The Regency universities, including NIU, are continuing their efforts to push for a statewide tax increase by informing the public of the need for higher education funding next year.

Board of Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves said advocacy initiatives for a tax hike by the higher education community are “off to a good start.” He said compared to last year’s campaign, efforts by higher education leaders are “better organized, more coordinated and better planned.

“Although it is too early for outright endorsements, this year holds some positive prospects,” Groves said. He said he received positive responses to higher education’s plight.

At the Regents’ meeting March 24, Groves, NIU President John LaTourette, Illinois State President Lloyd Watkins and Sangamon State University Vice President Michael Ayers presented the campaign efforts to the board members.

Groves said at the university level there has been information circulated about the situation including an “appeal for political action.” In addition, he said efforts will be made to contact major providers of the universities to urge their support of a tax increase.

At the system-head level, Groves said the Regents have been meeting with various state constituents and groups of legislators. “We plan to meet with all legislative leadership,” he said.

LaTourette said efforts by NIU to promote awareness of the situation and to urge students and parents to write their legislators include advertisements and an information packet for faculty members.

He said the packet will include news articles and other information about the needed tax increase. The information will be used by faculty members to explain the situation to their students on Day of Action II April 13.

In addition, LaTourette said NIU’s President’s Advisory Council, which is made up of 16 area businessmen, is planning a meeting with legislators in Springfield for late April or early May. He also said he and his staff have been meeting with some legislators on a one-on-one basis and in small groups to urge their support.

Although LaTourette said the campaign for a tax increase has gained “momentum,” he said, “Now is a critical period. We don’t want to peak too early when bringing this issue to the legislators.”

NIU also has created a task force on educational quality to work on other campaign activities, LaTourette said.

Watkins said efforts at ISU also involve the creation of a task force called “Invest in Illinois Task Force.” He said the task force developed and distributed a facts booklet about the situation to deans and other members of the university community.

Additional activities at ISU include meetings with alumni, parents and legislators and alumni mailings, Watkins said. He said letters will be sent to about 300 influential citizens in their region of Illinois to urge their support.

At SSU, efforts include plans to approach the business community about the situation and the impact it has on employment in the area, Ayers said. In addition, the university has been utilizing its graduates with leadership positions on the legislative staff within in the state capitol to influence the legislators, he said.