SJ0088 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0088 LRB094 20058 NHT 57625 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois higher education system is comprised of three main sectors that are each vital to the education, training, and economic vitality of our State; and

WHEREAS, The State's higher education system includes 12 public universities, 49 community colleges, and 90 independent, not-for profit colleges and universities, which are each important to the citizens of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The State has a vested interest in seeing the continuing development of collaborations between institutions of higher learning and between the sectors in the higher education system; and

WHEREAS, Higher education institutions are good employers and are also vital contributors to many local economies across the State; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges and bachelor's degree-granting institutions often form collaborative, bachelor's degree-completion arrangements to deliver upper level courses on the community college campuses; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges have on occasion formed partnerships with public and private colleges and universities that are from another state; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois will benefit from the continued success and growth of Illinois institutions of higher education; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Board of Higher Education to strongly encourage community colleges seeking baccalaureate-completion partnerships to give preference to Illinois-based private and public institutions as partners, when possible, and to promote those community colleges that give this preference; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we direct the Board of Higher Education to conduct an inventory of baccalaureate-completion programs and partnerships between community colleges and public and private, in-state and out-of-state institutions and report its findings to the Higher Education Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives on or before December 31, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to review its policies and guidelines for Illinois community colleges that are seeking four-year institutions as degree-completion partners, with regard to preferences for Illinois-based institutions, and we urge the ICCB to create guidelines that will guide community colleges to seek Illinois-based institutions as bachelor's degree partners, when possible; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the members of the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board.