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Assistant Majority Leader Katie Stuart, who chairs the Illinois House Higher Education Committee and represents the 112th District, returned to her alma mater Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Wednesday, Oct. 22 to talk about college affordability, student access and the state’s role in sustaining public higher education.

The presentation was part of the Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach’s Lifelong Learning Series in the Morris University Center’s Mississippi/Illinois Room.

Stuart opened by acknowledging her personal ties to SIUE and the region, then spent much of the hour highlighting ways the state and its universities are working to make degrees more attainable for Illinois families.

“I do want to give our institutions, every single one of our nine systems across the state, credit,” said Stuart. “Everyone has at least some kind of program that basically makes it tuition free for any family or any individual under a certain income level. They are trying to meet the need of our lowest-income individuals…I want to make it clear that our institutions are trying to also fight this problem of expensive tuition, but it’s not easy.”

Stuart also emphasized the expansion of state initiatives such as the merit-based AIM HIGH scholarship and the direct-admission program, which collectively help simplify the path to higher education.

“We came up with the AIM HIGH scholarship. It’s merit-based. Every institution gets to decide how they want to define merit... They know their student population. They know how to reach the best number of people.”

“This year, we started a new program for direct admission. Students will get a letter from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission that tells them, because of their progress in high school, they are granted admission to several institutions. Making it free is a big deal. Another thing we did was make the FAFSA mandatory to graduate from high school. Lots of students leave money on the table and don’t realize how affordable college can be.”

She emphasized the importance of continued investment in higher education, not only to maintain affordability but also to ensure institutions have the resources to serve students well.

“We’ve got to continue to fund and prioritize state funding so that universities don’t have to raise tuition,” Stuart added. “We could do a lot to make that more efficient so the use of dollars can translate into lower costs for students.”

Audience questions ranged from international enrollment to faculty tenure. Attendees praised the candor of the discussion.

“It was better than I expected—very honest,” said community member Mike Kulier of Granite City. “She didn’t dodge any questions.”

Before concluding, Stuart expanded the discussion to the broader ecosystem of support—emphasizing how employers can help sustain higher education through stronger workforce partnerships, while also acknowledging what it means to be an average student navigating those realities.

“If more people now have to go, it should be easier to be able to afford to go to school, but it is infinitely harder to do,” said Stuart. “I'm very hopeful for the future. I do think that we can do things that drive down costs, make it more manageable and keep those opportunities available no matter what your income level is.”

In a room built for questions, Stuart thanked the Lifelong Learners and provided clarity that access isn’t an abstract promise—it’s a set of levers Illinois can choose to pull.

“Much of my life has been spent inside the classroom, whether as a student, teacher, or professor, and the most important lesson I gained was that learning should never end,” said Stuart. “The people I met with today reflect this value, and have shown a dedication and willingness to continue growing and to help others grow. There’s no question higher education faces challenges, and too many students are facing an uphill battle as college prices continue to rise. That’s why we spent the day discussing MAP, AIM HIGH, and other critical grant programs that can make higher education more affordable for more students. Lifelong learners, whether it’s through academic pursuits, community involvement, or advocacy, are making a tangible difference in our country. We need to do what we can in Springfield to support learners and create greater opportunity.”

The Lifelong Learning Series, presented by the Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach, convenes weekly on Wednesdays during the fall and spring term with expert guests offering insight across history, culture, health, current events and more. Learn more about membership and upcoming sessions through the Lifelong Learning Institute.

PHOTO: State Rep. Katie Stuart