Public Act 103-0936

SB3081 EnrolledLRB103 36060 RJT 66147 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 new student shall 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, career and technical 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 career and 
 technical 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 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.
 (f) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 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 new student shall 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, career and technical 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 career and 
 technical 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 
 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.
 (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 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 
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, career and technical 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 career and technical 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 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 
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.
 (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 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 
 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, career and technical 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 career and technical 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 
 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 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
 (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 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 
 (which may be deemed to include American Sign 
 Language), music, career and technical 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 career and technical 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
  (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.
 (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended 
by changing Section 20-85 as follows:

 (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, career and technical 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 career and technical 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 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 
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.
 (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 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 
 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, career and technical 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 career and 
 technical 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 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.
 (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.
 (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 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);
   (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, career and technical 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 career and technical 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 
 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 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
 (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)

 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 
 Language), music, career and technical 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 career and technical 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 
 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.
 (e) Beginning with the 20245-2026 academic year, the 
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. The 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. The University shall post 
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's 
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)