SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) –
It took a while, but we eventually succeeded in obtaining the alleged letter from the Higher Learning Commission being touted as the death to Illinois universities. People always “quoted” it, but could never produce it, now we know why.
For several weeks, we have been given excuse after excuse of how failure to pass a budget will resort in loss of accreditation to our state universities – and everyone referred to this letter as proof the HLC said accreditation would be lost.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As you read this letter, we urge you to find anything stating as the fact that our universities will lose accreditation should there be no budget. There is no such language in this letter.
Sure, it stated universities with a lack of funding were “at risk” and that loss of accreditation “could‘ be a consequence of “not providing funding” for our universities, but plenty of other things “could” also cause loss of accreditation. Illinois has funded its universities without a budget prior to this year, they can do it again.
Please do not use this letter or the fake notion that loss of accreditation WILL happen should there be no budget as an excuse to get behind the passage of the veto override. Now that we have a copy of the letter, we know it was not what it was purported to be.
Download or read below:
11 Comments
J. Madison
Posted at 11:39h, 12 JulyThe sole purpose of this letter was shock value.
Ummm
Posted at 15:59h, 06 JulyCapitolfax reported this on June 24th with the full text.
Ummm
Posted at 16:00h, 06 JulyGreat digging though, even thought almost nobody reported this as anything other than “could” in their headlines anyway.
Kirk Allen
Posted at 19:04h, 06 JulyGood for them. Considering they get paid with our tax dollars I would not expect anything less from them.
Randy
Posted at 23:21h, 06 JulySo you dont see then how this entire article about hunting for days and implying a letter was kept from the public for nefarious reasons by reporters is utterly absurd? But hey, witty joke about Capfax!
Kirk Allen
Posted at 08:52h, 07 JulyThere was no implication it was “kept” from the public, let alone for nefarious reasons. Legislators were citing a claimed letter that claimed colleges would lose accreditation without a budget. NONE of the legislators we spoke with could produce it. The fact Capfax ran something on it means nothing as the general public does not have access to Capfax. Its a subscription based service and what is available, I could not find it on there.
Mike
Posted at 08:42h, 21 Julyhttp://www.capitolfax.com/2017/06/24/universities-threatened-with-loss-of-accreditation
Ummm
Posted at 15:56h, 06 Julyahahahahahaha
Gerry C.
Posted at 07:45h, 06 JulyWith this letter, a balance sheet and income statement should have been provided for each institution deemed to be in trouble, Absent that, the letter is merely to create “shock value.”
Randy
Posted at 23:24h, 06 JulyIt is a very measured and reasonable letter and one not unlike the one sent in 2016 but with increased concern level very carefully stated and not alarmist at all. This site is truly making a mountain out of nothing here. Move along.
Kirk Allen
Posted at 08:55h, 07 JulyMissing the point Randy. Legislators made claims that were not true. I agree, the letter is reasonable. Too bad the legislators misrepresented its content.