The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU is hosting its inaugural Renewing Illinois Summit.
Institute Director John Shaw says 35-40 students from 8 Illinois Universities will brainstorm about the future of Illinois, and how to improve the state.
"We thought it was particularly critical to look at it through the lens of university students, who are finishing up school and making decisions on first jobs and where they may move to - or stay. And just trying to figure out what would induce them to stay in Illinois and settle down, or what factors are forcing them to at least think about moving out of state."
Shaw says they plan to discuss the state budget and overall economic climate of the state, as well as the political culture and higher education.
"Looking at just our higher education system and seeing what has happened to drive so many high school seniors to go to other states and what factors we might want to take a look at there."
The summit runs Thursday and Friday on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus.
Shaw says they will write a report about their findings which they will provide to Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly.
