HJ0075 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0075 LRB096 14957 MJR 29853 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The current distressing national, regional, and State economic climates serve as the collective impetus for a re-examination of State appropriations practices; and

WHEREAS, The wisdom of a renewed focus on best-spending practices throughout all aspects of State appropriations and expenditures is warranted; and

WHEREAS, The aim of the Monetary Award Program should be to provide the most practical assistance possible in facilitating Illinois students' access and choice in opening realistic vistas of higher education; and

WHEREAS, Feasible new alternatives must always be judiciously explored by those empowered by the public trust with the responsibility of dispensing the public funds; and

WHEREAS, On December 9, 2008, the Board of Higher Education unanimously endorsed the "Public Agenda for College and Career Success", which codified the goal, among others, of matching Illinois' educational attainment to the best-performing U.S. states and world countries, as the blueprint to guide education policy in this State for the next decade; and

WHEREAS, The "Public Agenda for College and Career Success" cites, among several other barriers to the stated goal, both the diminished buying power of the Monetary Award Program grant and the denial of Monetary Award Program grant awards to one-fourth of eligible students; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Board of Higher Education, in consultation with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the Illinois Community College Board, and any other appropriate entity, shall undertake a study of the most practical methodology to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the Monetary Award Program that includes all of the following:

(1) a review of the success rates of all Monetary Award Program recipients, as defined by either degree completion or skill set attainment;

(2) demographics of MAP recipients regarding the disbursement of Monetary Award Program funds between and among public, private, and proprietary institutions;

(3) potential steps to maximize efficiencies by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission in the delivery of student financial aid; and

(4) the feasibility of re-structuring Monetary Award Program eligibility to only those freshmen and sophomore students, as defined by traditional credit-hour completion criteria, attending Illinois community colleges and those junior and senior students, as defined by traditional credit-hour completion criteria, attending 4-year institutions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Board of Higher Education shall prepare a report with the findings and recommendations on improving the efficiency and sustainability of the Monetary Award Program and submit that report to the General Assembly no later than January 31, 2010; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the chairpersons of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the Illinois Community College Board.