(110 ILCS 225/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2953)

Sec. 3. Creation and implementation of program. A program of financial assistance to support student cooperative work study programs in higher education is established to benefit students academically and financially, reduce reliance on loans, enhance public-private sector partnerships, and encourage students to seek permanent employment in Illinois.

The Board shall administer the program of financial assistance and shall distribute the funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose in the form of grants to public or nonpublic institutions of higher education to expand opportunities for students to pursue internships, clinical placement, cooperative programs with business and industry, and other work opportunities linked to a student's academic program. In awarding grants under this Act, the Board shall consider whether programs:

(1) strengthen cooperation between higher education, business, industry, and government;

(2) promote school/college partnerships;

(3) encourage social and community service activities;

(4) maximize the use of matching contributions from business and industry, governmental and social agencies, and participating colleges and universities to support student wages;

(5) create new opportunities for partnerships between the public and private sectors;

(6) integrate other components of student financial aid to reduce reliance on student loans; and

(7) meet other criteria that the Board determines are appropriate.

The Board shall assure that a representative number of the grants support cooperative work study programs that support work experiences for students in academic programs of engineering, science, math, and education.

No grant may be awarded under this Section for any program of sectarian instruction or for any program designed to serve a sectarian purpose.

As part of its administration of the Act, the Board may require evaluations, audits or reports in relation to fiscal and academic aspects of any program for which a grant is awarded under this Act. The Board shall annually submit to the Governor and General Assembly a budgetary recommendation for grants under this Act.

The Board may adopt rules it deems necessary for administration of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 87-513.)