SB1865eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1865 Engrossed LRB100 09783 NHT 19953 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Credit for Prior Learning Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Community college" means a public community college that is included in the definition of "Community Colleges" under Section 1-2 of the Public Community College Act.

"Credit for prior learning" means the evaluation and assessment of a student's life learning through employment, training, and experiences outside an academic environment from which skills that comprise terminal objectives are mastered to an acceptable degree of proficiency for college credit, certification, or advanced standing toward further education or training.

"Public university" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, or any other public university or college, other than a community college, now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly.

Section 10. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to accomplish all of the following:

(1) To reduce college costs.

(2) To speed the time to certificate and degree completion consistent with this State's completion agenda.

(3) To facilitate the transition into postsecondary education for non-traditional students.

(4) To offer opportunities for improving degree attainment for underserved student populations, particularly underserved non-traditional students.

Section 15. Policies and procedures.

(a) Each public university shall submit its policies and procedures for students to earn credit for prior learning to the Board of Higher Education. At a minimum, these procedures shall include a listing of the types of documentation acceptable to the public university and the dates of inclusion for which prior learning is acceptable.

(b) Each community college shall submit its policies and procedures for students to earn credit for prior learning to the Illinois Community College Board. At a minimum, these procedures shall include a listing of the types of documentation acceptable to the community college and the dates of inclusion for which prior learning is acceptable.

Section 90. Rules.

(a) The Board of Higher Education shall adopt rules to permit public universities to award credit for prior learning after the assessment of prior learning experiences for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all terminal objectives for a specific course or courses.

(b) The Illinois Community College Board shall adopt rules to permit community colleges to award credit for prior learning after the assessment of prior learning experiences for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all terminal objectives for a specific course or courses.