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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Several recent economic and academic studies have
3 demonstrated a growing skills gap among workers in the nation;
4 and
 
5     WHEREAS, These studies have demonstrated that the greatest
6 disparity in skills exists among the nation's traditionally
7 underrepresented minority populations, specifically African
8 Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans; and
 
9     WHEREAS, A logical and efficient manner of addressing this
10 skill gap is through the provision of post-secondary education;
11 and
 
12     WHEREAS, Illinois needs to improve college access for all
13 of its citizens in order to address the skill gap, provide a
14 cadre of more qualified and competent workers for Illinois
15 businesses, and improve the State economy; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Traditionally underrepresented populations,
17 specifically African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans,
18 make up an increasingly higher percentage of the State's
19 population, and thus will be called upon to make up an
20 increasingly higher percentage of the State's workforce; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Traditionally underrepresented populations,
2 specifically African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans,
3 make up a disproportionately lower percentage of those students
4 attending colleges and universities in Illinois as compared to
5 their overall Illinois population; and
 
6     WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated that traditionally
7 underrepresented student populations are more successful in
8 their degree attainment when they are taught and supported by
9 faculty and staff that includes those of similar ethnic and
10 cultural backgrounds; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Traditionally underrepresented populations,
12 specifically African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans,
13 make up a disproportionately lower percentage of the faculty
14 and staff at colleges and universities in Illinois as compared
15 to their overall Illinois population; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
18 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that a bi-partisan task force on the
19 status of underrepresented minorities in higher education is
20 commissioned to evaluate the status of traditionally
21 underrepresented populations, specifically African Americans,
22 Latinos, and Native Americans, in this State's public and
23 private institutions of higher education; and be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That membership on this task force include 2
2 Republican and 2 Democrat members of the House of
3 Representatives, 2 Republican and 2 Democrat members of the
4 Senate, and the directors or their designees of the following
5 organizations: the State Board of Education, the Board of
6 Higher Education, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission,
7 the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and
8 Universities, the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in
9 Higher Education, and the Illinois Latino Council on Higher
10 Education; and be it further
 
11     RESOLVED, That this task force assess accessibility of
12 institutions of higher education in Illinois for those in the
13 above-stated Illinois populations who want to enroll as
14 students; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That the task force assess the representation of
16 these populations in all job categories, including faculty,
17 staff, and civil service, at institutions of higher education
18 in Illinois; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That the task force assess issues of campus
20 climate that might affect the success of students and the
21 retention of faculty and staff at institutions of higher
22 education in Illinois; and be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That the task force pay particular attention
2 during its assessment of those college and university programs
3 that target areas of the most drastic skills disparity, as
4 identified by previously published economic and academic
5 studies; and be it further
 
6     RESOLVED, That in order to make these assessments, the task
7 force hold a series of regional public hearings on college and
8 university campuses across the State; and be it further
 
9     RESOLVED, That this task force shall file a report with the
10 General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, the State Board
11 of Education, and the Board of Higher Education upon completion
12 of its assessments, and that this report shall include any
13 findings and recommendations for further legislative action
14 that are generated as a result of the task force's work; and be
15 it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17 delivered to the directors of the State Board of Education, the
18 Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Student Assistance
19 Commission, the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges
20 and Universities, the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in
21 Higher Education, and the Illinois Latino Council on Higher
22 Education.