As was the case a year ago, the merit-based raises take effect Aug. 16 for the 2019-20 academic year, UI President Tim Killeen wrote in a mass email to employees. URBANA — Less than three weeks after learning that the newly passed state budget includes a bump of nearly 5 percent in its appropriation, the University of Illinois on Wednesday announced system-wide raises averaging 2 percent for nonunion faculty and staff. read more