Board of Commissioners of Cook County - File #: 25-2910

• File #: 25-2910
• Version: 2
• Name: UNNECESSARY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Approved
• File created: 5/19/2025
• In control: Finance Committee
• On agenda: 7/24/2025
• Final action: 9/18/2025
• Title: PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 25-2910 RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FROM COUNTY EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners is committed to promoting equitable access to employment opportunities across all departments, offices, and agencies under its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, many Cook County job classifications currently include degree requirements that are not mandated by law nor essential to the performance of job duties; and WHEREAS, the County recognizes that valuable skills and qualifications come in many forms, including direct experience, military service, apprenticeships, vocational training, certifications, and demonstrated ability-not just degrees; and WHEREAS, removing non-essential degree requirements is a critical step toward eliminating barriers to employment, expanding opportunity, and ensuring all applicants are judged based on their capabilities and potential; and WHEREAS, a skills-based appr...
• Sponsors: STANLEY MOORE

Date	Ver.	Action By	Motion	Result
9/18/2025	2	Board of Commissioners	approve as substituted	Pass
9/17/2025	1	Finance Committee	accept as substituted	Pass
9/17/2025	2	Finance Committee	recommend for approval as substituted	Pass
7/24/2025	1	Board of Commissioners	refer	Pass

title

PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 25-2910

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FROM COUNTY EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners is committed to promoting equitable access to employment opportunities across all departments, offices, and agencies under its jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, many Cook County job classifications currently include degree requirements that are not mandated by law nor essential to the performance of job duties; and

WHEREAS, the County recognizes that valuable skills and qualifications come in many forms, including direct experience, military service, apprenticeships, vocational training, certifications, and demonstrated ability-not just degrees; and

WHEREAS, removing non-essential degree requirements is a critical step toward eliminating barriers to employment, expanding opportunity, and ensuring all applicants are judged based on their capabilities and potential; and

WHEREAS, a skills-based approach to hiring better reflects the diverse talents of Cook County's workforce and helps ensure equitable and inclusive hiring practices; and

WHEREAS, Cook County aims to lead by example in embracing fair and inclusive hiring practices across all of its departments, offices, and agencies; and

WHEREAS, Cook County government desires its workforce to reflect the diversity of the broader county community; and

WHEREAS, Cook County Offices Under the President leads in the effort to require degrees where required by law or recognized as industry standards; and

WHEREAS, this resolution's purpose is to memorialize the work that the Cook County Offices Under the President is currently doing in order to present the County as an employer of choice and encourage the other County Agencies to adopt similar practices; and

WHEREAS, to show Cook County as a county of choice, the Board of Commissioners are requesting all Agencies in Cook County to follow similar steps in order to make Cook...