Date: January 21, 2005
Contact: Michael Hopkins
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: m-hopkins@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, January 21, 2005 – Governors State University will host the January meeting of the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee on Saturday, January 29, and Sunday, January 30 in Sherman Recital Hall, on the university’s main campus, 1 University Parkway, University Park.
George Ashford, the Advisory Committee representative for Governors State, said the meeting’s focus will be on Fiscal Year 2006 budgeting issues. He explained the Student Advisory Committee is comprised of approximately 60 student representatives from public, private, and community colleges throughout the state. The committee’s task is to advise the IBHE on higher education issues that are of particular importance to students.
Ashford said having the meeting at GSU presents an opportunity for the university’s students and members of the community to express their opinions to the Advisory Committee and sound out the representatives on their positions.
“I encourage anyone with an interest in higher education to attend,” Ashford said. Governors State students have been particularly active in the Advisory Committee. GSU student Toure Peck serves as chair of the committee’s Budget Subcommittee. Ashford, who is also a GSU student senator, serves as vice chair. GSU’s student member of the university’s Board of Trustees, Joy Farmer, is vice chair of the Access and Diversity Subcommittee.
GSU’s president Stuart Fagan provost Paul Keys will speak at the event. Monique Davis, 27th District Representative, will also appear.
“I want to thank President Fagan, Provost Keys, and Representative Davis for their support,” Ashford said.
Ashford added that Student Advisory Committee representatives will be organizing a lobbying trip to Springfield sometime next month. “It’s important to make our voices heard,” he said. “Decisions made for Fiscal Year 2006 will affect every student in the state. We have to be heard.”
The Student Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 29, and from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. It is open to the public.
