Emerging from an action-packed legislative session, the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding celebrates its fourth year fighting for a more equitable and well-supported higher education system for the state of Illinois and looks ahead to the work still needed.
This year, the Coalition came together as students, educators, community based organizations, civil rights groups and institutional leaders to raise awareness about the urgency and need for Illinois to reform the way it supports its public universities – centering university mission and student in its approach. At the adjournment of the spring legislative session of the 104th General Assembly, while a new budget was approved with a minor increase to institutional funding and a lackluster boost to student financial aid, no action was taken on SB13/HB1581. Ultimately, only a comma in a five-year journey to transform higher education funding, the latest status of the bill presents new opportunities for the Coalition to build on the fresh momentum it generated through various initiatives and campaigns in just a matter of months.
The Time is Now Listening Sessions
Over the course of the academic year, the Coalition hosted The Time Is Now: Equitably Funding Our Public Universities, a series listening sessions that brought together higher education stakeholders in community-centered spaces of learning across Illinois to discuss SB 13/ HB 1581. Event attendees heard from and engaged with policy researchers and university leaders to dive into how equitable funding could positively transform their respective institutions. Attendees also wrote to their legislators to encourage them to endorse the bill for the benefit of their institution as well as those across the state of Illinois.
Listening sessions where hosted at Governors State University, Chicago State University, near the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Northern Illinois University, Illinois State University, and Western Illinois University.
2025 Advocacy Day
On March 18, over 150 advocates for higher education—students, parents, professors, community organizations, union representatives and more—joined lawmakers in Springfield for the largest Advocacy Day yet, Degrees of Change. During the day-long convening, advocates met with lawmakers to share their higher ed stories and call for action supportive of more Illinois students accessing and completing their college degree.
Tabling Events
In the spring, the Coalition visited Northern Illinois University and Chicago State University to host an advocacy tabling event designed to provide campus members with another opportunity to advocate for the funding formula. Advocates wrote letters to legislators and also signed onto an SB 13/HB 1581 poster board that was given to the legislators responsible for the universities’ district to urge them to support the bill.
Digital Advocacy
This season, supporters for a more equitable higher education system for Illinois took their advocacy online. Through three unique advocacy campaigns, advocates used social media and letter writing to call for increased MAP investments and for passage of adequate and equitable public universities.
The work accomplished by the Coalition this season only paves the way for what more is possible, core members of the advocacy group agree. And the fight will demand it, by show of the extent of community engagement the bills drew this session.
From Rep. Carol Ammons, HB1581 Co-Sponsor
“HB 1581 represents an opportunity to solve a long-standing problem within our higher education system. Leader Lightford and I presented to the General Assembly the Adequate and Equitable Funding for Illinois’ Public Universities as a way to prioritize institutions that are beacons of opportunities in our communities. I will continue to work alongside my colleagues to fight for a system that gives all of our public universities the resources needed to truly thrive.”
A Letter from the Coalition Principals
To our higher education equity advocates,
We want to express our sincerest gratitude for your support in helping to make higher education accessible to students in Illinois. Whether you attended meetings, participated in events like Advocacy Day and the listening sessions, filed witness slips, engaged with our messages on social media, or spread the word about SB13/HB1581 within your networks, your ongoing commitment to this work has not gone unnoticed.
As many of you are aware, the spring legislative session recently adjourned with a new budget approved–just awaiting the Governor’s signature–but without action on some important pieces of legislation, including Adequate and Equitable Funding (AEF) for our public universities.
By the General Assembly’s adjournment, lawmakers approved a 1% across-the-board increase for public universities, and a 1.5% across-the-board increase for community colleges, which falls short of what students and institutions need. And because the General Assembly did not take action on SB13/HB1581, the inequities created by the state’s current funding approach for institutions will only deepen.
It is both because and in spite of those developments that we remain deeply committed to this work, and we encourage your continued commitment as well. Your fierce advocacy is crucial to ensuring that this fight continues. It is our understanding the General Assembly will revisit this effort when it convenes later this year, and we will need YOUR voices to continue communicating the urgency of the need!
At that time, you can expect to take actions such as:
- Sending a letter to your lawmaker, letting them know why their support of AEF is urgently needed.
- Supporting student advocacy by finding and sharing additional tools to elevate student perspectives and advocacy for the bill.
- Sharing important messages and tagging lawmakers on social media.
- Showing up at community meetings, listening sessions, and other events to share your experience and the urgency to transform public university funding.
- Helping spread the word about the Coalition.
In the meantime, we encourage you to revisit all of the incredible work you accomplished in Fall 2024 through Spring 2025.
Adequate, equitable, and stable public university funding is essential to every Illinois student who aspires to earn a degree at any of our public institutions. All students deserve to have access to this opportunity, and with you by our side, we will continue in this fight!
Sincerely,
