The Illinois Board of Higher Education created and charged the Committee to Study Underserved Areas with the task of examining the issues and developing recommendations concerning areas of the state in need of additional educational services. Specifically, this committee report discusses the following concerns: (1) the Board of Higher Education's authority, policies, and procedures that affect underserved areas, including the approval and review of off-campus programs; (2) the needs that exist in underserved areas of the state; (3) the most effective means of delivering programs to underserved areas; (4) institutional collaboration and coordination in the planning and delivery of programs to underserved areas; and (5) appropriate models that are tailored to different populations and regional economies. The report concludes with the Committee's recommendations in the areas of program coordination in the state's geographical regions, criteria for approval of off-campus units of instruction, the improvement of the quality and cost-effectiveness of off-campus programs, and policy directives for capitalizing upon the capabilities of telecommunications-based instructional delivery systems. Appendices provide a list of committee members, a list of the papers presented to the Committee, figures and directories pertaining to underserved areas, and the state-funded programs targeting underserved areas. (GLR)