Governor Quinn Signs Law to Increase Fiscal Responsibility at State Universities

CHICAGO - July 14, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law to increase fiscal responsibility at state universities in Illinois by limiting their use of search firms. This law will help ensure that universities capitalize on existing resources instead of automatically hiring search firms, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is the latest action taken by Governor Quinn to protect taxpayer money and ensure efficiency at our public universities.

"We want the best and brightest from across America to oversee our universities but recruiting should not come at the expense of the education of our students," Governor Quinn said. "Universities have a responsibility to maintain fiscal responsibility while making sure that students receive affordable, world-class educations."

Sponsored by Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), House Bill 5914 will allow state universities to hire external search firms only when hiring university presidents or when the current president and board of trustees prove there is a need for hiring guidance. The new law, which will further improve hiring practices, was designed to ensure that universities do no hire expensive search firms rather than using university leadership to conduct a search using existing resources.

"In this economic climate we can ill afford such extravagances, particularly when most universities in Illinois get by just fine without using them," said Rep. Rose. "I appreciate the Governor's interest in this issue and his signing of the bill today."

The law also requires state universities, including the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University and Western Illinois University, to implement policies for conducting hiring searches.

The new law goes into effect Jan. 1, and universities will have six months from Jan. 1 to implement search policies.