HJ0093 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0093 LRB096 19105 NHT 35189 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, State appropriations to public colleges and universities have historically been made on the bases of enrollments rather than completions; and

WHEREAS, The current and future workforce needs, combined with Illinois' financial difficulties, compel the State of Illinois to examine higher education funding based on course completion rates or other similar indicators of success; and

WHEREAS, Increasing the number of high quality post-secondary credentials to meet the demands of the economy and an increasingly global society is Goal 3 of the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success; and

WHEREAS, Many of the several states in the United States are considering ways to provide an incentive to institutions of higher learning not just to enroll students, but also to ensure that they earn the credentials required by the workplace; and

WHEREAS, Performance-based funding may represent a relatively small percentage of a state's higher education budget which some experts assert that it can lead to remarkable results; and

WHEREAS, The challenge for states is to create a financing system that is clearly understood and yet flexible enough to account for differences in institutional mission and demographics; and

WHEREAS, The same set of guidelines and performance targets should probably not be applied similarly to community colleges, bachelor's and master's degree institutions, and research universities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Board of Higher Education, working in concert with the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, shall undertake a study of the implementation of performance-based funding for higher education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall prepare a report by June 1, 2010 with findings and submit that report to the General Assembly; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Board of Higher Education shall provide administrative support for the study and report; and be it further

Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the chairpersons of the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the Illinois Community College Board.