HB4339eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4339 Engrossed LRB094 15725 NHT 50936 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Public Community College Act is amended by adding Section 2-23 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/2-23 new)

Sec. 2-23. Student transfer to university; coordinator and recruiter.

(a) The State Board shall establish a 3-year pilot program under which each community college in Community College District No. 505, Community College District No. 508, Community College District No. 511, Community College District No. 520, and Community College District No. 527 must employ one person as a coordinator and one person as a recruiter to assist inner-city students in transferring to public universities in this State. The State Board shall provide a grant to each of these districts to fund the positions, which amount must be equally divided among the community colleges in these districts.

(b) The coordinator shall do all of the following:

(1) Work with the district's academic advisement staff to develop a program plan that will transition students to universities.

(2) Interface with university admissions departments to assist students during the transition.

(3) Assist students with course selection, majors, housing, child care, and financial aid.

(4) Track student progress and the effectiveness of campus events.

(5) Implement a transition strategy and work with students on the strategy.

(6) Interface with the president, deans, academic advisors, faculty, staff, and program directors.

(7) Oversee the activities of the recruiter.

(8) Assist students in filling out applications and finding a university match.

(9) Establish financial aid initiatives and assist students in finding and applying for funding sources.

(10) Coordinate housing arrangements.

(c) The recruiter shall do all of the following:

(1) Identify transfer candidates by working with deans and faculty.

(2) Develop recruiting strategies, including a proactive campus recruiting strategy that will attract dedicated students.

(3) Design, implement, and execute on-campus recruiting activities, including campus fairs, information sessions, workshops, and seminars.

(4) Create on-campus marketing and communication strategies to increase awareness and to educate students about the opportunities that exist with universities.

(5) Develop and maintain a partnership with deans, program directors, professors, and academic advisors.

(6) Establish partnerships with universities, as well as other institutions of higher education and trade schools.

(7) Report program effectiveness to the coordinator.

(d) After the pilot program has been in effect for 3 years, the State Board shall study the overall success of the pilot program and report its findings to the General Assembly. The program shall be deemed successful if 50% or more of all student participants have received their bachelor's degree. After the report is filed, the General Assembly may continue the program, increase funding for the program, expand the program to all public community colleges in this State, or terminate the program if it is unsuccessful.

(e) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2006.