Peoria Standard

Illinois State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) recently spoke in support of a new resolution that would extend application deadlines for Lincoln College students.

Sponsored by Butler in the House and Sen. Sally Turner in the Senate, House Joint Resolution 92 urges public and private universities and community colleges in the state to extend their application deadlines for students who were enrolled in Lincoln College, which announced it would be closing its doors, according to the Illinois General Assembly. House Joint Resolution 92 was filed on April 4 and was adopted by the House on April 8 and by the Senate on April 9.

Butler comment on the resolution during an April 8 debate on the House floor. 

"I really wish I didn't have to offer House Joint Resolution 92," Butler said. "But, I really thank my co-sponsors on this. Speaker Welch, who has shown an interest in this, Leader Durkin, Rep. Hammond, for her help on this and especially Chair Stewart for her assistance with this make sure we get this done." 

He said Lincoln College has been a "wonderful institution" as his brother and chief of staff graduated from the college.

"It's a true loss to the community for Lincoln College to close. Some of you are familiar with Lincoln College. Rep. West has visited there, and former Rep. Wallace visited there. This is a unique university in our state. It has almost 60% black and brown in the small community of Lincoln, Illinois. Fifty percent of the student population is black, largely coming from the city of Chicago and Cook County and the St. Louis Metropolitan area. You've got almost 70% MAP-eligible students, and over 60% PEL-eligible students. It's one of seven predominantly black universities in rural communities in the entire United States. It does a great thing by bringing kids from around the state into a small town like Lincoln to become educated and really see life in a different way," Butler said. "So with this announcement, as I said it's a huge blow to the community, the university employs about 150 full-time staff and faculty another 150 or so part-time. It's 300 jobs in a community of 15,000 people."

According to TrackBill, the bill calls on Illinois universities to "extend their application deadlines for students currently enrolled at Lincoln College who are unable to continue their education at their institution due to circumstances beyond their control."

The bill also urges Illinois universities to have any transcript fees and application fees waived for Lincoln students; to transfer applicable credits for Lincoln students, and to attempt to match or exceed the financial award letters, including scholarships, of Lincoln students.