101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3644

 

Introduced 2/14/2020, by Sen. Rachelle Crowe

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 305/8  from Ch. 144, par. 29
110 ILCS 520/8e  from Ch. 144, par. 658e
110 ILCS 660/5-85
110 ILCS 665/10-85
110 ILCS 670/15-85
110 ILCS 675/20-85
110 ILCS 680/25-85
110 ILCS 685/30-85
110 ILCS 690/35-85

    Amends various Acts relating to the admission of students to public universities in Illinois. Relative to the 15 units of high school coursework that each student must satisfactorily complete for admission to a university, adds agricultural sciences as a course option to the required 3 years of science category and agricultural education as a course option to the required 2 years of electives category.


LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3644LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    AN ACT concerning higher education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
5changing Section 8 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 305/8)  (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
7    Sec. 8. Admissions.
8    (a) (Blank).
9    (b) In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
10student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
11any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
12such student also has satisfactorily completed:
13        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
14    the following 5 categories:
15            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
16        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
17        years may be collegiate level instruction;
18            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
19        and government);
20            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
21        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
22        fundamentals of computer programming);
23            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or

 

 

SB3644- 2 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1        agricultural sciences); and
2            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
3        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
4        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
5        or art;
6        (2) except that institutions may admit individual
7    applicants if the institution determines through
8    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
9    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
10    education courses and courses taken in a charter school
11    established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
12    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
13    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
14    acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
15    The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall
16    not discriminate in the University's admissions process
17    against an applicant for admission because of the
18    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
19    under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
20    admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
21    complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
22    high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
23    who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance
24    programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
25    providing that in either case, the institution
26    incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum

 

 

SB3644- 3 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    courses or other academic activities that compensate for
2    course deficiencies; and
3        (3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
4    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
5    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
6    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
7    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
8    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
9    (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
10recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
11coursework required by subsection (b).
12    (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
13scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
14shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
15a prerequisite to admission.
16    (e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
17process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to
18submit an application for admission to the University as a
19freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the
20veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The
21University may request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs
22confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged
23veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.
24(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
25    Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management

 

 

SB3644- 4 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
 
2    (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
3    Sec. 8e. Admissions.
4    (a) Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
5then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
6departments or colleges of the University unless such student
7also has satisfactorily completed:
8        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
9    the following 5 categories:
10            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
11        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
12        years may be collegiate level instruction;
13            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
14        and government);
15            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
16        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
17        fundamentals of computer programming);
18            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
19        agricultural sciences); and
20            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
21        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
22        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
23        or art;
24        (2) except that institutions may admit individual
25    applicants if the institution determines through

 

 

SB3644- 5 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
2    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
3    education courses and courses taken in a charter school
4    established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
5    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
6    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
7    acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
8    The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University shall
9    not discriminate in the University's admissions process
10    against an applicant for admission because of the
11    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
12    under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
13    admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
14    complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
15    high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
16    who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance
17    programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
18    providing that in either case, the institution
19    incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
20    courses or other academic activities that compensate for
21    course deficiencies; and
22        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
23    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
24    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
25    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
26    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

 

 

SB3644- 6 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
2    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
3recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
4coursework required by subsection (a).
5    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
6scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
7shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
8a prerequisite to admission.
9    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
10which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
11application for admission to the University as a freshman
12student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
13active duty during the fall semester. The University may
14request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
15status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
16was on active duty during the fall semester.
17(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
18    Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
19changing Section 5-85 as follows:
 
20    (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
21    Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
22    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
23of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
24unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

 

 

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1        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
2    the following 5 categories:
3            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
4        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
5        years may be collegiate level instruction;
6            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
7        and government);
8            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
9        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
10        fundamentals of computer programming);
11            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
12        agricultural sciences); and
13            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
14        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
15        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
16        or art;
17        (2) except that Chicago State University may admit
18    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
19    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
20    coursework taken, including vocational education courses
21    and courses taken in a charter school established under
22    Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
23    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
24    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
25    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
26    Trustees of Chicago State University shall not

 

 

SB3644- 8 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    discriminate in the University's admissions process
2    against an applicant for admission because of the
3    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
4    under Article 27A of the School Code. Chicago State
5    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
6    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
7    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
8    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
9    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
10    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
11    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
12    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
13    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
14        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
15    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
16    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
17    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
18    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
19    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
20    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
21recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
22coursework required by subsection (a).
23    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
24scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
25shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
26a prerequisite to admission.

 

 

SB3644- 9 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
2which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
3application for admission to the University as a freshman
4student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
5active duty during the fall semester. The University may
6request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
7status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
8was on active duty during the fall semester.
9(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
10    Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
11by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
 
12    (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
13    Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
14    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
15of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
16University unless such student also has satisfactorily
17completed:
18        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
19    the following 5 categories:
20            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
21        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
22        years may be collegiate level instruction;
23            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
24        and government);

 

 

SB3644- 10 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
2        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
3        fundamentals of computer programming);
4            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
5        agricultural sciences); and
6            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
7        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
8        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
9        or art;
10        (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
11    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
12    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
13    coursework taken, including vocational education courses
14    and courses taken in a charter school established under
15    Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
16    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
17    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
18    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
19    Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
20    discriminate in the University's admissions process
21    against an applicant for admission because of the
22    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
23    under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
24    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
25    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
26    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally

 

 

SB3644- 11 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
2    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
3    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
4    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
5    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
6    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
7        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
8    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
9    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
10    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
11    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
12    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
13    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
14recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
15coursework required by subsection (a).
16    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
17scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
18shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
19a prerequisite to admission.
20    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
21which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
22application for admission to the University as a freshman
23student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
24active duty during the fall semester. The University may
25request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
26status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who

 

 

SB3644- 12 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1was on active duty during the fall semester.
2(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
3    Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended
4by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
 
5    (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
6    Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
7    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
8of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
9University unless such student also has satisfactorily
10completed:
11        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
12    the following 5 categories:
13            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
14        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
15        years may be collegiate level instruction;
16            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
17        and government);
18            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
19        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
20        fundamentals of computer programming);
21            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
22        agricultural sciences); and
23            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
24        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),

 

 

SB3644- 13 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
2        or art;
3        (2) except that Governors State University may admit
4    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
5    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
6    coursework taken, including vocational education courses
7    and courses taken in a charter school established under
8    Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
9    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
10    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
11    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
12    Trustees of Governors State University shall not
13    discriminate in the University's admissions process
14    against an applicant for admission because of the
15    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
16    under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
17    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
18    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
19    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
20    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
21    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
22    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
23    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
24    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
25    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
26        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework

 

 

SB3644- 14 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
2    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
3    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
4    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
5    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
6    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
7recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
8coursework required by subsection (a).
9    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
10scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
11shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
12a prerequisite to admission.
13    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
14which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
15application for admission to the University as a freshman
16student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
17active duty during the fall semester. The University may
18request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
19status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
20was on active duty during the fall semester.
21(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
22    Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended by
23changing Section 20-85 as follows:
 
24    (110 ILCS 675/20-85)

 

 

SB3644- 15 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
2    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
3of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State University
4unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
5        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
6    the following 5 categories:
7            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
8        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
9        years may be collegiate level instruction;
10            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
11        and government);
12            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
13        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
14        fundamentals of computer programming);
15            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
16        agricultural sciences); and
17            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
18        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
19        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
20        or art;
21        (2) except that Illinois State University may admit
22    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
23    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
24    coursework taken, including vocational education courses
25    and courses taken in a charter school established under
26    Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant

 

 

SB3644- 16 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
2    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
3    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
4    Trustees of Illinois State University shall not
5    discriminate in the University's admissions process
6    against an applicant for admission because of the
7    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
8    under Article 27A of the School Code. Illinois State
9    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
10    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
11    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
12    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
13    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
14    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
15    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
16    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
17    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
18        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
19    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
20    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
21    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
22    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
23    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
24    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
25recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
26coursework required by subsection (a).

 

 

SB3644- 17 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
2scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
3shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
4a prerequisite to admission.
5    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
6which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
7application for admission to the University as a freshman
8student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
9active duty during the fall semester. The University may
10request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
11status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
12was on active duty during the fall semester.
13(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
14    Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
15amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
 
16    (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
17    Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
18    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
19of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
20University unless such student also has satisfactorily
21completed:
22        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
23    the following 5 categories:
24            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and

 

 

SB3644- 18 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
2        years may be collegiate level instruction;
3            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
4        and government);
5            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
6        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
7        fundamentals of computer programming);
8            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
9        agricultural sciences); and
10            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
11        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
12        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
13        or art;
14        (2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
15    admit individual applicants if it determines through
16    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
17    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
18    education courses and courses taken in a charter school
19    established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
20    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
21    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
22    acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
23    The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University
24    shall not discriminate in the University's admissions
25    process against an applicant for admission because of the
26    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established

 

 

SB3644- 19 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    under Article 27A of the School Code. Northeastern Illinois
2    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
3    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
4    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
5    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
6    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
7    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
8    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
9    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
10    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
11        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
12    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
13    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
14    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
15    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
16    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
17    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
18recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
19coursework required by subsection (a).
20    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
21scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
22shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
23a prerequisite to admission.
24    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
25which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
26application for admission to the University as a freshman

 

 

SB3644- 20 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
2active duty during the fall semester. The University may
3request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
4status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
5was on active duty during the fall semester.
6(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
7    Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended
8by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
 
9    (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
10    Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
11    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
12of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
13University unless such student also has satisfactorily
14completed:
15        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
16    the following 5 categories:
17            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
18        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
19        years may be collegiate level instruction;
20            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
21        and government);
22            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
23        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
24        fundamentals of computer programming);

 

 

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1            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
2        agricultural sciences); and
3            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
4        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
5        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
6        or art;
7        (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
8    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
9    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
10    coursework taken, including vocational education courses
11    and courses taken in a charter school established under
12    Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
13    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
14    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
15    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
16    Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
17    discriminate in the University's admissions process
18    against an applicant for admission because of the
19    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
20    under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
21    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
22    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
23    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
24    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
25    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
26    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,

 

 

SB3644- 22 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
2    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
3    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
4        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
5    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
6    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
7    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
8    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
9    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
10    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
11recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
12coursework required by subsection (a).
13    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
14scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
15shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
16a prerequisite to admission.
17    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
18which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
19application for admission to the University as a freshman
20student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
21active duty during the fall semester. The University may
22request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
23status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
24was on active duty during the fall semester.
25(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 

 

 

SB3644- 23 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
2by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
 
3    (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
4    Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
5    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
6of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
7University unless such student also has satisfactorily
8completed:
9        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
10    the following 5 categories:
11            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
12        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
13        years may be collegiate level instruction;
14            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
15        and government);
16            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
17        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
18        fundamentals of computer programming);
19            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
20        agricultural sciences); and
21            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
22        may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
23        music, vocational education, agricultural education,
24        or art;
25        (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit

 

 

SB3644- 24 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
2    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
3    coursework taken, including vocational education courses
4    and courses taken in a charter school established under
5    Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
6    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
7    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
8    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
9    Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
10    discriminate in the University's admissions process
11    against an applicant for admission because of the
12    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
13    under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
14    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
15    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
16    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
17    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
18    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
19    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
20    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
21    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
22    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
23        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
24    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
25    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
26    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences

 

 

SB3644- 25 -LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b

1    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
2    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
3    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
4recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
5coursework required by subsection (a).
6    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
7scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
8shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
9a prerequisite to admission.
10    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
11which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
12application for admission to the University as a freshman
13student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
14active duty during the fall semester. The University may
15request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
16status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
17was on active duty during the fall semester.
18(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)