SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – A higher-education accrediting agency says the state budget impasse could have “significant” consequences for the public colleges and universities in Illinois.

The Champaign News-Gazette reports that the Higher Learning Commission, the regional accrediting agency for 19 states including Illinois, issued a warning to Governor Bruce Rauner and members of the General Assembly in a letter Thursday.

The commission said schools that have to suspend operations or close because of unavailable state funding could lose their accreditation if they don’t come up with plans for their students to continue at another college. It warned that the lack of state funding puts the state’s schools at risk and jeopardizes students’ futures.

Illinois’ public colleges and universities have been operating without state funding since the fiscal year began on July 1.