SR0289 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0289 LRB096 12952 NHT 26949 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, This State has a rich history of community and junior colleges by being the first state in the nation, in 1901, to house a public junior college, Joliet Junior College; and

WHEREAS, Legislation was passed to hold referenda to set separate tax rates for both education and building funds to support junior college operations in 1943; and

WHEREAS, State funding for junior college operations was first appropriated in 1955; and

WHEREAS, The Junior College Act became effective on July 15, 1965, and in August of that same year, the first 9 members of the first Illinois Junior College Board were appointed; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, the term "junior" was changed to "community" in statute; and

WHEREAS, Since July 1990, the entire State has been included within community college district boundaries; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Community College System is the 3rd largest community college system in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Constitution declares that it is an educational imperative to provide "educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities"; and

WHEREAS, The community college system's strategic plan, entitled "Promise for Illinois Revisited", affirms the community colleges' pledges to address workforce development needs with flexible, responsive, and progressive programs; offer rigorous programs designed for college and university transfer; expand adult education and literacy programs; and escalate efforts to meet the growing demand for trained workers; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges' paramount mission is to prepare people for college, for transfer to other colleges or universities, and for employment in strong wage jobs that demand high skills, while also providing adult literacy education that prepares people for the GED, employment, or college; strengthening their local economies through business assistance and training; and providing community educational programs and services; and

WHEREAS, In order to realize these objectives, the General Assembly authorized certain tools, such as property taxes and general revenue funding, to be used by community colleges in order to fulfill their principal mission; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of an effort by some among the community colleges to transform themselves and seriously alter their mission, we, the members of the General Assembly, need to reevaluate and reassess those fundamental beliefs and tools that fulfill that original mission of community colleges; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the General Assembly needs to begin the reassessment of the fundamental beliefs and tools that help fulfill the original mission of public community colleges in this State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Research Unit begin reviewing the funding mechanisms of community colleges, including the availability of property taxes, the General Revenue Fund, and other revenue streams; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education begin a dialogue with the Illinois Community College Board, community colleges, and other educational stakeholders regarding the potential for changes to the funding mechanisms and the degree and program approval for community colleges; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Legislative Research Unit and the Board of Higher Education.