The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) celebrates the introduction of a new bill into the Illinois State Senate today aimed at passing the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding’s recommendations into law. In doing so, Illinois would go from not having a formula for distributing funding to public universities to having an innovative, nation-leading model.
SB3965 serves as a reminder of the once-in-a-generation opportunity lawmakers and advocates have to transform Illinois’ public higher education system. With the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford and State Representative Carol Ammons, PCC and its partners across the state will launch a full-scale campaign to pass the bill in the legislature.
With no funding model in place, appropriations to public universities have been nearly cut in half since 2002, particularly affecting universities that enroll more students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. Since 2021, the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding has worked to create a funding formula that would take the unique needs of students and the institutions that serve them into account. The Commission released a report in March 2024 detailing its recommendations. PCC’s Executive Director Lisa Castillo Richmond served on the Commission and helped ensure that student needs were represented at all levels.
From Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford
“I’m proud to introduce this bill today as a next step to making our higher education system more equitable and providing more opportunities for the communities who have been marginalized for far too long. Building a stronger future for our state means ensuring that diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do, especially how we fund our universities. Passing this bill is a historic step we must take to right the wrongs of past disinvestment and ensure every student who wants to attend college can thrive and build a successful future for themselves.”
From State Representative Carol Ammons
“After over two years of working on the Commission, we are proud to turn the work to action in the form of this bill. While the state has invested more in higher education in recent years, it still isn’t enough to ensure all of our students have what they need to succeed. By passing this bill and funding our universities equitably, we can and will create a system where every institution can provide its students with the resources they need to thrive and complete their degrees.”
From Christian Perry, PCC Director of Policy and Advocacy
“We see this as an opportunity to transform how the state funds its public colleges and universities to best serve every student. The groundbreaking work of the Commission got us here and now it’s time to educate lawmakers about how these recommendations will make higher education more equitable and provide more students with the resources they need to succeed.”
From Lisa Castillo Richmond, Ph.D., PCC Executive Director
“The Commission’s report and this resulting legislation serve as a significant and ambitious next step for lawmakers to help make our higher education system work for all in our state to not only transform students’ lives, but also increase the economic vitality of Illinois as a whole. As a member of the Commission, PCC was proud to uplift student stories and push the Commission to consider the needs of all Illinois public universities and the students they do and will serve. This bill will do exactly that and we’re proud to support it as we work towards creating more equitable outcomes for Illinois students.”