Public Act 103-0936
 
SB3081 EnrolledLRB103 36060 RJT 66147 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
changing Section 8 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 305/8)  (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
    Sec. 8. Admissions.
    (a) (Blank).
    (b) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the University unless such
student also has satisfactorily completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that institutions may admit individual
    applicants if the institution determines through
    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
    outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
    technical education courses and courses taken in a charter
    school established under Article 27A of the School Code,
    that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
    substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
    expected to be acquired in the high school courses
    required for admission. The Board of Trustees of the
    University of Illinois shall not discriminate in the
    University's admissions process against an applicant for
    admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
    charter school established under Article 27A of the School
    Code. Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did
    not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college
    preparatory curriculum in high school, and 2)
    educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to
    the formal organized special assistance programs that are
    tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in
    either case, the institution incorporates in the
    applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other
    academic activities that compensate for course
    deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (b).
    (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted
to submit an application for admission to the University as a
freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the
veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The
University may request that the Department of Veterans'
Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably
discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall
semester.
    (f) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management
Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
    Sec. 8e. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the University unless such
student also has satisfactorily completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that institutions may admit individual
    applicants if the institution determines through
    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
    outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
    technical education courses and courses taken in a charter
    school established under Article 27A of the School Code,
    that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
    substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
    expected to be acquired in the high school courses
    required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Southern
    Illinois University shall not discriminate in the
    University's admissions process against an applicant for
    admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
    charter school established under Article 27A of the School
    Code. Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did
    not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college
    preparatory curriculum in high school, and 2)
    educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to
    the formal organized special assistance programs that are
    tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in
    either case, the institution incorporates in the
    applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other
    academic activities that compensate for course
    deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
changing Section 5-85 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
    Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that Chicago State University may admit
    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
    coursework taken, including career and technical education
    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
    Trustees of Chicago State University shall not
    discriminate in the University's admissions process
    against an applicant for admission because of the
    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code. Chicago State
    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
    Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
    coursework taken, including career and technical education
    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
    Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
    discriminate in the University's admissions process
    against an applicant for admission because of the
    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended
by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
    Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that Governors State University may admit
    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
    coursework taken, including career and technical education
    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
    Trustees of Governors State University shall not
    discriminate in the University's admissions process
    against an applicant for admission because of the
    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended
by changing Section 20-85 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
    Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that Illinois State University may admit
    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
    coursework taken, including career and technical education
    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
    Trustees of Illinois State University shall not
    discriminate in the University's admissions process
    against an applicant for admission because of the
    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code. Illinois State
    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
    Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
    admit individual applicants if it determines through
    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
    outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
    technical education courses and courses taken in a charter
    school established under Article 27A of the School Code,
    that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
    substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
    expected to be acquired in the high school courses
    required for admission. The Board of Trustees of
    Northeastern Illinois University shall not discriminate in
    the University's admissions process against an applicant
    for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
    charter school established under Article 27A of the School
    Code. Northeastern Illinois University may also admit (i)
    applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
    minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
    (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
    admitted to the formal organized special assistance
    programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
    providing that in either case, the institution
    incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
    courses or other academic activities that compensate for
    course deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is
amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
    Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
    coursework taken, including career and technical education
    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
    Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
    discriminate in the University's admissions process
    against an applicant for admission because of the
    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
    Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
    the following 5 categories:
            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
        years may be collegiate level instruction;
            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
        and government);
            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
        fundamentals of computer programming);
            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
        agricultural sciences); and
            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
        Language), music, career and technical education,
        agricultural education, or art;
        (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit
    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
    coursework taken, including career and technical education
    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
    Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
    discriminate in the University's admissions process
    against an applicant for admission because of the
    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
    under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
test as a prerequisite to admission.
    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
    (e) Beginning with the 20245-2026 academic year, the
University shall provide all Illinois students transferring
from a public community college in this State with the
University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee
waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or
forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the
University's transfer admissions process. The University is
encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the
undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for
low-income Illinois students transferring from a public
community college in this State. The University shall post
this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's
Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/9/2024