This document consists of two reports on Illinois higher education. The first, "The Illinois Articulation Initiative: Annual Report 2002-2003," discusses the current status of the Illinois Articulation Imitative (IAI), which was designed to ease transfer for students among Illinois colleges and universities. May 2003 marked the end of the fifth year of implementation. In addition to the adoption of the General Education Core Curriculum, the articulation initiative has convened 27 panels to study the issues involved in articulation. This annual report reviews the current status of the IAI, highlights the activities of the past year, and discusses some considerations for the future. The second report, "Salaries and Fringe Benefits at Illinois Colleges and Universities," presents an analysis of full-time faculty salaries and nonsalary benefits at Illinois public and private colleges and universities. Part A presents an analysis of faculty and civil service salaries for full-time employees at Illinois public and independent colleges and universities, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, and higher education agencies for fiscal years 1999 through 2003. Part B examines the cost of fringe benefits for full-time faculty at public and independent colleges and universities. An appendix describes data sources, comparison groups, and methods for comparisons for the salary studies. (SLD)