A Citizens' Agenda for Illinois Higher Education. The Illinois Commitment: Partnerships, Opportunities, and Excellence.

Overview & Synopsis

This report spells out goals formulated through surveys and focus groups with Illinois citizens for higher education in the state of Illinois for the first decade of the 21st century. Six goals are set out: (1) higher education will help Illinois business and industry sustain strong economic growth; (2) higher education will join elementary and secondary education to improve teaching and learning at all levels; (3) no Illinois citizen will be denied opportunity for a college education because of financial need; (4) Illinois will increase the number and diversity of citizens completing training and education programs; (5) Illinois colleges and universities will hold students to even higher expectations for learning and will be accountable for the quality of academic programs and the assessment of learning; and (6) Illinois colleges and universities will continually improve productivity, cost-effectiveness, and accountability. Each section of the report lists the actions to be taken to reach these goals and how results and accountability will be measured. (Contains 9 references.) (CH)