Bill Text: IL SB1624 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Reinserts the contents of the bill, but changes references from vocational education to career and technical education.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2021-08-17 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 102-0404 [SB1624 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SB1624-Introduced.html

---

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 SB1624 Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Doris Turner 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 governance of public universities in Illinois. With respect to the high school coursework that a person must satisfactorily complete for university admission, adds agricultural sciences as a course option for the science category and agricultural education as a course option for the electives category.
LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
A BILL FOR
SB1624 LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
changing Section 8 as follows:
(110 ILCS 305/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
Sec. 8. Admissions.
(a) (Blank).
(b) No In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
such student also has satisfactorily completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or

SB1624 - 2 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that institutions may admit individual
applicants if the institution determines through
assessment or through evaluation based on learning
outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
education courses and courses taken in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
acquired in the high school courses required for
admission. The Board of Trustees of the University of
Illinois shall not discriminate in the University's
admissions process against an applicant for admission
because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code.
Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's

SB1624 - 3 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (b).
(d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted
to submit an application for admission to the University as a
freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the
veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The
University may request that the Department of Veterans'
Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably
discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall
semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)

SB1624 - 4 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management
Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
(110 ILCS 520/8e) (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
Sec. 8e. Admissions.
(a) No Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
departments or colleges of the University unless such student
also has satisfactorily completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that institutions may admit individual

SB1624 - 5 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
applicants if the institution determines through
assessment or through evaluation based on learning
outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
education courses and courses taken in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
acquired in the high school courses required for
admission. The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois
University shall not discriminate in the University's
admissions process against an applicant for admission
because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code.
Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences

SB1624 - 6 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
changing Section 5-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 660/5-85)
Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University

SB1624 - 7 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that Chicago State University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of

SB1624 - 8 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
Trustees of Chicago State University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Chicago State
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency

SB1624 - 9 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 665/10-85)
Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history

SB1624 - 10 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory

SB1624 - 11 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the

SB1624 - 12 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended
by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 670/15-85)
Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language

SB1624 - 13 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that Governors State University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Governors State University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

SB1624 - 14 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended
by changing Section 20-85 as follows:

SB1624 - 15 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
(110 ILCS 675/20-85)
Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that Illinois State University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses

SB1624 - 16 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Illinois State University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Illinois State
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall

SB1624 - 17 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 680/25-85)
Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from

SB1624 - 18 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
admit individual applicants if it determines through
assessment or through evaluation based on learning
outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
education courses and courses taken in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
acquired in the high school courses required for
admission. The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois
University shall not discriminate in the University's

SB1624 - 19 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
admissions process against an applicant for admission
because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code.
Northeastern Illinois University may also admit (i)
applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
(ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
admitted to the formal organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
providing that in either case, the institution
incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
courses or other academic activities that compensate for
course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.

SB1624 - 20 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is
amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 685/30-85)
Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);

SB1624 - 21 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally

SB1624 - 22 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who

SB1624 - 23 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 690/35-85)
Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
(which may be deemed to include American Sign

SB1624 - 24 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
education, or art;
(2) except that Western Illinois University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework

SB1624 - 25 - LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)