Illinois may have a future in expanding baccalaureate degree options at community colleges across the state but Southern Illinois University Carbondale is remaining focused on the existing partnerships they already have with local community colleges.
Chancellor Lane and the SIU system are neither lobbying for, or against House Bill 3717 and its resolution in favor of expanding degree offerings.
Chancellor Lane says right now it's just a lot of discussions.
"I think it's just discussions, but there's the word opposition that sometimes comes off a little strong," Lane says. "There's a lot of discussions that are happening at the state level."
While the future is still uncertain SIU Chancellor Austin Lane says the university is staying focused on figuring what is the best course of action and what direction they should be going in terms of transfer students.
Currently, the university is partnered with local community colleges in their Saluki Step-Ahead program, SIU wants to make sure transfer students are getting the most out of the university and making sure their transfer credits are actually counted towards their degrees.
