SJ0020eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20

(As Amended by Senate Amendment No. 1)

WHEREAS, The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success has documented the critical role that higher education plays in economic recovery and growth, particularly in ensuring that this State has an educated workforce to meet the needs of business and industry; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success recommends that the Board of Higher Education, in consultation with other State agencies for education, employment, and economic development, "increase the number of high-quality post-secondary credentials to meet the demands of the economy and an increasingly global society"; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has committed to the goal that 60% of its workforce will hold a high-quality college credential by 2025 to ensure its economic future; and

WHEREAS, Most recent projections from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce are that 70% of Illinois jobs will require post-secondary education by 2020; and

WHEREAS, Currently, only 42.5% of the State's nearly 7 million working-age adults (25-64 years old) hold at least a 2-year college degree; and

WHEREAS, There is a critical need for Illinois institutions of higher education to increase the number of post-secondary degrees in fields of critical skills shortages, such as healthcare, construction, computer technology, public safety, and mechanical fields; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' economic success requires providing college credentials aligned with current and future workforce needs at the State and regional levels; and

WHEREAS, Achieving workforce needs depends upon additional strategic State investment in higher education along with improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the higher education system; and

WHEREAS, Working-age adults attempting to return to school to complete certificates and degrees in high-demand fields face many barriers to success; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Council of Community College Presidents has recommended that the community college system be allowed to grant 4-year baccalaureate degrees for nursing and other applied career areas; and

WHEREAS, The development of post-secondary degree programs should be predicated on evidence of the needs of Illinois residents rather than institutional interests; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Board of Higher Education has the statutory authority and responsibility to review all applications for new academic degree programs for public community colleges and universities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Higher Education Commission on the Future of the Workforce within the Board of Higher Education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall be comprised of 11 members, including one senator appointed by the President of the Senate; one senator appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one representative appointed by the Speaker of the House; one representative appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; and 7 members appointed by the Board of Higher Education to represent a cross-section from education, including at least one member from a community college, one member from a public university, and one member from a private institution of higher education, as well as members of the employment and economic development communities and experts in quality post-secondary degree creation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission's study shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) examining and analyzing current and projected workforce needs for each economic region of the State and post-secondary degree and credential production capacity and goals;

(2) identifying State, regional, and national partners available to support efficient and effective delivery of post-secondary credential and degree programs aligned with regional workforce needs;

(3) determining current policies and practices in Illinois being utilized among Illinois' public and private colleges and universities for partnerships for degree completion;

(4) examining opportunities for expanding post-secondary certificates and associate's and baccalaureate completions using effective and efficient strategies and partnerships between high schools, technical schools, community colleges, and 4-year colleges and universities;

(5) developing distance and online learning as well as competency-based credits to serve place-bound and adult learners, including military personnel and veterans;

(6) examining incentives for students to enter and complete degree programs in critical needs areas, particularly aimed at underemployed and displaced workers;

(7) examining improvements in student advising, including articulation, transfer, and acceptance of credits to streamline education pipeline to the workforce;

(8) providing incentives, including financial assistance, for working adults and individuals with substantial college credit but no degree to complete their college degrees; and

(9) analyzing best practices implemented in other states for incentivizing certificate and degree completion, including incentives for students and for colleges and universities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor 6 months from the formation of the Commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education, the Chairperson of the Illinois Community College Board, the Chairperson of the State Board of Education, the Chairperson of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the Chairperson of the Employment Security Advisory Board, and the President of each public and private college and university in this State.