HB5322 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18236 LNS 31675 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5322

Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Michael Crawford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 205/7

from Ch. 144, par. 187

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education, in approving or disapproving a public institution of higher education's proposal for a new unit of instruction, research, or public service or in approving modifications, must take into account the unique student demographics and needs of the particular institution.

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 changing Section 7 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 187)

Sec. 7. The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University, the Illinois Community College Board and the campuses under their governance or supervision shall not hereafter undertake the establishment of any new unit of instruction, research, or public service without the approval of the Board. The term "new unit of instruction, research, or public service" includes the establishment of a college, school, division, institute, department, or other unit in any field of instruction, research, or public service not theretofore included in the program of the institution, and includes the establishment of any new branch or campus. The term does not include reasonable and moderate extensions of existing curricula, research, or public service programs which have a direct relationship to existing programs; and the Board may, under its rulemaking power, define the character of such reasonable and moderate extensions.

Such governing boards shall submit to the Board all proposals for a new unit of instruction, research, or public service. The Board may approve or disapprove the proposal in whole or in part or approve modifications thereof whenever in its judgment such action is consistent with the objectives of an existing or proposed statewide strategic plan of higher education and must take into account the unique student demographics and needs of the particular institution.

The Board of Higher Education is authorized to review periodically all existing programs of instruction, research, and public service at the State universities and colleges and to advise the appropriate board of control if the contribution of each program is not educationally and economically justified. The Board shall annually identify and provide to each public university certain programs of instruction that exhibit indicators of low performance in enrollment, degree completion, and relative high expense per degree. Each public university shall review this information, together with any other relevant information, and report annually to the Board using a status rubric provided by the Board, including programs to be closed or consolidated. The Board shall report annually on the instructional programs offered at public institutions of higher education, showing (i) the number, types, and locations of instructional programs, (ii) any new programs that were created, (iii) any existing programs that have been closed or consolidated as a result of the review and report, and (iv) other information relevant to assessing the State's portfolio of programs. The report must be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor by March 15, 2026 and each March 15 thereafter. The Board shall have the authority to define relevant terms and timelines by rule with respect to this reporting.

(Source: P.A. 104-292, eff. 8-15-25.)