Reis Measure to Elect U of I Trustees Passes House

April 24, 2007

Springfield….The Illinois House voted today in favor of reestablishing an independently elected Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois. According to the bill's sponsor, Rep. David Reis (R - Ste. Marie), the House's nearly unanimous vote for HB 3289 sends a clear message of the dissatisfaction several members of the General Assembly had felt towards the Governor-appointed board.

"In the last few years it became very clear that members of the board of trustees at the U of I were more concerned with the governor's agenda than providing independent leadership for all of the U of I campuses," said Reis. "This bill restores the election process for trustees.   Returning to an elected board of trustees is needed to restore the board's independence, which I believe will enable the trustees to make better choices on behalf of the students, faculty and university."

Currently, Nine of the University of Illinois Board's 13 positions are directly appointed by the Governor. The remaining four seats are student members chosen by election on campus. The Governor decides which of them will be allowed a binding vote.   Reis' legislation, House Bill 3289, specifies that the board will instead consist of the Governor and 11 members.   Seven members will be elected from the four state judicial districts. The remaining three board members will be student representatives, one elected from each of the university campuses. It is the combination of these changes that Reis says will restore fairness and equal representation to the Board.

"This bill adds integrity to the process of selecting U of I Board of Trustees members. The citizens of Illinois should have a say in the operations of the University of Illinois and its $3 billion budget. It was vitally important to restore independence to the U of I Board of Trustees, and the result of this bill will do exactly that," Reis said.

House Bill 3289 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.