The Faculty Senate agreed in support of an initiative proposed by another Eastern council Tuesday.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education advisory council is making a motion to the IBHE to add a seventh goal to what the board calls The Illinois Commitment, one of several issues discussed.

The commitment was adopted in 1999 and deals with values in Illinois education.

One goal is now being acted out with a testing pilot project fueled by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The pilot is introducing to Illinois standardized testing, similar to those given kindergarten through 12th grade, and will be in five states including Illinois. It will be optional to private and public universities.

English professor Bonnie Irwin told the senate about the seventh goal: “The collective efforts of Illinois colleges and universities will enhance and enrich the quality of life for all Illinois citizens.”

“The Illinois Commitment is a statement of the values of higher education in Illinois … adding this goal adds another value,” said associate psychology professor Steve Scher, senate member.

The council would be content with the IBHE not admitting the proposed goal into the commitment statement, “at least to get this attitude in the document … that was the bottom line” even if it’s not added as a goal, Irwin said.

The IBHE advisory council also recently discussed the existence of the Illinois Community College Board, she said.

“We had a very long conversation as to if we really need two … boards in Illinois,” she said.

Irwin said council members questioned if it was necessary for the ICCB to have two voices, one also through the IBHE, but no recommendation was made on the issue.

Irwin, also on the university faculty development committee, told the senate the committee was working toward moving the faculty development office.

The committee has asked the office be moved from continuing education to the department of academic affairs.

The committee also previously asked for more gathering space and their own Web site, she said.

A survey will be distributed to all faculty, including non-tenured, toward the end of March on faculty needs or goals and activities to to fulfill the needs.

“We are still trying to define faculty development,” Irwin said. “We don’t have a clear definition but we know it when we see it.”