Gov. George Ryan's third round of budget cuts eliminated all higher education
programs for the Illinois Department of Corrections. This reduction will eliminate 244 full-time and 374 part-time
positions, and affect 10 community colleges, two private colleges, and 11,605 inmates.
Even if your college is not directly hurt by this cut, the elimination of these higher education programs at
correctional centers will affect EVERY Illinois taxpayer and community when ex-offenders return to their
hometowns and can't find employment because they do not have employable skills.
The 10 affected community colleges are:
Black Hawk
Carl Sandburg
Illinois Central
Illinois Eastern
Illinois Valley
Kaskaskia
Lake Land
Rend Lake
Richland
Southeastern
The two private higher education institutions are:
MacMurray
Roosevelt
Here's what you can do:
1. Read ICCTA's College Programs for Illinois Inmatesfact sheet.
2. Contact your local legislators and business leaders to discuss why the shutdown is bad public policy.
Urge them to ask Governor Ryan to reconsider his decision.
3. Pass a board resolution supporting the reinstatement of higher education programs at
Illinois correctional facilities (click here for a sample resolution).
Please provide copies of any correspondence you send or receive. For additional information on this issue,
contact ICCTA at 1-800-454-2282.
Illinois Community College Trustees Association
401 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200
Springfield, IL 62701-1711
217-528-2858 (phone)
217-528-8662 (fax) ICCTA@communitycolleges.org (e-mail)
http://www.communitycolleges.org
