* Some context from a column I wrote last year…
The governor has trumpeted his plan to allow community colleges to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees during his State of the State address, on numerous national TV programs, big-time podcasts and a tour of the state.
Well, that proposal (HB3717) was not called for a vote in the House Higher Education Committee last week after fierce opposition from four-year universities, as one top Pritzker administration official and some Pritzker allies hovered outside the hearing room for hours.
The chair of that committee, Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, did her best to downplay the significance of the committee’s refusal to take up the bill, saying, “I think that there’s a way that we can make sure that this is very narrowly tailored to meet what’s not being met with the four-year institutions.”
Stuart, a member of House Democratic leadership, also said the legislation as written could “collapse” the student base of minority-serving institutions like Chicago State and Northeastern Illinois University.
A retooled bill was sent to the House Executive Committee this year and it passed on a unanimous roll call this morning. Isabel wrote about the bill for subscribers earlier today.
* From Illinois Community College Board Executive Director Brian Durham…
Today marks an important step forward in expanding meaningful education pathways for Illinois students. The advancement of HB 5319 out of the House Executive committee reflects a growing recognition that higher education must meet students where they are—especially those whose work, family, or financial circumstances may not allow them to pursue a traditional four-year university experience.
Community college baccalaureate programs will provide high-quality, affordable, and accessible options for students seeking to advance their education and careers in high-demand fields that desperately need them across the state.
We look forward to continued collaboration with legislators, universities, and stakeholders to make this a reality for thousands of hard-working Illinoisans and the industries that need them.
- Homebody - Wednesday, Mar 25, 26 @ 1:08 pm:
It remains mindboggling to me that various public institutions lobby against each other for resources and survival, rather than having a single unified higher education system that pools resources to best serve the needs of residents.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Mar 25, 26 @ 2:32 pm:
I still think this is a bad idea. First, there’s statistical reason to believe a person going to a community college with the goal of a 4-year degree is significantly reducing the chances of success. Related to that is a fear high school students are going to be misled as to how such a 4-year community college degree is going to be worth in the marketplace compared to a traditional school, no matter how “high quality” the program is. Second, with distance learning and remote campuses, there’s no reason much of the needs of part-time students can’t be addressed by the 4 year colleges. Third, it seems like all the state universities are struggling as it is save UIUC and UIC.