Last year, the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding hit the road convening Listening Sessions and campus tabling events across the state to raise awareness and support for the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act (SB13). Along the way, Milan Taylor, at the time an undergraduate student at Chicago State University, stopped by to learn more.
As the Coalition gears up for an action-packed legislative session where it is calling for passage of an historic overhaul of how the state funds its public 4-year insitutions, Milan discusses her experience connecting with our group, learning about the bill, and reflecting on what the new connection sparked for her.
Would you describe what meeting with members of the Coalition was like?
Meeting with Coalition representatives was very helpful in many different ways. I got to share my own experience with them about me going to Springfield to talk about the bill with legislators. They got to give me more insight on what the bill was actually doing for my university. I even got to sign the board to help get the bill passed. They were able to give me insight on other things I could do to help legislators put this bill at the top of their list. They even got me the opportunity to help share my insights for the bill.
What really resonated with you about the SB13/HB1581, The Adequate and Equitable Public University Act?
The thing that resonated with me about the bill was seeing how much of an impact more money can make to a university. People don’t realize how much public institutions don’t get looked at – especially the smaller ones. That makes it harder for us students to focus on school and doing things because of cost. That stress can add on to not even participating or even worse dropping out of school. If we are able to pass the bill that means we will be able to add more stuff to our universities like scholarships, more programming, or even some internships.
Have you had a chance to do anything with what you have learned about the bill? If so, please share more.
The main thing I got to do with what I learned about the bill was attend the Advocacy day event. That was where I got to meet other students fighting for the same thing at their university and even got to speak with them about the differences our universities had. I also got the chance to meet some of the legislators and go over the bill with them about the impact it would make for some universities. I was picked to do an interview that was featured in the advocacy day video just explaining my thoughts on what the bill could do for us students.
What do you remember most about the experience of getting to learn about a policy that could impact you and your school community?
I remember being able to give my own statements in front of a bunch of people and other state representatives. I was able to give a 2 minute speech at the rally in front of the capitol about the impact it would have and what we need as a community right now. I spoke about the things I already have such as grants, scholarships, and different kinds of funding. In all that we need more and the only way we could make that happen was by visiting them personally to get their insight on what we were trying to do.
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Join the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding and hundreds of advocates from around Illinois for the 2026 Higher Education Advocacy Day in Springfield, Ill., on Thursday, April 16.
This year’s theme is “Higher Education Works for Illinois,” as we focus on how the investment into Illinois higher education institutions and students reaps rewards for all.
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