Prairie State College Community: 

As we prepare for a new academic year, I would like to speak candidly about where we stand—and where we’re headed.

We are entering a time of both opportunity and uncertainty. There is real potential to grow revenue and better support our students. But we are also facing significant shifts at the federal level, especially regarding Pell Grants, that could impact how some of our students pay for college. While we remain grateful for continued federal support, we must also be honest about the complexity and challenges these shifts bring.

Despite these challenges, I remain proud and encouraged. Since Spring 2022—our first full return after the pandemic—we’ve experienced steady, meaningful growth in enrollment. We’ve invested strategically in our spaces and programming, we continue to strengthen our brand and reputation, and our campus has been revitalized by renovations and new initiatives. This progress is a testament to your resilience and dedication.

That said, the current budget environment is tight, and like colleges across the country, we’re being asked to do more with less. Rising costs—most of which are outside our control—are driving difficult decisions. Insurance alone has increased by 35%, and utility costs are up 7%. Though we’ve managed to present a balanced budget, we had to do so by increasing our reliance on our fund balance. 

To manage this, we’ve made strategic cuts, including a 40% reduction in operating office expenses and an 11% cut in travel and hospitality. We’re reviewing contracts and holding off on hiring, not out of hesitation, but out of strategy. Labor is our largest cost, and we must now think more intentionally about how we staff our college to remain sustainable while staying true to our mission. This includes closely analyzing and monitoring our academic program offerings. 

We are not standing still. I am actively working with our lobbyist and legislators to grow our share of the state’s equalization grant and advocating for increased state funding. We’re also pursuing more grant-based support to reduce our dependence on volatile revenue sources like property taxes, which are projected to dip this year. Finally, we continue to analyze tuition rates, student fees, course fees, and other charges students pay given the rising costs of providing an excellent education.

Prairie State College has faced difficult moments before—the 2010s state budget impasse and the COVID-19 pandemic as an example—and through both, we emerged stronger. We did that by making intentional, principled decisions, and we’ll do the same now. I’m confident in our college leadership and board governance. I’m confident in our faculty, staff, and students, and I’m confident in the strength of this community to adapt and lead through change.

You needn’t give in to rumors or fear. We’ll keep you informed every step of the way through communications such as these, through your union leadership, and through other avenues in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, thank you for your partnership, your patience, your questions, and your commitment to our students and to one another.

#WeArePSC,

President Anthony