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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 shall provide all Illinois students transferring 
 
 
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1from a public community college in this State with the 
2University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee 
3waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or 
4forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the 
5University's transfer admissions process. The University is 
6encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the 
7undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for 
8low-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.
 
 
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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:

 
 
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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 Enrolled- 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 Enrolled- 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 
 
 
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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 
 
 
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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 Enrolled- 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 
 
 
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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.)