- Published: Wednesday, July 18, 2018 02:58 PM
CHICAGO – Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) has called the first-ever meeting of the Special Committee on Supplier Diversity to examine state universities’ commitment to including minority- and female-owned businesses in their contract selection.
Many public universities, including the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University, did not come close to meeting the goal to spend 20 percent of their contract dollars on minority- and female-owned businesses.
The purpose of this hearing is to find out why the universities fell so short and how they will succeed in achieving their Business Enterprise Program goals in the future.
“It is unacceptable and wrong that so many of our public universities would fail so miserably at meeting their goals to do business with women and minorities,” Sandoval said. “If women and minorities are good enough to pay the taxes and the tuition to keep these universities in business they are certainly good enough to do business with them as well.”
Representatives from several of the state’s public universities will be in attendance to discuss their commitment to the procurement goals established by the BEP, and to identify areas of improvement regarding the utilization of minority suppliers in the state procurement process.
“I look forward to hearing plans, not excuses, from university leadership," Sandoval said.
The meeting is scheduled for noon Tuesday, July 24 in room C600 of the Michael A. Bilandic Building at 160 N. LaSalle St. in Chicago. The media and the public are welcome.
Who: Senate Special Committee on Supplier Diversity
What: Public hearing to question Illinois’ public universities regarding their commitment to the procurement goals established by the Business Enterprise Program, and to identify areas of improvement regarding the utilization of minority suppliers in the state procurement process.
When: 12 p.m., Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Where: Michael A. Bilandic Building, Room C600, 160 N LaSalle St., Chicago 60601