HR0955 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0955 LRB096 21361 MJR 37502 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Eastern Illinois University proposes the establishment of a rural campus designation program in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The American Association of State Colleges and Universities supported federal legislation to create a new grant program for rural colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, Funding will come through the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program, which made it through in an omnibus bill; and

WHEREAS, At this time, the federal government is working to define the scope and goals of the program; and

WHEREAS, The main points include partnerships between universities and local education authorities, regional employers, or workforce investment boards; and

WHEREAS, In addition, there is an emphasis on economic development through partner-based initiatives; and

WHEREAS, By being given a State designation as "rural", universities may benefit when soliciting grant funding from private or federal entities; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Higher Education has the capability within its rules to establish a partnership with the federal grant program upon its official inception; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we direct the Board of Higher Education to establish a foundation to implement the rural campus designation program in this State in correlation with the federal program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Board of Higher Education.