New legislation challenges Harper degree program

SPRINGFIELD - Supporters of a Harper College pilot program to award bachelor's degrees say they have the votes to win state Senate approval of the program this week. But the fight over whether students should be able to earn a bachelor's degree at an Illinois community college may just be starting.

State Sen. Dan Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican, introduced a Senate resolution Monday directing a legislative study group to consider whether community colleges should continue to be funded by local property taxes "in recognition of an effort by some among the community colleges to transform themselves and seriously alter their mission."

"If they want to redefine who they are and abandon the mission of the community college, then we'll have to reexamine everything," Cronin said. "If you have these illusions of grandeur, and if you dream about building this empire of four-year schools and you want to be big shots - fine. But just be advised that funding streams and revenue commitments and structural attributes that you may have become accustomed to may not be there.

"The University of Illinois doesn't have a property tax revenue stream, Northern Illinois doesn't, Elmhurst College doesn't. These institutions compete for dollars both here in government and elsewhere and why shouldn't community colleges that want to be just like those four-year schools play by the same rules, too?" Cronin asked.

Cronin's resolution does not refer specifically to Harper College, but it's the only community college actively seeking permission to award bachelor's degrees.

If the Harper proposal is approved, the school would be allowed to offer bachelor's of applied science degrees in public safety administration/homeland security and technology management. The proposal authorizes the program for four years and will not require any additional property tax revenue.

"It's a great experiment to see if we really are meeting the needs of our current work force," said state Sen. Pamela Althoff, a co-sponsor of the Harper proposal. "I don't know any other way to test new programs or new ideas without trying something."

The McHenry Republican said the Harper program will create opportunities for suburban workers to develop new skills and find new jobs.

"If we can do that through property-tax supported entities, maybe that's the way we need to go for a period of time," Althoff said. "And if it fails, then we'll know it failed."

The Illinois House already approved the program in March and supporters hope to get a Senate vote this week.