SB3081 EngrossedLRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

1    AN ACT concerning 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) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
10of the departments or colleges of the University unless such
11student also has satisfactorily completed:
12        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
13    the following 5 categories:
14            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
15        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
16        years may be collegiate level instruction;
17            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
18        and government);
19            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
20        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
21        fundamentals of computer programming);
22            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
23        agricultural sciences); and

 

 

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

 

 

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1    academic activities that compensate for course
2    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
14SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
15test as a prerequisite to admission.
16    (e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
17process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted
18to submit 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'
22Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably
23discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall
24semester.
25    (f) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
26University of Trustees shall provide all Illinois students

 

 

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1transferring from a public community college in this State
2with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions
3application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists,
4any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as
5part of the University's transfer admissions process. The
6University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically
7waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
8for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
9community college in this State. The University shall post
10this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
11Internet website.
12(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
13    Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management
14Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
 
15    (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
16    Sec. 8e. Admissions.
17    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
18of the departments or colleges of the University unless such
19student also has satisfactorily completed:
20        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
21    the following 5 categories:
22            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
23        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
24        years may be collegiate level instruction;

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1active duty during the fall semester. The University may
2request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
3status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
4was on active duty during the fall semester.
5    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
6University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
7from a public community college in this State with the
8University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
9waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
10forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
11University's transfer admissions process. The University is
12encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
13undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
14low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
15community college in this State. The University shall post
16this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
17Internet website.
18(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
19    Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
20changing Section 5-85 as follows:
 
21    (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
22    Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
23    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
24of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University

 

 

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1unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
2        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
3    the following 5 categories:
4            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
5        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
6        years may be collegiate level instruction;
7            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
8        and government);
9            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
10        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
11        fundamentals of computer programming);
12            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
13        agricultural sciences); and
14            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
15        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
16        Language), music, career and technical education,
17        agricultural education, or art;
18        (2) except that Chicago State University may admit
19    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
20    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
21    coursework taken, including career and technical education
22    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
23    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
24    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
25    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
26    high school courses required for admission. The Board of

 

 

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

 

 

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1test as a prerequisite to admission.
2    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
3which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
4application for admission to the University as a freshman
5student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
6active duty during the fall semester. The University may
7request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
8status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
9was on active duty during the fall semester.
10    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
11University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
12from a public community college in this State with the
13University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
14waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
15forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
16University's transfer admissions process. The University is
17encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
18undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
19low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
20community college in this State. The University shall post
21this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
22Internet website.
23(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
24    Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
25by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
2    Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
3    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
4of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
5University unless such student also has satisfactorily
6completed:
7        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
8    the following 5 categories:
9            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
10        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
11        years may be collegiate level instruction;
12            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
13        and government);
14            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
15        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
16        fundamentals of computer programming);
17            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
18        agricultural sciences); and
19            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
20        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
21        Language), music, career and technical education,
22        agricultural education, or art;
23        (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
24    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
25    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the

 

 

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

 

 

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1    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
2recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
3coursework required by subsection (a).
4    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
5scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
6SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
7test as a prerequisite to admission.
8    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
9which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
10application for admission to the University as a freshman
11student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
12active duty during the fall semester. The University may
13request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
14status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
15was on active duty during the fall semester.
16    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
17University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
18from a public community college in this State with the
19University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
20waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
21forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
22University's transfer admissions process. The University is
23encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
24undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
25low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
26community college in this State. The University shall post

 

 

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1this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
2Internet website.
3(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
4    Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended
5by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
7    Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
8    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
9of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
10University unless such student also has satisfactorily
11completed:
12        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
13    the following 5 categories:
14            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
15        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
16        years may be collegiate level instruction;
17            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
18        and government);
19            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
20        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
21        fundamentals of computer programming);
22            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
23        agricultural sciences); and
24            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language

 

 

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

 

 

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1        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
2    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
3    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
4    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
5    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
6    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
7    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
8recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
9coursework required by subsection (a).
10    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
11scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
12SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
13test as a prerequisite to admission.
14    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
15which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
16application for admission to the University as a freshman
17student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
18active duty during the fall semester. The University may
19request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
20status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
21was on active duty during the fall semester.
22    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
23University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
24from a public community college in this State with the
25University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
26waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or

 

 

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1forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
2University's transfer admissions process. The University is
3encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
4undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
5low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
6community college in this State. The University shall post
7this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
8Internet website.
9(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
10    Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended
11by changing Section 20-85 as follows:
 
12    (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
13    Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
14    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
15of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
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);

 

 

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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
7        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
8        Language), music, career and technical education,
9        agricultural education, or art;
10        (2) except that Illinois State 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 career and technical education
14    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
15    under 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 Illinois State 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. Illinois State
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

 

 

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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
18SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
19test as a 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

 

 

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1was on active duty during the fall semester.
2    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
3University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
4from a public community college in this State with the
5University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
6waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
7forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
8University's transfer admissions process. The University is
9encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
10undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
11low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
12community college in this State. The University shall post
13this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
14Internet website.
15(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
16    Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
17amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
 
18    (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
19    Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
20    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
21of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
22University unless such student also has satisfactorily
23completed:
24        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from

 

 

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

 

 

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1    the University's admissions process against an applicant
2    for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
3    charter school established under Article 27A of the School
4    Code. Northeastern Illinois University may also admit (i)
5    applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
6    minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
7    (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
8    admitted to the formal organized special assistance
9    programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
10    providing that in either case, the institution
11    incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
12    courses or other academic activities that compensate for
13    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
25SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
26test as a prerequisite to admission.

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 23 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 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    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
10University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
11from a public community college in this State with the
12University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
13waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
14forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
15University's transfer admissions process. The University is
16encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
17undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
18low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
19community college in this State. The University shall post
20this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
21Internet website.
22(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
23    Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is
24amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
 

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 24 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

1    (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
2    Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
3    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
4of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
5University unless such student also has satisfactorily
6completed:
7        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
8    the following 5 categories:
9            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
10        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
11        years may be collegiate level instruction;
12            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
13        and government);
14            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
15        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
16        fundamentals of computer programming);
17            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
18        agricultural sciences); and
19            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
20        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
21        Language), music, career and technical education,
22        agricultural education, or art;
23        (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
24    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
25    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
26    coursework taken, including career and technical education

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 25 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

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

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 26 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

1recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
2coursework required by subsection (a).
3    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
4scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
5SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
6test as a prerequisite to admission.
7    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
8which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
9application for admission to the University as a freshman
10student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
11active duty during the fall semester. The University may
12request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
13status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
14was on active duty during the fall semester.
15    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
16University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
17from a public community college in this State with the
18University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
19waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
20forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
21University's transfer admissions process. The University is
22encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
23undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
24low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
25community college in this State. The University shall post
26this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 27 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

1Internet website.
2(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
3    Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
4by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
 
5    (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
6    Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
7    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
8of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
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
24        (which may be deemed to include American Sign

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 28 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

1        Language), music, career and technical education,
2        agricultural education, or art;
3        (2) except that Western Illinois 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 career and technical education
7    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
8    under 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 Western Illinois 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. Western Illinois
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

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 29 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 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
11SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
12test as a 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    (e) Beginning with the 20245-2026 academic year, the
22University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
23from a public community college in this State with the
24University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
25waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
26forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the

 

 

SB3081 Engrossed- 30 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

1University's transfer admissions process. The University is
2encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
3undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
4low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
5community college in this State. The University shall post
6this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
7Internet website.
8(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10becoming law.