HJ0102eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0102 Engrossed LRB094 19669 RAS 56123 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 102

WHEREAS, In November of 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice notified Southern Illinois University (SIU) that it intended to file a lawsuit against the university related to three of the university's fellowship programs, specifically, the PROMPT, BRIDGE, and GRADUATE DEANS programs; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Justice has alleged that SIU is in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in its administration of these programs; and

WHEREAS, Today, African Americans and Hispanic-Latinos are underrepresented in all graduate programs; the subject matter programs at issue have provided access to graduate programs for approximately 85 minority students; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Justice and SIU have negotiated a Consent Decree that protects the students currently enrolled in these programs; in addition, the Consent Decree avoids the cost of protracted litigation, with no penalties or fines assessed against SIU, and amends the eligibility requirements of three SIU-C paid fellowship programs; the Consent Decree also allows SIU to avoid potential legal exposure and financial penalty; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General Assembly desire to be updated, annually, on SIU's progress in minority participation in its fellowship programs; both Caucuses have met with the President of SIU and have expressed their grave concerns related to the inclusion of African American and Hispanic-Latino students in the university's fellowship programs, as well as other facets of the university; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General Assembly have indicated their desire to stay informed of the events surrounding the investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice and the progress that SIU is making in increasing the number of African American and Hispanic-Latino students in both fellowship and graduate assistance programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that Southern Illinois University provide, on an annual basis, an update on minority participation in all fellowship and graduate assistance programs at SIU to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General Assembly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the President and the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University take the necessary steps to ensure that African Americans and Hispanic-Latinos are provided access to and are allowed to compete in all fellowship and graduate assistance programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the President and the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University take the necessary steps to ensure that the university establishes and maintains an environment that is conducive to the successful completion of these programs as well as supports the efforts of African American and Hispanic-Latino students in the same or similar manner as it supports all other students; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of Southern Illinois University and the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University.