State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, has been appointed the new Minority Spokesperson on the Higher Education-Appropriations Committee for the 2021-2023 legislative session. Higher Ed-Approp is the House committee that oversees the budget of state universities including NIU. Rep. Keicher has served on the committee since July 2018.
As Minority Spokesperson, Keicher will be the leading Republican on the committee as they commence work on the FY2022 budget that will determine higher education funding for the 2021-2022 academic year.
“The students, faculty and staff of Northern Illinois University, Waubonsee College and Kishwaukee College deserve to have a strong voice on funding decisions made in Springfield that have a direct impact on our universities and community colleges,” Keicher said. “I am committed to leveraging my new role as spokesperson on the higher education appropriations committee to be an effective advocate for NIU & Waubonsee and Kish in this critical year. I am a proud NIU alum who understands first-hand the challenges faced by students who pay their own way to earn a degree. My focus will be on strengthening our MAP Grant program and preserving generational opportunities families like mine have enjoyed in pursuit of their education via state university programs and community colleges.
“Northern Illinois University is the lifeblood of our community and the cornerstone around which to build a more economically robust DeKalb region that provides jobs and opportunity in the welcoming and inclusive environment that we cherish and has come to define the NIU experience. Positive things are on the horizon if we continue to work together and communicate with each other on how to emerge from the pandemic stronger and more united in our goals than ever before.”
Representative Keicher serves the 70th District, which includes most of DeKalb County along with portions of western Kane County and eastern Boone County.