The Illinois House of Representatives weighed in Thursday on the failed social work program at Governors State University, ordering the Board of Higher Education to investigate why 77 students wasted their time and money earning degrees that have turned out to be inferior.
“We don’t do public floggings, but at this point, we want to know what can we learn and do to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” said Rep. Judy Erwin, a Chicago Democrat who leads the House Higher Education Committee.
The House called for the inquiry by passing a resolution that instructs state higher education officials to determine why administrators at Governors State allowed students to take a master’s degree social work course that was not accredited. A March 15 deadline was set for the findings.
The school in south suburban University Park has been embroiled in controversy since last year when students in the social work program learned their degrees were tainted because they were enrolled in a program that was denied standard accreditation. It was the second time in less than 2 years that the school was accused of creating programs without having proper authorization.
“This resolution gives the political will of the legislature to say we want some answers and we want them sooner, rather than later,” Erwin said.
Students, who spent more than $20,000 on tuition, say school officials repeatedly misled them into believing the accreditation process was moving forward and would give them recognized degrees. They have hired a lawyer to help recover tuition and possibly damages.
“They have degrees,” Erwin said. “They hold the piece of paper from Governors State, but they don’t hold the capacity to take the state licensing exam.”
University President Stuart Fagan, who took the post after a period of turmoil under a previous administrator, is working to improve the school’s credibility. He has called the situation “deeply regrettable for the students and the university.”
