of SIUC Public Affairs. "The savings would be redirected to the Southern at 150 planning process."
Reporter Arin Thompson can be reached athompson@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
