UI's plan to go after more out-of-state students dropped

URBANA – The University of Illinois has backed off a controversial plan to increase its enrollment of out-of-state students.

The plan, which came out of the university's strategic planning process, has drawn some criticism in recent months, and two legislators last week called for a review of the proposed policy.

The most recent draft of the UI's strategic plan does not outline any specific goals for increasing enrollment of out-of-state-students, but administrators have discussed the idea's merit in public for several months.

UI President B. Joseph White, while speaking at a University YMCA lecture series in February, said he could see the ratio of in-state to out-of-state students increasing to 85 percent/15 percent from the current 90/10.

Just last week Chancellor Richard Herman defended the plan while meeting with Chicago-area high school counselors.

"The modest increase that had been proposed was intended to improve the educational experience for Illinois residents, not to limit opportunity for them," said Herman in a statement released Monday afternoon. "However, since our constituents have made it clear that access is their highest priority, we feel it is important to listen and respond to their genuine concerns," he added.

UI's plan to go after more out-of-state students dropped