HB4073 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 14927 NHT 41101 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4073

Introduced 1/15/2004, by Monique D. Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Higher Education Commission Act. Creates the Higher Education Commission to establish criteria for the tenure of public university professors, to be submitted to each university for use in making tenure decisions. Requires each university to submit all decisions to grant or deny tenure to the Commission for approval.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning higher education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Commission Act.

Section 5. Creation; membership. The Higher Education Commission is created, consisting of 3 members appointed by the Governor and 2 faculty members from each public university in this State appointed by the university's governing board.

Section 10. Terms; vacancies. All members of the Higher Education Commission shall serve 4-year terms that expire on January 1, but shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Members of the Commission may be reappointed for additional terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.

Section 15. Compensation; expenses. Members of the Higher Education Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Section 20. Meetings. The Higher Education Commission shall meet initially at the call of the Governor, shall select one member as chairperson at its initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet at the call of the chairperson.

Section 25. Responsibilities. The Higher Education Commission shall establish criteria for the tenure of public university professors, which shall include the amount of education of the professor, the needs of the university, and the promotion of diversity. The Commission shall submit this criteria to the governing board of each public university in this State to be used in making tenure decisions. Each governing board must submit all decisions to grant or deny tenure to the Commission for approval.

Section 30. IBHE support. The Board of Higher Education shall provide the Higher Education Commission with whatever administrative, technical, or clerical support services that the Commission needs to carry out its responsibilities.