102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1624

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Doris Turner

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 305/8  from Ch. 144, par. 29
110 ILCS 520/8e  from Ch. 144, par. 658e
110 ILCS 660/5-85
110 ILCS 665/10-85
110 ILCS 670/15-85
110 ILCS 675/20-85
110 ILCS 680/25-85
110 ILCS 685/30-85
110 ILCS 690/35-85

    Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. With respect to the high school coursework that a person must satisfactorily complete for university admission, adds agricultural sciences as a course option for the science category and agricultural education as a course option for the electives category.


LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1624LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

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 In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
10student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
11any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
12such student also has satisfactorily completed:
13        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
14    the following 5 categories:
15            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
16        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
17        years may be collegiate level instruction;
18            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
19        and government);
20            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
21        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
22        fundamentals of computer programming);
23            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or

 

 

SB1624- 2 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1        agricultural sciences); and
2            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
3        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
4        Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
5        education, or art;
6        (2) except that institutions may admit individual
7    applicants if the institution determines through
8    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
9    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
10    education courses and courses taken in a charter school
11    established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
12    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
13    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
14    acquired in the high school courses required for
15    admission. The Board of Trustees of the University of
16    Illinois shall not discriminate in the University's
17    admissions process against an applicant for admission
18    because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
19    established under Article 27A of the School Code.
20    Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have
21    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
22    curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally
23    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
24    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
25    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
26    the institution incorporates in the applicant's

 

 

SB1624- 3 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
2    activities that compensate for course 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(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 

 

 

SB1624- 4 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management
2Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
 
3    (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
4    Sec. 8e. Admissions.
5    (a) No Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
6then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
7departments or colleges of the University unless such student
8also has satisfactorily completed:
9        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
10    the following 5 categories:
11            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
12        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
13        years may be collegiate level instruction;
14            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
15        and government);
16            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
17        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
18        fundamentals of computer programming);
19            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
20        agricultural sciences); and
21            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
22        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
23        Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
24        education, or art;
25        (2) except that institutions may admit individual

 

 

SB1624- 5 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    applicants if the institution determines through
2    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
3    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
4    education courses and courses taken in a charter school
5    established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
6    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
7    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
8    acquired in the high school courses required for
9    admission. The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois
10    University shall not discriminate in the University's
11    admissions process against an applicant for admission
12    because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
13    established under Article 27A of the School Code.
14    Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have
15    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
16    curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally
17    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
18    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
19    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
20    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
21    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
22    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
23        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
24    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
25    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
26    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences

 

 

SB1624- 6 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
2    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
3    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
4recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
5coursework required by subsection (a).
6    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
7scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
8SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
9test as a prerequisite to admission.
10    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
11which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
12application for admission to the University as a freshman
13student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
14active duty during the fall semester. The University may
15request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
16status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
17was on active duty during the fall semester.
18(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
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

 

 

SB1624- 7 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

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, vocational education, agricultural
17        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 vocational education courses
22    and courses taken in a charter school established under
23    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

 

 

SB1624- 8 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

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

 

 

SB1624- 9 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

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(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
11    Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
12by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
 
13    (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
14    Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
15    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
16of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
17University unless such student also has satisfactorily
18completed:
19        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
20    the following 5 categories:
21            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
22        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
23        years may be collegiate level instruction;
24            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history

 

 

SB1624- 10 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1        and government);
2            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
3        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
4        fundamentals of computer programming);
5            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
6        agricultural sciences); and
7            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
8        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
9        Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
10        education, or art;
11        (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
12    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
13    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
14    coursework taken, including vocational education courses
15    and courses taken in a charter school established under
16    Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
17    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
18    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
19    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
20    Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
21    discriminate in the University's admissions process
22    against an applicant for admission because of the
23    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
24    under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
25    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
26    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory

 

 

SB1624- 11 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
2    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
3    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
4    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
5    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
6    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
7    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
8        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
9    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
10    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
11    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
12    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
13    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
14    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
15recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
16coursework required by subsection (a).
17    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
18scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
19SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
20test as a prerequisite to admission.
21    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
22which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
23application for admission to the University as a freshman
24student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
25active duty during the fall semester. The University may
26request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the

 

 

SB1624- 12 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
2was on active duty during the fall semester.
3(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
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

 

 

SB1624- 13 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
2        Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
3        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 vocational education courses
8    and courses taken in a charter school established under
9    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

 

 

SB1624- 14 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

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(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
23    Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended
24by changing Section 20-85 as follows:
 

 

 

SB1624- 15 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
2    Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
3    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
4of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
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, vocational education, agricultural
22        education, or art;
23        (2) except that Illinois State 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 vocational education courses

 

 

SB1624- 16 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    and courses taken in a charter school established under
2    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 Illinois State 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. Illinois State
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

 

 

SB1624- 17 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 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(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
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

 

 

SB1624- 18 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

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, vocational education, agricultural
15        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 vocational
20    education courses and courses taken in a charter school
21    established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
22    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
23    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
24    acquired in the high school courses required for
25    admission. The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois
26    University shall not discriminate in the University's

 

 

SB1624- 19 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1    admissions process against an applicant for admission
2    because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
3    established under Article 27A of the School Code.
4    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.

 

 

SB1624- 20 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

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(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
10    Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is
11amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
 
12    (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
13    Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
14    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
15of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
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, vocational education, agricultural
9        education, or art;
10        (2) except that Northern Illinois 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 vocational education courses
14    and courses taken in a charter school established under
15    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 Northern Illinois 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. Northern Illinois
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

 

 

SB1624- 23 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

1was on active duty during the fall semester.
2(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
 
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, vocational education, agricultural
2        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 vocational education courses
7    and courses taken in a charter school established under
8    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

 

 

SB1624- 25 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 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(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)