A rally will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday in the first floor rotunda of the Capitol building in Springfield to advocate for support for higher education.

The Illinois Coalition to Invest in Higher Education, an umbrella group for colleges and universities and their supporters, is hosting the rally. According to a press release, “as the Legislature starts up its spring legislative session work, higher education advocates will be at the Capitol to remind them of the need for funding.”

The rally will be led by Dave Tretter of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities and will host several speakers who, according to the press release, “will explain how the long-running state budget impasse is affecting the campuses and those who depend on them.”

After the speeches, participants will walk through the Capitol to talk with legislators about the need for a funding resolution.

Speakers invited to attend the rally include Tom Cross, chairman of the Illinois Board of Higher Education; Jack Thomas, Western Illinois University president; and Eric Zarnikow, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

The rally follows a larger one that took place last April led by the Coalition near the Capitol.

Analicia Haynes can be reached at 581-2812 or achaynes@eiu.edu.