Cook County College
Teachers Union
Local 1600
An Elected Board for
City Colleges of Chicago
Chicago's community colleges deserve a board of trustees that is accountable to students, faculty, and the communities they serve — not appointed by and answerable to the mayor.
The Case for an Elected Board
Chicago is the only community college district in Illinois without an elected board.
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The City Colleges of Chicago serve over 70,000 students across seven campuses, yet Chicago is the only community college district in Illinois where the board of trustees is appointed by the mayor rather than elected by the public. Every other community college district in the state elects its board.
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An appointed board answers to the mayor. An elected board answers to the voters.
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Elected trustees would be obligated to advocate for the City Colleges within the community, not to manage political relationships with City Hall.
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Ten districts to represent all of Chicago.
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The Cook County College Teachers Union supports a model of 10 trustee districts designed to ensure that every neighborhood has a voice on the board and that the full breadth of the city is present where decisions are made.
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The precedent has already been set.
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In 2016, legislation was introduced in the General Assembly to create elected boards for both Chicago Public Schools and the City Colleges. The CPS bill is now law. The City Colleges bill remains stalled in the Illinois Senate — despite a supermajority of co-sponsors. If elected governance was right for Chicago's public schools, it is equally right for Chicago's public colleges.
Resources
Full analysis, full district model, and comparisons across Illinois
Video discussion of the proposal and legislative context
Explore the proposed 10 districts across Chicago
District explainer and demographic breakdowns