SR1195LRB099 15340 MST 39583 r



1
SENATE RESOLUTION



2 WHEREAS, The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career 
3Success requires
increased academic achievement, college 
4affordability, and college completions by more
Illinoisans in 
5order for Illinois to achieve economic growth and vitality; and


6 WHEREAS, Effective and quality college education requires 
7State funding for the
operations of public institutions of 
8higher education and financial assistance for low-income 
9students to achieve college degrees if Illinois is to increase 
10the number of citizens
with a postsecondary degree to 60% by 
112025 to meet workforce demands; and


12 WHEREAS, The Illinois Board of Higher Education is keenly 
13aware of the
uncertainty the lack of a Fiscal Year 2016 budget 
14is creating for Illinois college students,
professors, and 
15staff at Illinois' 48 community colleges and 12 public 
16universities,
some of whose very existence is being threatened; 
17and


18 WHEREAS, The Illinois Board of Higher Education is 
19sincerely concerned that the 125,000 Illinois college
students 
20that are eligible for the Monetary Award Program have not 
21received state MAP
funding; and


 
 
SR1195- 2 -LRB099 15340 MST 39583 r


1 WHEREAS, The budget uncertainty is threatening the quality 
2and talent in universities by encouraging students, faculty, 
3and staff to seek careers outside of the State,
imposing 
4long-term damage on our capacity to serve the State; therefore, 
5be it



6 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly urge an

8immediate adoption of a State budget that will provide security 
9for students dependent on
State financial aid, ensure financial 
10stability to community colleges and public
universities, and 
11deliver to Illinois public higher education the resources 
12needed to
accelerate and sustain the State's economic health; 
13and be it further


14 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
15delivered to the Governor, the Leaders
of the General Assembly, 
16and the leadership of the higher education community.