Higher Education Finance Study Commission

• Schedule of Meetings
• Higher Education Finance Study Commission Background
• Related Links
• Higher Education Finance Study Commission Report [ Executive Summary ]

Background:  During its spring 2010 session, the Illinois General Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution 88, asking the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to convene the Higher Education Finance Study Commission.  The central work of the Commission is to align state financing with the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success.

Purpose:  The purpose of the Higher Education Finance Study Commission is to evaluate current higher education budgeting practices in Illinois and to develop recommendations to the IBHE, the Governor and the General Assembly that will align the goals of the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success with the State’s higher education budgeting process.

The Commission is to be cognizant of the principles that underlie the Illinois Public Agenda, in particular:

1. Priorities, policies, and budgets must align with state goals; and
   
   
2. Adequate and equitable P-20 funding, deployed effectively and efficiently, is essential.

Scope: The resolution directs to Commission to consider the following:        

• The history and means of higher education funding in this State, and comparison of funding with other states and peer institutions.
  
  
• Comparison of productivity of Illinois higher education to other state systems and the productivity of public colleges and universities to peer institutions.
  
  
• Practices implemented in other states that incent certificate and degree completion, including incentives for both students and institutions.
  
  
• Review of tuition and financial aid policies and practices and their roles in improving certificate and degree completion.
  
  
• Alternative funding mechanisms that will advance the goals of the Illinois Public Agenda particularly improving completion rates among low income and minority students.