Higher Education, Board of
Board and Commission Details
Website
Function
The Board is the policy making, coordinating, and budgetary authority for Illinois public higher education prepares master plan for development, expansion, and utilization of public higher education facilities, and the curricula and standards in areas of teaching, research, and public services; establishes minimum admission standards.
Term
(a) The members of the Board whose appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate shall be selected for 6-year terms expiring on January 31 of odd numbered years. (b) The members of the Board shall continue to serve after the expiration of their terms until their successors have been appointed. (c) Vacancies on the Board in offices appointed by the Governor shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term. If the appointment is subject to Senate confirmation and the Senate is not in session or is in recess when the appointment is made, the appointee shall serve subject to subsequent Senate approval of the appointment. (d) Each student member shall serve a term of one year beginning on July 1 of each year and until a successor is appointed and qualified. (e) The member of the Board representing public university governing boards and the member of the Board representing private college and university boards of trustees, who are appointed by the Governor but not subject to confirmation by the Senate, shall serve terms of 3 years beginning on July 1.
Senate Confirmation
Yes
Party Affiliation
No more than 7 from the same political party, excluding the Chair
Qualifications
Illinois citizens knowledgeable or experienced in higher education problems.
Compensation
Expenses
Composition
The Board of Higher Education consists of 16 members as follows: - 10 members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; - 1 member of a public university governing board, appointed by the Governor without the advice and consent of the Senate; - 1 member of a private college or university board of trustees, appointed by the Governor without the advice and consent of the Senate; - the chairman of the Illinois Community College Board; - the chairman of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission; and - 2 student members selected by the recognized advisory committee of students of the Board of Higher Education, one of whom must be a non-traditional undergraduate student who is at least 24 years old and represents the views of non-traditional students, such as a person who is employed or is a parent. One of the 10 members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, must be a faculty member at an Illinois public university.
Chair
Designated by the Governor
Authority
110 ILCS 205/2
Member Names
| Name | Member Expiration | Member Since | Affiliation | Appointed By | Position | Title | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright, Jamel | 07/01/2026 | 05/31/2024 | Democrat | Governor | Member, Private University Representative | Tazewell | |
| Walker, Garth | 01/31/2027 | 09/08/2023 | Democrat | Governor | Member, Public Member | Cook | |
| Kothari, Pranav | 01/31/2031 | 08/02/2019 | Democrat | Governor | Member, Public Member | Chair | Cook |
| Bush, Sharon | 01/31/2027 | 09/25/2023 | Independent | Governor | Member, Public Member | Cook | |
| Evans, Andrea | 01/31/2025 | 08/02/2019 | Democrat | Governor | Member, Public Member | Cook | |
| Herrero, Verónica | 01/31/2027 | 05/31/2024 | Democrat | Governor | Member, Public Member | Cook | |
| Blount, Carter | Board of Higher Ed Student Advisory Committee | Member, Traditional Student Member | |||||
| VACANT | 01/31/2025 | Governor | Member, Public Member | ||||
| Garrison, Jennifer | 01/31/2025 | 08/02/2019 | Independent | Governor | Member, Public Member | Fayette | |
| Zarnikow, Eric | Statute | Ex Officio Member, Illinois Student Assistance Commission | |||||
| Botman, Mara | Statute | Ex Officio Member, Illinois Community College Board | |||||
| Noble, Magnus | Board of Higher Ed Student Advisory Committee | Member, Non-traditional Student Member | |||||
| Sharma, Subhash Chander | 01/31/2029 | 04/18/2025 | Governor | Member, Public Member | |||
| Heist, Nora Lee | 01/31/2027 | 04/07/2025 | Independent | Governor | Member, Public University Faculty Member | Coles | |
| Shaw, Kenneth | 01/31/2027 | 08/05/2019 | Democrat | Governor | Member, Public Member | Cook | |
| VACANT | 07/01/2026 | Governor | Member, Public University Representative |