Public Accountability Report Public Accountability Report

2025 Civil Service System for Higher Education
Mission Statement The State Universities Civil Service System (University System) is tasked with the oversight and regulation of the human resources functions of the state’s public universities and higher education agencies. The State Universities Civil Service Act requires the University System to utilize a “sound program of personnel administration” to ensure that hiring for civil service positions be based solely on merit and fitness. The University System is committed to fostering relationships that make the achievement of our legislative mandate and the teaching and research missions of the state’s public universities and higher education agencies possible.
Program Goals and Objectives
  1. To develop, administer, and maintain a comprehensive program of human resource administration at state universities of higher education and at certain allied agencies, in accordance with statutory and legal requirements.
    1. To efficiently and effectively manage a comprehensive classification plan and related employment protocols.
    2. To effectively enforce and maintain, and provide interpretation of, the Act, the Code, policies, and procedures.
    3. To fulfill our legislatively mandated role as the convening authority for contested discharge and demotion matters.
    4. To provide a wide array of constituent services, including training, response to inquiries and requests, coordination of advisory committees, and board relations.
    5. To continue and improve audit compliance activities consistent with regulatory requirements.
Source of Funds General Revenue Fund Statutory Authority 110 ILCS 70/36b et seq.
Fiscal Year 2026 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2025 Actual Fiscal Year 2025 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2024 Actual Fiscal Year 2023 Actual
Input Indicators
Total expenditures - all sources (in thousands) $ 1,510.0 $ 1,154.3 $ 1,444.5 $ 1,103.1 $ 1,063.3
Total expenditures - state appropriated funds (in thousands) $ 1,510.0 $ 1,154.3 $ 1,444.5 $ 1,103.1 $ 1,063.3
Average monthly full-time equivalents 15.0 13.0 15.0 10.0 10.0
Output Indicators
Discharge and demotion forms filed 42.0 45.0 40.0 33.0 42.0
Classification reviews 1.0 5.0 1.0 1.0 2.0
Number of civil service examinations administered 59,000 57,601 53,000 52,646 38,658
Number of salary data system transactions 3,000 3,058 2,900 2,820 2,949
Personnel transactions audited (a) 40,000 0.0 64,000 16,201 66,548
Classifications/examinations new, reviewed/revised, or deleted 20.0 3.0 20.0 16.0 591.0
Other personnel transactions 200.0 196.0 225.0 198.0 305.0
Police Sergeant Oral Boards conducted 30.0 29.0 35.0 22.0 30.0
Outcome Indicators
Appeals - hearings administered 9.0 8.0 6.0 6.0 9.0
Examination pass percentage 99.00% 99.82% 99.00% 99.80% 99.36%
Total classifications managed 870.0 874.0 870.0 873.0 876.0
Compliance audits conducted 10.0 0.0 4.0 2.0 6.0
Number of employees served 63,000 62,762 64,000 63,652 62,406
Number of civil service employees served 26,000 25,133 26,000 25,810 24,667
Elongated/structured oral boards conducted 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 2.0
Footnotes
As a result of the turnover of senior staff in the compliance division, the agency re-evaluated the effectiveness of the audit program. We established new processes and criteria in keeping with current best practices in the field. The revamped program will enable University System employers to comply more effectively with the requirements of the State Universities Civil Service Act and its associated Administrative Rules.

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