Bill Text: IL HJR0075 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Instructs the Illinois Board of Higher Education, in consultation with other parties, to study and prepare a report with the findings and recommendations on improving the efficiency and sustainability of the Monetary Award Program and submit that report to the General Assembly no later than January 31, 2010.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 13-8)

Status: (Passed) 2009-10-29 - Adopted Both Houses [HJR0075 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HJR0075-Engrossed.html

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HJ0075 Engrossed LRB096 14957 MJR 29853 r
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 75
WHEREAS, The current distressing national, regional, and
State economic climates serve as the collective impetus for a
re-examination of State appropriations practices; and
WHEREAS, The wisdom of a renewed focus on best-spending
practices throughout all aspects of State appropriations and
expenditures is warranted; and
WHEREAS, The aim of the Monetary Award Program should be to
provide the most practical assistance possible in facilitating
Illinois students' access and choice in opening realistic
vistas of higher education; and
WHEREAS, Feasible new alternatives must always be
judiciously explored by those empowered by the public trust
with the responsibility of dispensing the public funds; and
WHEREAS, On December 9, 2008, the Board of Higher Education
unanimously endorsed the "Public Agenda for College and Career
Success", which codified the goal, among others, of matching
Illinois' educational attainment to the best-performing U.S.
states and world countries, as the blueprint to guide education
policy in this State for the next decade; and

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WHEREAS, The "Public Agenda for College and Career Success"
cites, among several other barriers to the stated goal, both
the diminished buying power of the Monetary Award Program grant
and the denial of Monetary Award Program grant awards to
one-fourth of eligible students; 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,
in consultation with the Illinois Student Assistance
Commission, the Illinois Community College Board, and any other
appropriate entity, shall undertake a study of the most
practical methodology to improve the efficiency and
sustainability of the Monetary Award Program that includes all
of the following:
(1) a review of the success rates of all Monetary Award
Program recipients, as defined by either degree completion
or skill set attainment;
(2) demographics of MAP recipients regarding the
disbursement of Monetary Award Program funds between and
among public, private, and proprietary institutions;
(3) potential steps to maximize efficiencies by the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission in the delivery of
student financial aid;
(4) the feasibility of re-structuring Monetary Award
Program eligibility to maximize the educational impact and

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economic efficiency of MAP expenditures; and
(5) the relationship of State appropriations for
public university and community college operations,
tuition and fees, and funding of the Monetary Award
Program; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Illinois Board of Higher Education shall
prepare a report with the findings and recommendations on
improving the efficiency and sustainability of the Monetary
Award Program and submit that report to the General Assembly no
later than February 28, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to the chairpersons of the Illinois Board of Higher
Education, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the
Illinois Community College Board.