Bill Text: IL SB3081 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the university's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the university's transfer admissions process. Provides that the governing board of each public university is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the university's Internet website. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-08-09 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0936 [SB3081 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB3081-Introduced.html

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3081

Introduced 2/2/2024, by Sen. Celina Villanueva

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. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall waive any admissions application fee for a student transferring from a public community college in this State if the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree. Effective immediately.
LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

A BILL FOR

SB3081LRB103 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

SB3081- 2 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
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

SB3081- 3 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
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 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
26of Trustees shall waive any admissions application fee for a

SB3081- 4 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1student transferring from a public community college in this
2State if the transferring student is enrolled in the last
3semester of a degree program and is on schedule to graduate
4with a degree.
5(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
6 Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management
7Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
8 (110 ILCS 520/8e) (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
9 Sec. 8e. Admissions.
10 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
11of the departments or colleges of the University unless such
12student 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
24 agricultural sciences); and

SB3081- 5 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
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 Southern
15 Illinois University 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

SB3081- 6 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 academic activities that compensate for course
2 deficiencies; and
3 (3) except that up to 3 of 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 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
10recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
11coursework required by subsection (a).
12 (c) 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 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
17which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
18application for admission to the University as a freshman
19student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
20active duty during the fall semester. The University may
21request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
22status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
23was on active duty during the fall semester.
24 (e) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
25shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
26transferring from a public community college in this State if

SB3081- 7 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
2degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
3(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
4 Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
5changing Section 5-85 as follows:
6 (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
7 Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
8 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
9of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
10unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
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- 8 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 Language), music, career and technical education,
2 agricultural education, or art;
3 (2) except that Chicago 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 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 Chicago 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. Chicago 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

SB3081- 9 -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 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
22shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
23transferring from a public community college in this State if
24the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
25degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
26(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

SB3081- 10 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
2by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
3 (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
4 Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
5 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
6of the departments or colleges of the Eastern 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
22 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
23 Language), music, career and technical education,
24 agricultural education, or art;

SB3081- 11 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
2 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
3 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
4 coursework taken, including career and technical education
5 courses and courses taken in a charter school established
6 under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
7 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
8 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
9 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
10 Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
11 discriminate in the University's admissions process
12 against an applicant for admission because of the
13 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
14 under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
15 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
16 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
17 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
18 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
19 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
20 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
21 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
22 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
23 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
24 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
25 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
26 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from

SB3081- 12 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
2 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
3 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
4 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
5recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
6coursework required by subsection (a).
7 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
8scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
9SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
10test as a prerequisite to admission.
11 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
12which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
13application for admission to the University as a freshman
14student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
15active duty during the fall semester. The University may
16request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
17status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
18was on active duty during the fall semester.
19 (e) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
20shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
21transferring from a public community college in this State if
22the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
23degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
24(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
25 Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended

SB3081- 13 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
2 (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
3 Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
4 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
5of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
6University unless such student also has satisfactorily
7completed:
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
21 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
22 Language), music, career and technical education,
23 agricultural education, or art;
24 (2) except that Governors State University may admit
25 individual applicants if it determines through assessment

SB3081- 14 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
2 coursework taken, including career and technical education
3 courses and courses taken in a charter school established
4 under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
5 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
6 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
7 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
8 Trustees of Governors State University shall not
9 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. Governors State
13 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
14 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
15 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
16 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
17 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
18 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
19 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
20 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
21 activities that compensate for 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

SB3081- 15 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 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
7SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
8test as a 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 (e) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
18shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
19transferring from a public community college in this State if
20the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
21degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
22(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
23 Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended
24by changing Section 20-85 as follows:

SB3081- 16 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
2 Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
3 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
4of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
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 Illinois State 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- 17 -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 Illinois State 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. Illinois State
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- 18 -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 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
16shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
17transferring from a public community college in this State if
18the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
19degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
20(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
21 Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
22amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
23 (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
24 Sec. 25-85. Admissions.

SB3081- 19 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
2of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
3University unless such student also has satisfactorily
4completed:
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
18 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
19 Language), music, career and technical education,
20 agricultural education, or art;
21 (2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
22 admit individual applicants if it determines through
23 assessment or through evaluation based on learning
24 outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
25 technical education courses and courses taken in a charter
26 school established under Article 27A of the School Code,

SB3081- 20 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
2 substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
3 expected to be acquired in the high school courses
4 required for admission. The Board of Trustees of
5 Northeastern Illinois University shall not discriminate in
6 the University's admissions process against an applicant
7 for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
8 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
9 Code. Northeastern Illinois University may also admit (i)
10 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
11 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
12 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
13 admitted to the formal organized special assistance
14 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
15 providing that in either case, the institution
16 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
17 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
18 course deficiencies; and
19 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
20 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
21 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
22 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
23 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
24 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
25 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
26recognize their obligation to their students to offer the

SB3081- 21 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1coursework required by subsection (a).
2 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
3scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
4SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
5test as a prerequisite to admission.
6 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
7which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
8application for admission to the University as a freshman
9student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
10active duty during the fall semester. The University may
11request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
12status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
13was on active duty during the fall semester.
14 (e) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
15shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
16transferring from a public community college in this State if
17the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
18degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
19(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
20 Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is
21amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
22 (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
23 Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
24 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any

SB3081- 22 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
2University unless such student also has satisfactorily
3completed:
4 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
5 the following 5 categories:
6 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
7 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
8 years may be collegiate level instruction;
9 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
10 and government);
11 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
12 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
13 fundamentals of computer programming);
14 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
15 agricultural sciences); and
16 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
17 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
18 Language), music, career and technical education,
19 agricultural education, or art;
20 (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
21 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
22 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
23 coursework taken, including career and technical education
24 courses and courses taken in a charter school established
25 under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
26 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent

SB3081- 23 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
2 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
3 Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
4 discriminate in the University's admissions process
5 against an applicant for admission because of the
6 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
7 under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
8 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
9 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
10 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
11 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
12 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
13 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
14 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
15 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
16 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
17 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
18 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
19 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
20 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
21 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
22 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
23 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
24recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
25coursework required by subsection (a).
26 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has

SB3081- 24 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
2SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
3test as a prerequisite to admission.
4 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
5which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
6application for admission to the University as a freshman
7student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
8active duty during the fall semester. The University may
9request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
10status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
11was on active duty during the fall semester.
12 (e) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
13shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
14transferring from a public community college in this State if
15the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
16degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
17(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
18 Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
19by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
20 (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
21 Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
22 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
23of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
24University unless such student also has satisfactorily

SB3081- 25 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1completed:
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 Western Illinois 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

SB3081- 26 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
1 Trustees of Western Illinois 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. Western Illinois
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

SB3081- 27 -LRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b
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 2024-2025 academic year, the Board
11shall waive any admissions application fee for a student
12transferring from a public community college in this State if
13the transferring student is enrolled in the last semester of a
14degree program and is on schedule to graduate with a degree.
15(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
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