On her 82nd day in office, Illinois State University's first female President is touting vaccination rates among the school's students, faculty, and staff but detailed financial hardships during the pandemic.

In her first address as President, Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy said the University is funded at 43 percent lower than the statewide average, as the University received over 69-million dollars in the past year. Compared to the rest of the state, Dr. Kinzy said the University received an average of $3,820 per student compared to the statewide average of $6,689 per student.

Dr. Kinzy said the University is facing a budget shortfall of $25 million for COVID-related expenses. Despite the shortfalls, Dr. Kenzy said the University did receive $16 million from the CARES Act, $25 million from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, and $44 million in the third round of funding from the American Rescue Plan.