HE.07.11
April 30, 2007

University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign Senate
Final;Information

HE.07.11 Report on the IBHE Faculty Advisory Council Meeting, March 27, 2007.

The FAC met in Springfield and after observing the IBHE meeting met with several members of the BHE for lunch and a discussion session followed by a business meeting.

Numerous issues were raised with responses from either BHE Chair Hightman or Director Erwin.  An important focus was the role of higher education in affecting the quality of life of Illinois citizens contrasted to an emphasis on economic development.  Most people do not realize the impact of higher education institutions on their lives even as they take courses at community colleges, listen to or watch WILL, call cooperative extension, go to lectures and art shows and sign up for trips sponsored by their local college.  The BHE Performance Indicators Committee is being revived--Ken Andersen will be a member. Among other charges it will try to fashion a report that enhances awareness of higher education’s impact on quality of life of citizens generally.

Several FAC member comments stressed the emphasis legislators had earlier given to the necessity of advocacy by the BHE. Some BHE members have disputed whether it should be an advocate for higher education. Erwin said higher ed has more good legislative friends than ever before.

One problem is that legislators think we have gotten what we requested for several years. They are not aware of the many reductions in the budget requests before they leave a campus, further cuts by the BHE and cuts in negotiations with the governor. One solution proposed was to present a needs budget projected over the next five years.

In discussing the need for student aid it was noted that 75% of the funds go to Illinois students attending schools outside the state.

During the business meeting the need to put greater effort behind our papers on student debt and teacher preparation was noted. Members were urged to attend the April 25 lobby day.  Resolutions were adopted honoring Hightman as new BHE chair and departing chair James Kaplan.  A member of the FAC Executive Committee will serve as liaison to the Higher Education Legislative Coalition.  (FAC is not a dues-paying member.)  Efforts are under way to find a meeting site for an April 13 meeting of the FAC with UIUC one possibility.

Ken Andersen
UIUC Senate FAC Representative