(110 ILCS 986/5)

Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly makes all of the following findings:

(1) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that all students who are residents of this State have meaningful and equitable access to higher educational opportunities notwithstanding the student's race, color, gender or gender identity, age, ancestry, marital status, military status, religion, pregnancy, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, order of protection status, as defined under Section 1-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act, or immigration status.

(2) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that students who may not have had the same educational opportunities are not penalized as they seek to achieve higher education.

(3) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring the success and retention of African American students by safeguarding equitable access to educational funding and eliminating systemic barriers.

(4) Lifting any caps on the Monetary Award Program, other than those required by State law, will have a positive impact on the retention and equity of African American students and other students of color who are disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to resources in completing their postsecondary education.

(5) The State of Illinois is committed to retaining Illinois students who wish to attend institutions of higher learning in this State by addressing financial barriers for those students.

(Source: P.A. 101-21, eff. 1-1-20.)