HR0240 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0240 LRB096 12209 KXB 24757 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Board of Higher Education's reports on college and university enrollment indicate an alarming scarcity of male students of African-American descent currently enrolled and pursuing post-secondary education; and

WHEREAS, This scarcity makes African-American males, far and away, the least represented demographic group on college and university campuses, both in number and in percentage of total Illinois population; and

WHEREAS, It is widely recognized that attainment of post-secondary education is a clear indicator of increased earning potential and employment stability, and decreased likelihood of criminal activity and incarceration; and

WHEREAS, Several organizations and institutions, including the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education, Chicago State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Chicago Urban League, the City Colleges of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools, the Brother 2 Brother Program of the South Metropolitan Regional Education Consortium, the Illinois Task Force on the Condition of the African American Male, and Macy's Department Stores have formed a working coalition to examine and promote increased support of African American males in higher education; and

WHEREAS, This coalition has planned several events and activities during the month of April of 2009 to study those factors contributing to low participation and success of African-American Males in higher education, and to provide resources to improve the success and persistence of current African-American male students; and

WHEREAS, This legislative body recognizes the importance of increasing the success and persistence of African-American male students to the entire State of Illinois, particularly to the State's welfare and economy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the month of April, 2009 be recognized as the Month of the African-American Male in Illinois Higher Education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this body congratulates the above mentioned coalition for its efforts in raising the public's awareness of lower than acceptable enrollment and success rates for African-American males on college and university campuses, for examining potential barriers to African-American male student success, for exploring best practices for increasing African-American male success and participation, and for providing resources and support to currently enrolled African-American male students.