SB2986 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37955 RJT 68087 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2986

Introduced 1/31/2024, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 205/9.33a new

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall, in consultation with the Illinois Community College Board, create a standardized electronic form by which a community college district may document student demand or workforce need for a specific baccalaureate degree completion program and may demonstrate that the demand or need is currently unmet or that there is insufficient access to such a program in the district. Provides that the form must be completed by the requesting community college district and must be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for initial review. Provides that if the Illinois Community College Board concurs with the community college district that unmet demand or need for a program exists in the district, the Illinois Community College Board may forward the form to the Board of Higher Education and if the Illinois Community College Board does not concur with the community college district, the district may appeal the decision directly to the Board of Higher Education. Provides that if the Board of Higher Education determines that unmet student demand or workforce need for a program exists, the Board of Higher Education shall communicate a request for baccalaureate partnership notification to all public universities. Sets forth the response procedure. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to jointly adopt rules.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.33a as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.33a new)

Sec. 9.33a. Collaborative baccalaureate degree completion development.

(a) In this Section, "university" means any public or private, not-for-profit university in this State.

(b) It is the intent of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly that the Board, in consultation with the Illinois Community College Board, establish a clear pathway for community colleges to request university partners for delivery of baccalaureate degree completion programs in response to demonstrated need or demand within a community college district.

(c) The Board shall, in consultation with the Illinois Community College Board, create a standardized electronic form by which a community college district may document student demand or workforce need for a baccalaureate degree completion program and may demonstrate that such demand or need is currently unmet or that there is insufficient access to such a program in the district. The form must be completed by the requesting community college district and must be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for initial review. If, upon review, the Illinois Community College Board concurs with the community college district that unmet student demand or workforce need for a program exists in the district, the Illinois Community College Board may forward the form to the Board. If the Illinois Community College Board does not concur with the community college district, the district may appeal the decision directly to the Board.

(d) If the Board determines that unmet student demand or workforce need for a baccalaureate degree completion program exists, the Board shall communicate electronically a request for baccalaureate partnership notification to all public universities.

(e) Upon expiration of the response period, the Board must review all submitted responses to the request for baccalaureate partnership notification and forward all viable responses to the requesting community college district. If the Board or the community college district determines that no submitted responses are viable, the Board may communicate electronically a second request for partnership notification to all universities located in this State. If the Board determines after the second request for partnership notification that no submitted responses are viable options, it may require all public universities in this State to respond to the request for partnership notification.

(f) If deemed necessary after all options under subsection (e) have been exhausted, the Board may recommend, by resolution, specific partnerships for collaborative baccalaureate degree completion development under this Section.

(g) Nothing in this Section precludes a community college district and a university from directly contacting each other regarding a baccalaureate degree completion partnership established independently of the provisions of this Section.

(h) The Board and the Illinois Community College Board shall jointly adopt rules to implement this Section.