Quinn regularly plugs Illinois’ network of 48 community colleges — the country’s third-largest community college system. For every student at at a public four-year-college in Illinois, two attend a community college, Quinn notes.
Giannoulias, 35, served as state treasurer and narrowly lost a race for U.S. Senate last year to Republican Mark Kirk. Giannoulias ran just two percentage points behind his Democratic ticket-mate, Quinn.
Since losing, Giannoulias has been putting together a political science class he will teach at Northwestern University this fall called “Campaigning versus governing.” He said Tuesday he plans to announce next month a full-time job he’ll be taking.
The part-time post as chairman of the community colleges board is unpaid.
“I’m incredibly excited to help reform our community colleges here in Illinois,” Giannoulias said. “Putting Americans back to work is the single greatest challenge facing our country. A well-educated work force is crucial to that. This meshes my two passions: education and creating jobs.”
This and Sheila Simon’s efforts to visit all of the community colleges are a very good sign of an essential element of economic development being prioritiezed by Quinn.
Community colleges several important functions. They provide affordable education to students who can’t afford attending a full university and allows less mature students to remain at home while still making progress. They provide a variety of programs that improve skills prepare those who won’t go on to a full BA/BS for skilled work. They provide excellent places for students who need to rehabilitate their academic careers.
A higher profile chair can push these issues far more than the usual chairs who are competent professionals, but don’t have the same level of political access.
It’s a good move to stash Alexi, but the ICCB is a powerless entity. Community Colleges have school boards and local control and all the ICCB can do is offer recommendations. Still Barack’s not going to forget his court buddy.