HE.07.10
April 30, 2007

University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign Senate
Final;Information

HE.07.10 Report on the Illinois Board of Higher Education Meeting, March 27, 2007.

The BHE met at the Springfield Hilton. Recently appointed Chair Carrie Hightman is working to improve her understanding of higher education with one-on-one visits with board members and plans to meet with university presidents and visit campuses.  She has been reviewing board minutes and background materials.  She met with the House Appropriations Committee on the higher ed budget.

Director Erwin encouraged participation in the April 25 lobby day in Springfield. The Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on higher ed funding is April 26.  She continues to stress the idea of a unified educational system P-20.

Three resolutions honored departed IBHE members James Kaplan, former chair, Cordelia (Dea) Meyer and Steven Taslitz.

As part of the advisory committee reports, the Faculty Advisory Council stressed the urgency of finding a means to address the student debt problem, noting that high debts upon graduation limit the ability to choose low pay but socially desirable activities such as teaching, social work, and nursing.  The community college representative stressed the importance of pushing for approval of the higher ed budget.

The BHE has a committee reviewing the process of approving new programs and operating authority. Draft recommendations are posted on the BHE website.  Concerns include the length of the review process, role of accreditation, consumer protection, use of site visits, post-approval checkups, transferability, a possible fee and the need to create a Board Academic Affairs Committee.  The staff charged with the reviews has a heavy workload with 116 programs reviewed and 99 brought for approval during the year. The process often involves several exchanges between staff and the petitioning institution.

The major focus of the meeting was responses by several key legislators to two queries posed by the chair.  The first dealt with budget priorities and the second given brief attention was the role of the General Assembly re education generally.

• Representative Miller, chair of the House Higher Ed Appropriations, said greater clarity is needed about the direction and focus of higher ed in Illinois.  This includes the relationship of 2-year and 4-year colleges, greater focus on graduation rates of African Americans, single mothers needing to return to higher ed but who cannot afford it, and diversification of purchasing to minority businesses.  He urged presidents and others to make a major push on tax issues saying that they cannot stand on the sidelines but must pick a policy solution and push it.  He and others repeatedly said they look to BHE for guidance on education needs and issues, as they are the experts.  Access is a key issue: higher ed used to be the great equalizer.  Great now for those who can afford it but what of Latinos, Blacks?

• Senator Edward Maloney, chair of the Senate Higher Ed Appropriations, said higher ed was doing a good job on access but affordability is the issue, especially for non-traditional students. K-12 teacher recruitment and retention is a problem.  There will be an inevitable discussion of higher ed funding this spring.  He urged a program of adopting a legislator: universities need to undertake such a program, as many legislators have not been on a campus for years.

• Senator Pamela Althoff on Senate Approp II said higher ed institutions are an economic engine both in terms of educating new students and in retraining adults.  Funding is crucial.  Thinking in terms of P-20 is imperative, as we can no longer leave students having just a high school education.  She stressed the need for honesty in interactions and exchanges.

• Senator Davis Luechtefeld, Higher Ed Committee, said higher ed has done a good job and is not broken.  Problem is at the secondary and elementary levels.  Good parents and good teachers are needed.  Lack of discipline and problems linked to the home mean students come without a commitment to learn and are disruptive.  In terms of money, this does not appear to be a good year.  Legislators may well not resolve the money issue, hold their noses and go home.

• Representative Monique Davis said student access and diversity in the teaching staff are major issues.  Higher ed ought to look like the society it serves.  If the gross receipts tax passes, higher ed will benefit greatly.  The BHE should speak up when institutions go awry.

• Representative Richard Myers said we need to work with others to get the P-20 concept to flow.  Said BHE (as did others) should be an advocate for higher ed.  We need more emphasis upon the role of research—key focus in economic development and mentioned a U of I grant.  Must focus on research as well as education.  The legislature needs advice about the appropriate level of funding and needed resources.

• Senator Mattie Hunter, chair of Senate Approp III, was uncertain about best means of funding education.  We need to level the playing field: students today have more needs than formerly.  We need advocacy by alums, business, etc.  She stressed the need for year-long interaction, not just approaches at budget time.

The legislators were thanked for their comments and advice.

Don Sevener made the legislative report.  He noted 5,928 bills have been introduced.  The concept of P-20 is gaining in impact.  There are bills on textbook costs (Hunter), affordability, funding academic merit scholarships (Maloney), master planning for higher education, and moving the chief procurement office from U of I to BHE.  The Governor may introduce his education plan. 

Routine items on the agenda were adopted without incident.

Ken Andersen
FAC to the IBHE Representative