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.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.