Skip to Content
Illinois Board of Higher Education
Home

Officer Infomation & Search

News Release

Contact:

Jonathan Lackland
217.557.7334
lackland@ibhe.org

        Candace Mueller
217.557.7354
mueller@ibhe.org



January 26, 2015


COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY FOR ILLINOIS STUDENTS

Board will hold discussion to identify strategies to increase affordability for Illinois’ college students and their families

SPRINGFIELD – On February 3, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) will put the priority of affordability for college in perspective using a state as well as a national lens. A key goal of the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success is to ensure college affordability for students, families, and taxpayers. The mid-point analysis of outcomes for the Illinois Public Agenda shows that in the last five years Illinois higher education has become less affordable faster for middle and low income families than in almost all other states. In response, the Board has established an Action Team for Increasing Affordability. A group discussion will take place to consider ways to make college more affordable for more Illinoisans.

The discussion with the Board will be led by a panel of higher education experts. The panel members invited to the Board meeting are: Eric Zarnikow, Executive Director, Illinois Student Assistance Commission; Dennis Jones, President, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems; Iris Palmer, Senior Policy Analyst, Education Division, National Governors Association; Sarah Pingel, Researcher, Education Commission of the States; and Chris Rasmussen, Vice President for Policy Research and Analysis, Midwest Higher Education Compact.

“The Board is keenly aware that too many Illinoisans worry that they will be unable to pay for their own or their children’s college education.” said Lindsay Anderson, IBHE Chair. “We are working with our partners in the Governor’s Office, the General Assembly and college and universities’ boards of trustees to identify an effective plan to reverse the trend in the increasing costs of college. I welcome the important contributions to our work we are certain to receive from our expert panel.”

The Board also will review the proposed Fiscal Year 2016 state budget for higher education. The IBHE will meet at 1:00 p.m. on February 3, in Alumni Hall of the Northeastern Illinois University Student Union, 3701 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago.

###

Copyright 2012

Footer