FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2025

Contact Information:
Kevin Hunsperger, executive director of public information & marketing
(618) 634-3270
kevinh@shawneecc.edu

OPINION
A Degree of Agreement: 
Why Illinois needs the Community College Baccalaureate

By Dr. TIM TAYLOR
President, Shawnee Community College

ULLIN, Illinois - In today’s divided political climate, finding common ground often feels out of reach. But every so often, a solution comes along that bridges red and blue, reflects the values of both parties, and speaks directly to the needs of everyday Illinoisans. The Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) is that solution.

It’s a policy bold enough to carry the red banner of fiscal responsibility and local control, the blue banner of equity and opportunity, and – here in deep Southern Illinois – the maroon of community commitment and practical action. At Shawnee Community College, we know firsthand what’s at stake and what’s possible.

For Illinois – especially in rural and underserved regions – allowing select community colleges to offer applied bachelor’s degrees is not just smart policy; it’s a necessary evolution in how we serve our students, meet workforce needs, and build resilient local economies.

The case for the CCB is compelling under both traditional Republican and Democratic values. When policy reflects both fiscal restraint and expanded opportunity, local control and equitable access, it deserves broad support.

A Conservative Case for the CCB: Efficiency, Self-Reliance, and Local Empowerment

The Republican platform has long championed local governance, fiscal responsibility, and workforce self-sufficiency. The CCB embodies each of these principles.

At Shawnee Community College, located in deep Southern Illinois, we serve a geographically large district where students often commute 30 to 60 miles to attend class. For many, relocating to attend a university is simply not an option. By offering applied bachelor’s degrees in high-need areas like operations management, data science, and allied health, we can help students advance their careers and incomes – without increasing state bureaucracy or taxpayer cost. 

We already have much of the infrastructure, faculty, and community trust. The CCB allows us to use existing resources more efficiently, giving place-bound students a pathway to prosperity that reflects the realities of their lives and responsibilities. It’s a cost-effective, locally governed solution that aligns perfectly with conservative principles.

A Progressive Case for the CCB: Equity, Access, and Economic Justice

From a traditional Democratic perspective, the CCB aligns with long-standing priorities around social mobility, educational equity, and economic empowerment.

Community colleges enroll the majority of first-generation college students, students of color, adult learners, and low-income residents in Illinois. Yet these same students face systemic barriers to completing a four-year degree – barriers made worse in rural districts like ours where the closest public university is 45 miles away. Many are working parents or caregivers who cannot uproot their lives to finish their education elsewhere.

The CCB helps level the playing field by delivering bachelor’s degrees directly into the communities that need them most. It’s a practical step toward reducing disparities in degree attainment and building a more inclusive economy – not just in Southern Illinois, but in dozens of rural and underserved regions across the state.

Addressing the Critics: Common Concerns, Real-World Rebuttals

Despite broad support, several criticisms are often raised. While worth considering, each falls short under scrutiny – especially when viewed through the lens of real communities like ours.

“It’s mission creep for community colleges.”
Not at all. Community colleges were created to serve local needs – and those needs have evolved. Offering applied bachelor’s degrees in targeted workforce fields does not change our mission; it fulfills it more fully. We are not trying to become research universities. We are working to meet critical labor shortages and support economic development in our own backyards.

“It will duplicate programs offered by universities.”
In many parts of Illinois, including our district, there is no university offering these programs nearby, or the university is not producing enough graduates to meet local demand. In fields like cybersecurity, emerging digital technologies (AI, VR, MR, etc.), nursing and teacher education, the shortage is not theoretical – it’s real and immediate. We don’t need duplication; we need complementary capacity. The CCB builds it, affordably and effectively.

“Community colleges can’t maintain bachelor’s-level quality.”
We already exceed quality expectations in the associate-degree programs we offer, many of which are subject to professional accreditation, licensure standards, and employer review. CCB programs would be subject to regional accreditation and state oversight, just like university programs. In other states, such as Florida and Washington, community college bachelor’s degrees have shown strong outcomes in both employment rates and student satisfaction.

“It’s an unfunded expansion that risks existing programs.”
In fact, CCB programs are typically self-sustaining through tuition, grants, and private sector partnerships. They are carefully scoped to ensure they don’t drain existing resources but rather add value to the institution and to the community. At Shawnee, for instance, offering a local applied bachelor’s degree in operations management; entrepreneurship could retain students currently lost to out-of-district options while attracting new adult learners who never would have enrolled otherwise.

“Why not just improve transfer pathways?”
We support strong transfer pathways and have dozens of articulation agreements. But in practice, only a small percentage of community college students who intend to transfer actually complete a bachelor’s degree. Barriers include distance, cost, childcare, and job constraints. The CCB provides another ladder—not a replacement, but a realistic option for the many students for whom transfer isn’t viable.

A Call to Act – Together
In rural Southern Illinois, our challenges are not unique – they are simply more visible. We face shortages of nurses, teachers, and skilled professionals. We serve students who are hardworking, resourceful, and determined – but often one barrier away from dropping out.

The Community College Baccalaureate is not a threat to the university system. It is not a partisan stunt. It is a practical, bipartisan solution that puts education, workforce readiness, and community prosperity within reach for thousands of Illinois residents.

This isn’t about red or blue. And it’s certainly not about politics as usual. It’s about doing what works – locally, responsibly, and urgently – for the people of this state. At Shawnee, we wear maroon with pride. But we believe in a future where red and blue come together to serve the public good.

I urge Illinois legislators from both sides of the aisle – along with employers, local governments, and education leaders – to support the CCB. Our students, neighbors, and friends don’t have time to wait for perfection. They need progress. And they deserve the chance to finish what they started – right here, at home.

Dr. Tim Taylor has worked in higher education for more than 36 years and serves as president of Shawnee Community College in Southern Illinois. He is a longtime advocate for rural workforce development, educational access, and bipartisan solutions that strengthen local communities.
 

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