Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee

2. ILLINOIS BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATIONSTUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IBHE-SAC ORIENTATION Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee

3. MISSION • The MISSION of the Student Advisory Committee is to represent students from all Institutions of Higher Learning in Illinois on all state-level issues concerning higher education. • To empower student leaders as partners in shaping higher education • An official channel for the IBHE to interact with students because of the vital need to obtain first hand knowledge of the impact the IBHE board policies have on students.

4. VALUES • Service: Contributing to the welfare of all students by providing access and availability to a higher education. • Advocacy: Upholding the fundamental rights of students by making recommendations and providing direction from a student perspective, representing all sectors of higher education. • Commitment: Striving valiantly to do what is best for students by devoting the SAC to worthy causes in the arena of higher education.

5. STRUCTURE • Executive Board • Chair • Executive Secretary • Student Member • Non-traditional Student Member • Committee of Whole • All voting representatives

6. ORGANIZATION • Executive Chair– • Presides over the Committee of the Whole • Appoints Subcommittee chairs • Represents SAC at all IBHE Board meetings • Selects all meeting locations • Elected at Spring meeting for July 1-June 30 term • Executive Secretary— • Records attendance • Records official actions of meetings • Distributes minutes and information to SAC via electronic communication • Serves as secretarial liaison to IBHE staff • Elected at Spring meeting for July 1-June 30 term

7. ORGANIZATION • Student Board Member— • Attends all SAC meetings • Attends all IBHE Board meetings • Not a Chair of Sectors or Subcommittees • Elected at Spring meeting for July 1-June 30 term • Nontraditional Student Board Member— (An undergraduate student who is at least 24 years old and represents the views of nontraditional students such as a person who is employed full time or is a parent) • Attends all SAC meetings • Attends all IBHE Board meetings • Not a Chair of Sectors or Subcommittees • Elected at Spring meeting for July 1-June 30 term

8. ORGANIZATION • Sectors • Public Universities • Public Community Colleges • Private Institutions • The sectors will organize, coordinate, and review issues relevant to their students, and report their actions back to the Committee of the Whole • The chairs preside over Sector meetings, and serve as a Voting Representative of the entire sector

9. ORGANIZATION • Subcommittees • Academic Affairs: instructional content and delivery of higher education • Access and Diversity: advancement of access and diversity, extending the voice of underrepresented student populations • Budget: research and represent students on higher education finances • Non-academic Affairs: administrative, legislative, and policy issues before the IBHE • Special operations: public relations liaison for SAC • Advocacy ( ad-hoc): information central for student voice with General Assembly

10. ORGANIZATION Subcommittees serve as legislative forums to organize, coordinate, and review issues before the Committee of the Whole • Subcommittee Chairs • Preside over Subcommittee meetings • Make a report of its activities at each Committee of the Whole • Appointed by SAC Chair

11. ORGANIZATION • Committee of the Whole • Executive Board AND • Student representatives from three sectors of Illinois higher education: • public universities, 13 voting members (1 sector chair, 12 institutional representatives) • public community colleges, 22 voting members (1 sector chair, first 21 colleges’ representatives in attendance at Committee of the Whole meeting) • private institutions, 13 voting members (1 sector chair, first 12 colleges’ representatives in attendance at Committee of the Whole meeting)

12. Student Representatives • Selection • School’s recognized student government determines the method for selection of Student Rep (and alternate) to the Committee of the Whole • Duties • Attend Committee of the Whole meetings • Attend respective Sector meetings and Subcommittee meetings • Represent opinion of their school’s students • Inform their school’s students of issues before the Committee of the Whole • Voting • Student Rep’s vote, considered the official position of the student body • Should have a completed Voting Rep Form submitted to SAC secretary

13. FAQs What can I expect at each meeting? • Networking with other Illinois student leaders • Discussing and advocating state policy issues affecting higher education from the students perspective • Discussing issues facing your campus and comparing notes with other campus leaders • Reviewing the activities of the Illinois Board of Higher Education

14. FAQs Who can attend the SAC meetings? • Any student attending a class at a higher education institution in Illinois is welcome to come to IBHE-SAC meetings. (We need all skills sets!) • Voting members are student government presidents or representatives designated by the colleges’ student government. • Advisors are welcomed to observe the meetings. (Guidance is welcomed) • IBHE staff liaison is present.

15. FAQs Tell me more about the meetings… • The IBHE-SAC meets, at a minimum, six times a year. Generally we meet the weekend before the IBHE Board meeting, in August, October, December, February, April, and June. The meetings are hosted at colleges throughout the state. • They are two day meetings, beginning at 8:00 am on Saturday and ending by 6:00 pm. • The Committee of the Whole meets on Sunday from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm. A light brunch and lunch is provided both days by the host campus. An informal meet and greet is held Friday night. • Suggested proper attire is college casual on Saturday, and business casual/professional on Sunday.