The Illinois Board of Higher Education addressed concerns about an academic program-cutting process last Thursday at its regular meeting.

The IBHE is evaluating programs based on the Priority, Quality and Productivity guidelines. The guidelines generate numbers by which programs can be compared and judged. Programs with numbers below the state averages could be cut.

The PQP initiative has caused substantial concerns on state college campuses.

IBHE member Molly D’Esposito said there is a fear on some campuses that universities will not make the Oct. 1 deadline that requires reports from all schools on what programs they recommend for consolidation, reduction or elimination.

IBHE Chairman Arthur Quern said, “The dates are set to keep the process moving. If progress isn’t made, it will be done for us by someone outside the world of higher education.”

“I will be a firm respecter of the process as long as it moves towards progress,” he added.

Some critics of the universities said they feel the schools are stonewalling and trying to keep the status quo for as long a possible. D’Esposito said the universities are not trying to do this but added, “If we move too quickly, the price will be lawsuits and unionization.”

Quern said the universities are evaluating their programs from the bottom or campus-level up, while the IBHE is evaluating programs from the top or statewide level down.

Brewster Parker, IBHE member and Board of Regents chairman, asked if the intent of the IBHE was to take the initiative of the process away from the universities.

Quern said the IBHE was not trying to take the initiative away from the universities. “But clearly we are going to indicate what we think should be done,” Quern said.

IBHE member Rey Brune said that streamlining will free up a lot of money for teacher salary increases. However, he also pointed out the IBHE will become a “referee” in the future between state schools.

IBHE member Ramon Martinez said he noticed that when the IBHE guidelines are applied to some areas, actual increases in need are shown. “Perhaps in some of these discussions we should increase demand instead of decreasing supply,” he said.

Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves said the IBHE should perhaps look at what needs to be done instead of simply demand and numbers.

University of Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry said there is probably savings to be made through the process, but not significant savings.

Ikenberry said, “We may mislead ourselves by thinking there will be a bonanza of savings. My view is that this document raises questions, not conclusions.”

The guidelines include categories like the number of majors in a program, the program’s cost and the amount of general education hours generated in the programs.

The IBHE now is looking at programs on an individual basis. Universities also are looking at their individual programs and will make their reports to the IBHE staff Oct. 1. The staff will present recommendations to the IBHE in time for the Oct. 6 meeting at College of Lake County in Grayslake.