Advance Illinois Statement on Commission on Equitable Public University Funding’s Release of Recommendations

For decades, Illinois’ status quo funding approach to higher education has lacked a coherent, equity-driven methodology, overlooking what students and institutions actually need to be successful. The result of this has been decades of lost opportunity for students, and for the state. So today we applaud the Commission—made up of agency heads, legislators, university leaders, and community partners—for analyzing Illinois’ current approach and proposing strategies that put our institutions – and our state – on a path to a funding system rooted in equity, adequacy, and stability. After two years of research and discussion and listening to experts and students, Commissioners have developed a blueprint designed to ensure every public university student in Illinois has the resources they need to earn a college degree. That is an outcome that benefits our young people, our communities, and the state as a whole. 

Advance Illinois will provide a full analysis of the recommendations in the weeks ahead.