Press Releases and Speeches

STUDENTS RALLY TO SAVE CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO

Chicago business leaders and students ask the Illinois Community College Board to stop state funding cuts that may affect the future of the City Colleges of Chicago.

CHICAGO (May 21, 2004) – CCC students, numbering about 300, administrators and trustees joined business and community leaders and other concerned citizens at a meeting of the Illinois Community College Board to rally for more equitable funding for the City Colleges.

"The City Colleges of Chicago's funding from the Illinois Community College Board has dropped by approximately 40 percent since 2001, primarily due to reductions in the ICCB Equalization Grant,"said Chancellor Wayne D. Watson. "City Colleges has had to cut substantial dollars from each of its seven colleges every year for the last five years, resulting in the loss of essential student services. If not resolved, these funding challenges could result in program eliminations and college closures."

The funding crisis affects all seven of the City Colleges of Chicago, which currently serves approximately 140,000 students annually. Supporters at the meeting included Board of Trustees Chairman James Tyree, Jerry Roper, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and Marc Schulman, CEO of Eli's Cheesecake Company.

"The ICCB must provide funding that is fair and equitable for the City Colleges of Chicago,"said Chairman Tyree. "The ICCB Equalization Grant formula is broken and unfair. The City Colleges of Chicago is facing a budget deficit of approximately $20 million next year."

The City Colleges of Chicago (Community College District 508) is the one of the largest urban community college systems in the nation. CCC provides four essential services: liberal arts education (associate degrees and certificates); occupational education (workforce training); adult education (GED, ESL, ABE) and continuing education (programs that add value to the quality of life).