HR0333 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0333 LRB099 11605 GRL 33339 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, America's first public community college was established in Joliet in 1901; today, there are 48 public community colleges in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Community College System is the third largest in the nation, serving 853,524 students in credit and non-credit courses during the 2014 Illinois Community College System Fiscal Year; credit-generating students accounted for 77.3% or 659,712 students during the same year; and

WHEREAS, The Baccalaureate/Transfer program remained the largest credit instructional program area, enrolling 43.5% of students; 34.3% of all students enrolled in Fiscal Year 2014 indicated the intent to transfer to another school; and

WHEREAS, A total of 69,812 collegiate-level degrees and certificates were awarded to Illinois community college students in Fiscal Year 2014; Baccalaureate/Transfer degrees accounted for the second largest group of completers with a total of 19,524; and

WHEREAS, The number of community college completions in Fiscal Year 2014 is the highest count ever reported for the sixth straight year; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 3 out of every 10 graduates earned Baccalaureate/Transfer degrees; 7 out of 10 Transfer degree completers in Fiscal Year 2014 indicated the intent to transfer to a 4-year institution; and

WHEREAS, The transfer rate for Illinois Public Community Colleges students into 4-year colleges and universities is about 37%; and

WHEREAS, The process of transferring into a 4-year college or university is difficult for community college students because the Illinois Articulation Initiative lacks uniformity; almost every college and university participating in the Illinois Articulation Initiative has their own set of transferable credits; many credits earned at a community college may not be applied towards a 4-year degree and community college students spend more time and incur unnecessary expenses in pursuit of a 4-year degree; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we respectfully urge all public and private colleges and universities in the State to work together to strengthen the Illinois Articulation Initiative to allow greater uniformity in community college transferable credit allowances; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois State Board of Education to work together to make changes to the Illinois Articulation Imitative to create a more uniform set of transfer credit allowances between community colleges and public and private 4-year colleges and universities; and be it further

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