Full Text of HR0355 103rd General Assembly
HR0355 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, Since 2013, Illinois Black student enrollment in | 3 | | higher education has declined nearly 40%, and nationally, | 4 | | Black student freshman enrollment has fallen nearly 18%; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, At Illinois' flagship University of Illinois, the | 6 | | Black student enrollment has declined annually since 1997, and | 7 | | the current numbers of Black students are at an all time low; | 8 | | and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, Many of the other higher education institutions | 10 | | in Illinois and across the country have experienced severe | 11 | | declines in Black student enrollment; and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Communities populated by individuals with some | 13 | | college experience and higher education completion enjoy | 14 | | higher average household incomes, low unemployment, strong | 15 | | homeownership, reduced crime, and overall community stability; | 16 | | and | 17 | | WHEREAS, Many Black communities in Illinois and the nation | 18 | | now suffer from low average incomes, low homeownership, high | 19 | | crime, and instability; the current trend of declining Black | 20 | | student enrollment will exacerbate the current challenging | 21 | | situation and eventually decimate the Black community; and |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Student enrollment in higher education has | 2 | | increased among other minority groups at Illinois | 3 | | institutions, while Black student enrollment is steadily | 4 | | declining; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, False anti-higher education propaganda has | 6 | | effectively infiltrated the Black community, masking the | 7 | | benefits of higher education for developing young minds, | 8 | | developing friendship, networking, and providing critical | 9 | | information; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Jobs and careers in technology, the medical | 11 | | field, and other industries continue to go unfilled while | 12 | | affordable training and education for those careers are | 13 | | available; therefore, be it
| 14 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 15 | | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 16 | | we declare a Black student enrollment crisis in the State of | 17 | | Illinois until enrollment at our flagship University of | 18 | | Illinois and all other Illinois higher education institutions | 19 | | reach a suitable number of Black enrolled students; and be it | 20 | | further | 21 | | RESOLVED, That we urge all Illinois higher education |
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| 1 | | institutions to immediately establish an office or department | 2 | | with ample personnel to specifically and aggressively work in | 3 | | the area of Black student recruitment, immediate enrollment, | 4 | | and scholarships; and be it further
| 5 | | RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor to utilize his | 6 | | executive powers to immediately direct funds toward emergency | 7 | | enrollment outreach and completion programs for Black student | 8 | | enrollment increases at Illinois higher education | 9 | | institutions.
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