SB0244 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 08477 NHT 18597 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB0244

Introduced 2/4/2009, by Sen. Dan Kotowski

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 805/3-65 new

Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 512 may establish and offer a pilot program under which the district may offer bachelor's degrees in 2 fields of study if certain conditions are met, including requiring (i) that the degree programs not compete with any nearby public university and the public universities in this State have the right of first refusal to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree programs on the community college campus or a community college extension site, (ii) that the district identify and document unmet workforce needs, (iii) that the degree programs not require any additional funding from local taxes, the State, or the community college students not enrolled in the program, (iv) that the Board of Higher Education approve the offering of the degree programs, and (v) that the pilot program expire 4 years after the initial offering of the degree programs, unless otherwise extended by law. Prohibits Community College District No. 512 from becoming a primarily baccalaureate degree-granting, 4-year institution of higher learning. Effective July 1, 2009.

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 Public Community College Act is amended by adding Section 3-65 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/3-65 new)

Sec. 3-65. Harper College pilot baccalaureate program. The Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 512 may establish and offer a pilot program under which the district may offer bachelor's degrees in 2 fields of study if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The public universities in this State have the right of first refusal to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree programs on the community college campus or a community college extension site in a manner that is mutually agreeable between the district and the university. If there is a disagreement on whether the university program meets local workforce needs, a 5-person panel shall be appointed to determine if the university's proposed program on the community college campus or extension site reasonably meets local workforce needs. Two members of the panel shall be from local employers representing the applicable field of study, appointed by the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 512. Two members of the panel shall be university officials with expertise in the applicable field of study, appointed by the board of trustees of the university submitting the program proposal. One member shall be a Community College District No. 512 official with expertise in the applicable field of study, appointed by the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 512. Community College District No. 512 may only proceed with the pilot program if a majority of the panel rules that the university's proposed program on Community College District No. 512's campus or extension site does not reasonably meet local workforce needs.

(2) The Board of Trustees has determined that it has the expertise, resources, and interest to offer quality Bachelor of Applied Science Degree programs and the programs are consistent with existing board policy.

(3) The district has identified and documented unmet workforce needs.

(4) The degree programs will not compete with any nearby public university.

(5) The degree programs will not require any additional funding from local taxes, the State, or Community College District No. 512 students not enrolled in the pilot program. At the completion of the Community College District No. 512 pilot program, an independent audit must be conducted to determine if any of the funding for the pilot program was provided by local taxes, the State, or the community college students not enrolled in the program.

(6) The Board of Higher Education has approved the offering of the degree programs in a manner consistent with approving new bachelor's degree programs at all State public universities.

(7) The pilot program will expire 4 years after the initial offering of the degree programs, unless otherwise extended by law.

The intention of this Section is to allow Community College District No. 512 to meet specific, documented workforce needs in the district. Community College District No. 512 is prohibited from becoming a primarily baccalaureate degree-granting, 4-year institution of higher learning.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2009.