Public Agenda

• NEW! The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success: Final Report
• NEW! The Illinois Public Agenda Executive Summary
• The Public Agenda
• View Public Comments Received
• Schedule of Meetings
• Public Agenda Background
• Task Force Meetings
• Regional Forum Meetings
• NCHEMS Reports
• Related Links

What it is: The Public Agenda for Illinois Higher Education is a planning blueprint for the State of Illinois to direct state policies and resources to the higher education and career needs of Illinois residents and to address the current and future economic needs of the state.

What it is not: The Public Agenda is not a plan for higher education institutions or the various sectors within the higher education system, including community colleges, public universities, and nonprofit and for-profit private institutions.

Background: The Illinois Board of Higher Education has the statutory responsibility for master planning, as stated in the IBHE enabling act:

The Board shall analyze the present and future aims, needs and requirements of higher education in the State of Illinois and prepare a master plan for the development, expansion, integration, coordination and efficient utilization of the facilities, curricula and standards of higher education for public institutions of higher education in the areas of teaching, research and public service.

In its spring 2007 session, the General Assembly approved House Joint Resolution 69, directing the Board of Higher Education to develop a Public Agenda for higher education through a broad-based task force “to study the challenges and opportunities facing higher education, the State’s workforce needs, demographic trends, and higher education funding and student financial aid.”

Purpose: The purpose of the planning initiative is to develop an action agenda, based on quantifiable evidence, for institutions, state education agencies, and the Governor and General Assembly to address the education, workforce, social, and economic needs of the State by setting priorities, developing policies, and allocating resources.

Read more about the Background Paper: The Who, What, When, Why, and How