4 years, 10 months ago by Scott Hardy
Jack Thomas says school would be "best served by new leadership"
Saying that he thinks Western Illinois University would quote, "best be served by new leadership", University President Jack Thomas announced Friday that he'll step down June 30th.
The school released a statement from Thomas, who said that during his tenure, WIU has been "challenged in unprecedented ways, and we have weathered recent storms." That includes what Thomas said was a gradual 9 million dollar reduction in the school's annual state funding, along with the two-year state budget impasse. He also cited an enrollment decline due to high school students leaving the state, and a general population decline in Western Illinois. Thomas admitted that he made decisions that he called difficult, and some decisions that were "very unpopular, but nevertheless were always made with the best interests of the overall University's future at heart." That includes laying off over 130 employees in March, cutting 20 million dollars from its' budget during the impasse, and cutting back on some course offerings.
WIU faculty approved a no-confidence resolution against Thomas in 2018, and just last week, the school's Alumni Association urged he either resign or be fired by the end of the month.
