IGEFHS, the Best of Times: the Most Uncertain of Times

To borrow a modified famous line from Charles Dickens for the Illinois Global Economics & Finance High School (IGEFHS) these are the best of times, the most uncertain of times.

The Best of Times

IGEFHS held its second Summer Academy (IGEFSA) from June 20 – July 1, 2004 on the Northern Illinois University (NIU) campus. The two-week immersion experience engaged students and teachers in learning experiences including job shadowing, seminars, tours and projects exploring current trends and issues of business and finance. Fourteen Illinois high schools participated.

Students studied an overview of our market economy and the role of the U. S. in international trade and the global economy. They also participated in job shadow experiences with Bank of America, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Ernst & Young LLP, Jones Lang LaSalle, LaSalle Bank, Loop Capital Markets, Merrill Lynch & Company, Mesirow Financial, The Northern Trust Company, Protiviti, Rosenthal Collins Group, Treasurer’s Office – City of Chicago, and UBS.

Teacher participants were taught how to integrate economic concepts with financial and global applications across the high school curriculum. They were trained in implementing the International Economic Summit curriculum, a simulation based on the Model UN program.

IGEFSA instructors included: staff from several ICEE centers/offices of economic education - Sheryl Gallaher (GSU), Mary Anne Pettit (SIU-E), and Tom Smith (UIC); Jody Hoff, President of the Idaho Council on Economic Education; and Joanne Dempsey, Nancy Harrison, Beth Metzler and Terry Borg from the Illinois Council.

IGEFSA participants also had the opportunity to visit many of Chicago’s major financial institutions including the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Attendees also visited the United Center and Caterpillar Corporation’s regional facility located in Aurora.

The Most Uncertain of Times

The Illinois FY05 State Budget did not include funding for IGEFHS. The limited funds remaining through the close of the budget (June 30, 2005) insure grant commitments to current IGEFHS schools and supporting centers/offices of economic education, and permit Council staff to support school (1) curriculum revision efforts, (2) implementation of the International Economic Summit, and (3) teacher training efforts. Furthermore, Council staff will evaluate the grant’s impact on economic education as well as search out additional funding sources for the continuance of the IGEFHS.

For additional information on IGEFHS visit the website at: www.econed-il.org/IGEF