Community college bill meets protest
Sydney Elliot
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
SIUE is among a group of universities protesting a bill that would allow a northern Illinois community college to offer bachelor's degrees, contending that it could lead other community colleges to look to offer four-year programs on their campuses.
Harper College in Palatine, Ill. has requested a bill be passed through Illinois Congress authorizing the college to offer bachelor degrees in two vocational programs.
The community college, about an hour north of Chicago, is requesting the chance to offer four-year degree programs in public safety administration/homeland security and technology management. These programs are meant for police officers, firefighters and those in business industries.
The programs are designed for working adults who already have an associate's degree, but need a bachelor's to move into supervisory positions or to become a police officer or firefighter, Harper College spokesman Phil Burdick said.
"There are plenty of people with associates degrees, but people can't go to universities that may be hours away," Burdick said. "Other states offer BA (degrees) in vocational areas where there is a need and where four-year universities don't offer it."
The program would be a four-year pilot program to see if it would work for the school and possibly other community colleges throughout the state.
"After 4 years it would go back to the legislature to reauthorize the program," Burdick said. "Let us try it on a small basis and study it and see what happens."
Opposition to this bill is great among several presidents and chancellors of universities around the state, including SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, according to a letter sent to state senators by Western Illinois University President Al Goldfarb.
According to the letter, opposition to the bill comes through the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities and "a significant number of Illinois community colleges."
Harper College in Palatine, Ill. has requested a bill be passed through Illinois Congress authorizing the college to offer bachelor degrees in two vocational programs.
The community college, about an hour north of Chicago, is requesting the chance to offer four-year degree programs in public safety administration/homeland security and technology management. These programs are meant for police officers, firefighters and those in business industries.
The programs are designed for working adults who already have an associate's degree, but need a bachelor's to move into supervisory positions or to become a police officer or firefighter, Harper College spokesman Phil Burdick said.
"There are plenty of people with associates degrees, but people can't go to universities that may be hours away," Burdick said. "Other states offer BA (degrees) in vocational areas where there is a need and where four-year universities don't offer it."
The program would be a four-year pilot program to see if it would work for the school and possibly other community colleges throughout the state.
"After 4 years it would go back to the legislature to reauthorize the program," Burdick said. "Let us try it on a small basis and study it and see what happens."
Opposition to this bill is great among several presidents and chancellors of universities around the state, including SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, according to a letter sent to state senators by Western Illinois University President Al Goldfarb.
According to the letter, opposition to the bill comes through the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities and "a significant number of Illinois community colleges."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
So?
posted 4/30/08 @ 9:01 PM CST
Let's back up a moment: the JC is offering a 'vocational' degree, right? And SIUE is protesting, right? Now ask yourself this: what does a vocational degree have to do with SIUE competing in the degree-making arena? I'll tell you. (Continued…)
Grant Van Meter
posted 5/02/08 @ 5:46 PM CST
SIUE is definitely not a "vocational" school as you say and it's obvious you're just ranting, but I don't necessarily see what the big deal is about allowing the J. (Continued…)
Chris C
posted 5/16/08 @ 10:20 PM CST
The universities would like to overrule any direct competition for resources, whether students or appropriations, between themselves and the community colleges. (Continued…)
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