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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has committed to achieving a
3goal of 60% of adults in Illinois having a college degree or
4marketable certificate by the year 2025; and
 
5    WHEREAS, In order to reach that goal, the Illinois
6Community College System has committed to producing an
7additional 3,003 degrees by 2020 and an additional 18,997
8degrees by 2025, with a total of 22,000 additional degrees by
92025; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Community colleges are the primary provider of
11higher education in Illinois, as 63.9% of all students who are
12enrolled in an institution of higher education in Illinois
13attend a community college; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Community colleges are the primary providers of
15higher education for at-risk, minority, low-income, and
16underrepresented populations; and
 
17    WHEREAS, According to the National Center for Education
18Statistics, nontraditional students represent greater
19proportions of populations in need, including women and
20racial-ethnic minorities, compared to their traditional
21counterparts; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Illinois community colleges have become less
2affordable as tuition and fees increased 52% from 2004 to 2010
3and have further increased over 32% since 2008; as of fiscal
4year 2012, tuition and fees average 5.2% higher than the
5national average; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Illinois Community College System Economic
7Impact Study report clearly demonstrates that Illinois
8community colleges add skills to the workforce and boost the
9competitiveness of Illinois businesses; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Illinois community colleges have strong
11partnerships with local employers, providing needed vocational
12training and education for current and prospective employees;
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of
152014 provides requirements for even stronger collaboration and
16partnership between education and the workforce, with the
17involvement of the federal Departments of Education and Labor;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Illinois community college graduates contribute
20tremendously to their local communities, the State of Illinois,
21and the nation, generating $4.0 billion in State income tax

 

 

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1revenue and $14.2 billion in federal income tax revenue between
22003 and 2012; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
5SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we affirm that community
6colleges play a dynamic and essential role in driving the
7economy and workforce of the State of Illinois; and be it
8further
 
9    RESOLVED, That in order to stimulate economic growth, have
10an educated population, and better prepare students for their
11careers, the General Assembly of the State of Illinois welcomes
12cooperation from the Office of the Governor of Illinois and
13will endeavor to address the issue of community college
14affordability, with special consideration taken for
15nontraditional students.