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Lawmakers Asked to Approve Four-Year Degrees for One Community College
The Illinois Senate's Criminal Law Committee has approved Harper College's plan to offer baccalaureate degrees. Harper is a community college in Palatine, but has asked for lawmaker approval for a four-year pilot project that would grant degrees in public safety administration/homeland security, and in technology management. Harper interim president John Pickelman expects about 60 people to be in those two programs.

The bill sponsor, State Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin), says the plan is borne from need: Palatine and other police and fire departments have increased their requirements for education, but current employees either can't travel to Northern Illinois University to take classes or afford private colleges close by. Noland, Harper officials, and first responders say the pilot project would be the answer.

But not everyone's convinced. Ken Zender of Northern Illinois University and the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s executive director, Judy Irwin, both predict trouble with program approval. Irwin says she doesn't know anyone who wants a "pilot degree." Some lawmakers see this as a slippery slope, and worry that more community colleges will ask to offer niche programs.

The measure has already passed in the House, so it needs only a full Senate vote before being sent to the governor.

(Illinois Radio Network)
04 30 09 by Newsroom
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