It is based on documents gathered from public offices, higher education institutions and relevant publications. Interviews with state officials, education administrators, board members, faculty, and staff took place in March and May of 1995. State Context Political Culture Issues for Higher Education Illinois, with nearly 12 million residents, ranks fifth among the case study states and sixth in the United States in the size of its population. Overall, Illinois anticipates static enrollments and static funding for higher education as the student population becomes more diverse and less prepared. Downsizing government and increasing productivity and efficiency are high priorities for the state.
Illinois residents are relatively affluent, young and well-educated.
As summarized in Table 1, Illinois ranks at or near the top of the study states in terms of per capita income and the proportion of high school graduates in the population. It has a relatively low proportion of its population in poverty compared to other study states. The state is about average among study states in potential tax revenues and the level of education for the general population. It is also about average in its high school dropout rate and the percentage of families who report that English is not spoken in the home. Unless otherwise noted, data are drawn from Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac 43, no.