The Illinois Board of Higher Education has authorized $17 million in emergency funding to help three financially strapped state universities through the end of the year.
The Chicago Tribune reports the board approved the measure unanimously on Wednesday. Under the agreement, Western Illinois University gets $8.4 million, Eastern Illinois University receives about $5.6 million, and Chicago State University gets around $3 million.
The funding can be used only to pay down costs incurred this year.
The board received $20 million from the state to distribute to schools in financial crisis. It's part of a temporary spending plan as the impasse over a full state budget stretches into a second year.
About $3 million is left. It'll go to the Illinois Community College Board in December.
