SJ0088enr 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

09400SJ0088 Enrolled LRB094 20058 NHT 57625 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 88

WHEREAS, The Illinois higher education system is comprised of three main sectors that are each vital to the education, training, and economic vitality of our State; and

WHEREAS, The State's higher education system includes 9 public universities on 12 campuses, 48 community colleges, 94 independent, not-for-profit colleges and universities, and 30 independent, for-profit institutions, which are each important to the citizens of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The State has a vested interest in seeing the continuing development of collaborations between institutions of higher learning and between the sectors in the higher education system; and

WHEREAS, Higher education institutions are good employers and are also vital contributors to many local economies across the State; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges and bachelor's degree-granting institutions often form collaborative, bachelor's degree-completion arrangements to deliver upper-level courses on the community college campuses; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges have on occasion formed partnerships with public and private colleges and universities that are from another state; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois will benefit from the continued success and growth of Illinois institutions of higher education; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Board of Higher Education to strongly encourage community colleges seeking baccalaureate-completion partnerships to give preference to Illinois-based private and public institutions as partners, when possible, and to promote those community colleges that give this preference; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we direct the Board of Higher Education to conduct an inventory of baccalaureate-completion programs and partnerships between community colleges and public and private, in-state and out-of-state institutions and report its findings to the Higher Education Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives on or before December 31, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to review its policies and guidelines for Illinois community colleges that are seeking four-year institutions as degree-completion partners, with regard to preferences for Illinois-based institutions, and we urge the ICCB to create guidelines that will guide community colleges to seek Illinois-based institutions as bachelor's degree partners, when possible; and be it further

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