Investments Will Help Close Equity Gaps and Increase Affordability

SPRINGFIELD – Higher education leaders across the state cheer Governor JB Pritzker’s budget announcement on Feb 15th, which includes a fiscal year 2024 higher education budget of $2.47 billion, an increase of $219 million (9.7 percent) compared to the previous fiscal year. Notable highlights from the budget include a $100 million increase for the Monetary Award Program (MAP), an $80.5 million (7 percent) increase for public universities, $19.4 million (7 percent) increase for community colleges and a $2.8 million increase to the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program (MTI) to recruit and retain minority teachers.

“Governor Pritzker’s historic investments in higher education are crucial to closing equity gaps and driving a diverse workforce that will ultimately lead to an inclusive and thriving Illinois economy,” said IBHE Chair John Atkinson. “We are thrilled the governor adopted many of the Board’s recommendations to advance the goals in the state’s higher education strategic plan and hope the General Assembly passes this historic higher education budget.”

“Illinois community colleges have and continue to be our state’s most effective resource for workforce development. This proposed budget reflects the need for additional investment in community colleges throughout the state that educate and train the workforce for the industries of today and emerging industries that are growing by leaps and bounds," said ICCB Board Chair Dr. Lazaro Lopez.

“The budget presented by Governor Pritzker shows his strong commitment to a higher education system that is affordable, where institutions have the resources they need to support students through degree completion,” said IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro. “The historic, equity-driven investments in the governor’s budget will close equity gaps for students, especially Black, Latino, low-income, rural and working adult students.”

The governor’s plan to increase MAP funding by $100 million takes another giant step toward ensuring higher education is affordable for students across Illinois, a crucial strategy in the state’s strategic plan for higher education, A Thriving Illinois. The governor and General Assembly have worked together to increase MAP funding by more than $200 million since Governor Pritzker took office. The proposed increase would appropriate $701 million for MAP – putting the state closer to its MAP funding goal.

“The current MAP funding has, for the first time in almost two decades, allowed us to offer awards to every eligible student, and award amounts are finally regaining ground after decades where the grant couldn’t keep up with tuition and fees,” said Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “MAP grant size increased this year by an estimated average of nearly 30 percent, and with the proposed funding, we could see an increase of another 16 percent—increases that could be life-changing for a low-income student. Moreover, support for teacher programs, as well as other scholarships and grants, will help develop a teacher workforce, school social workers and other professionals that reflect the diversity of our students. This is a proposed budget with a demonstrated commitment to students and families and to continuing to improve accessibility and equity for all Illinoisans.”

The governor’s budget proposal includes a 7 percent increase in operating funds or $19.4 million more for community colleges than the previous year—the highest proposed increase in two decades. It also includes an additional more than $18 million in workforce training. This increased investment will ensure a robust trained workforce for Illinois’ current and emerging industries and countless good paying careers for tens of thousands of Illinoisans from all walks of life. The funding will allow Illinois’ community colleges to create new cutting-edge programs in several areas including advanced manufacturing for vehicle electrification to address the workforce needs in this rapidly growing industry, data center curriculum development to support employers as they meet the increasing needs of their businesses and to assist adult education students in today’s digital learning age, especially for those with financial or childcare challenges.

“Not only are Illinois community colleges the state’s most effective workforce training partners, helping to keep industry running in Illinois, but they also serve the most diverse population of students across our state. This additional funding will provide access to good paying careers for students with less financial resources and give additional opportunities to high school students that want to get a head start on their college education through our dual credit programs," said ICCB Executive Director Brian Durham.

Highlights of Governor Pritzker’s fiscal year 2024 budget include:

• $100 million increase for MAP

• $80.5 million (7 percent) increase for public universities

• $19.4 million (7 percent) increase for community colleges

• $10 million for a new grant program to develop noncredit programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Elective Vehicle Technologies

• $1 million for data center curriculum development

• $3.2 million for a new community college Dual Credit Grant program

• $5.2 million for new community college Noncredit Workforce Training Grants

• $2.8 million increase to Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship to recruit and retain minority teachers

• $2.75 million to expand English as a Second Language (ESL) and for digital instruction in adult education programs

• $2.0 million to provide grants and supports to End Student Housing Insecurity