102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1624

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Doris Turner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 305/8 from Ch. 144, par. 29
110 ILCS 520/8e from Ch. 144, par. 658e
110 ILCS 660/5-85
110 ILCS 665/10-85
110 ILCS 670/15-85
110 ILCS 675/20-85
110 ILCS 680/25-85
110 ILCS 685/30-85
110 ILCS 690/35-85

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. With respect to the high school coursework that a person must satisfactorily complete for university admission, adds agricultural sciences as a course option for the science category and agricultural education as a course option for the electives category.
LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b

A BILL FOR

SB1624LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
5changing Section 8 as follows:
6 (110 ILCS 305/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
7 Sec. 8. Admissions.
8 (a) (Blank).
9 (b) No In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
10student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
11any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
12such student also has satisfactorily completed:
13 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
14 the following 5 categories:
15 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
16 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
17 years may be collegiate level instruction;
18 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
19 and government);
20 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
21 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
22 fundamentals of computer programming);
23 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or

SB1624- 2 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 agricultural sciences); and
2 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
3 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
4 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
5 education, or art;
6 (2) except that institutions may admit individual
7 applicants if the institution determines through
8 assessment or through evaluation based on learning
9 outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
10 education courses and courses taken in a charter school
11 established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
12 applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
13 equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
14 acquired in the high school courses required for
15 admission. The Board of Trustees of the University of
16 Illinois shall not discriminate in the University's
17 admissions process against an applicant for admission
18 because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
19 established under Article 27A of the School Code.
20 Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have
21 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
22 curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally
23 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
24 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
25 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
26 the institution incorporates in the applicant's

SB1624- 3 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
2 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
3 (3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
4 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
5 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
6 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
7 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
8 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
9 (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
10recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
11coursework required by subsection (b).
12 (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
13scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
14SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
15test as a prerequisite to admission.
16 (e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
17process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted
18to submit an application for admission to the University as a
19freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the
20veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The
21University may request that the Department of Veterans'
22Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably
23discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall
24semester.
25(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)

SB1624- 4 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management
2Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
3 (110 ILCS 520/8e) (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
4 Sec. 8e. Admissions.
5 (a) No Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
6then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
7departments or colleges of the University unless such student
8also has satisfactorily completed:
9 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
10 the following 5 categories:
11 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
12 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
13 years may be collegiate level instruction;
14 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
15 and government);
16 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
17 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
18 fundamentals of computer programming);
19 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
20 agricultural sciences); and
21 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
22 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
23 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
24 education, or art;
25 (2) except that institutions may admit individual

SB1624- 5 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 applicants if the institution determines through
2 assessment or through evaluation based on learning
3 outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
4 education courses and courses taken in a charter school
5 established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
6 applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
7 equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
8 acquired in the high school courses required for
9 admission. The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois
10 University shall not discriminate in the University's
11 admissions process against an applicant for admission
12 because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
13 established under Article 27A of the School Code.
14 Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have
15 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
16 curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally
17 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
18 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
19 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
20 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
21 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
22 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
23 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
24 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
25 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
26 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences

SB1624- 6 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
2 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
3 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
4recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
5coursework required by subsection (a).
6 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
7scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
8SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
9test as a prerequisite to admission.
10 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
11which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
12application for admission to the University as a freshman
13student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
14active duty during the fall semester. The University may
15request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
16status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
17was on active duty during the fall semester.
18(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
19 Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
20changing Section 5-85 as follows:
21 (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
22 Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
23 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
24of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University

SB1624- 7 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
2 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
3 the following 5 categories:
4 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
5 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
6 years may be collegiate level instruction;
7 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
8 and government);
9 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
10 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
11 fundamentals of computer programming);
12 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
13 agricultural sciences); and
14 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
15 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
16 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
17 education, or art;
18 (2) except that Chicago State University may admit
19 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
20 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
21 coursework taken, including vocational education courses
22 and courses taken in a charter school established under
23 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
24 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
25 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
26 high school courses required for admission. The Board of

SB1624- 8 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 Trustees of Chicago State University shall not
2 discriminate in the University's admissions process
3 against an applicant for admission because of the
4 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
5 under Article 27A of the School Code. Chicago State
6 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
7 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
8 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
9 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
10 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
11 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
12 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
13 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
14 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
15 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
16 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
17 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
18 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
19 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
20 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
21 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
22recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
23coursework required by subsection (a).
24 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
25scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
26SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency

SB1624- 9 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1test as a prerequisite to admission.
2 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
3which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
4application for admission to the University as a freshman
5student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
6active duty during the fall semester. The University may
7request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
8status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
9was on active duty during the fall semester.
10(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
11 Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
12by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
13 (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
14 Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
15 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
16of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
17University unless such student also has satisfactorily
18completed:
19 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
20 the following 5 categories:
21 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
22 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
23 years may be collegiate level instruction;
24 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history

SB1624- 10 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 and government);
2 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
3 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
4 fundamentals of computer programming);
5 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
6 agricultural sciences); and
7 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
8 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
9 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
10 education, or art;
11 (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
12 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
13 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
14 coursework taken, including vocational education courses
15 and courses taken in a charter school established under
16 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
17 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
18 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
19 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
20 Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
21 discriminate in the University's admissions process
22 against an applicant for admission because of the
23 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
24 under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
25 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
26 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory

SB1624- 11 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
2 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
3 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
4 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
5 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
6 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
7 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
8 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
9 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
10 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
11 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
12 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
13 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
14 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
15recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
16coursework required by subsection (a).
17 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
18scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
19SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
20test as a prerequisite to admission.
21 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
22which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
23application for admission to the University as a freshman
24student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
25active duty during the fall semester. The University may
26request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the

SB1624- 12 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
2was on active duty during the fall semester.
3(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
4 Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended
5by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
6 (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
7 Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
8 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
9of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
10University unless such student also has satisfactorily
11completed:
12 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
13 the following 5 categories:
14 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
15 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
16 years may be collegiate level instruction;
17 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
18 and government);
19 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
20 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
21 fundamentals of computer programming);
22 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
23 agricultural sciences); and
24 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language

SB1624- 13 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
2 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
3 education, or art;
4 (2) except that Governors State University may admit
5 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
6 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
7 coursework taken, including vocational education courses
8 and courses taken in a charter school established under
9 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
10 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
11 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
12 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
13 Trustees of Governors State University shall not
14 discriminate in the University's admissions process
15 against an applicant for admission because of the
16 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
17 under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
18 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
19 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
20 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
21 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
22 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
23 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
24 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
25 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
26 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

SB1624- 14 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
2 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
3 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
4 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
5 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
6 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
7 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
8recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
9coursework required by subsection (a).
10 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
11scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
12SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
13test as a prerequisite to admission.
14 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
15which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
16application for admission to the University as a freshman
17student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
18active duty during the fall semester. The University may
19request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
20status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
21was on active duty during the fall semester.
22(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
23 Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended
24by changing Section 20-85 as follows:

SB1624- 15 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
2 Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
3 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
4of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
5University unless such student also has satisfactorily
6completed:
7 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
8 the following 5 categories:
9 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
10 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
11 years may be collegiate level instruction;
12 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
13 and government);
14 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
15 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
16 fundamentals of computer programming);
17 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
18 agricultural sciences); and
19 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
20 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
21 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
22 education, or art;
23 (2) except that Illinois State University may admit
24 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
25 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
26 coursework taken, including vocational education courses

SB1624- 16 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 and courses taken in a charter school established under
2 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
3 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
4 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
5 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
6 Trustees of Illinois State University shall not
7 discriminate in the University's admissions process
8 against an applicant for admission because of the
9 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
10 under Article 27A of the School Code. Illinois State
11 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
12 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
13 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
14 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
15 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
16 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
17 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
18 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
19 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
20 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
21 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
22 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
23 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
24 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
25 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
26 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall

SB1624- 17 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
2coursework required by subsection (a).
3 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
4scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
5SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
6test as a prerequisite to admission.
7 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
8which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
9application for admission to the University as a freshman
10student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
11active duty during the fall semester. The University may
12request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
13status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
14was on active duty during the fall semester.
15(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
16 Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
17amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
18 (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
19 Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
20 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
21of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
22University unless such student also has satisfactorily
23completed:
24 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from

SB1624- 18 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 the following 5 categories:
2 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
3 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
4 years may be collegiate level instruction;
5 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
6 and government);
7 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
8 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
9 fundamentals of computer programming);
10 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
11 agricultural sciences); and
12 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
13 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
14 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
15 education, or art;
16 (2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
17 admit individual applicants if it determines through
18 assessment or through evaluation based on learning
19 outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
20 education courses and courses taken in a charter school
21 established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
22 applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
23 equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
24 acquired in the high school courses required for
25 admission. The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois
26 University shall not discriminate in the University's

SB1624- 19 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 admissions process against an applicant for admission
2 because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school
3 established under Article 27A of the School Code.
4 Northeastern Illinois University may also admit (i)
5 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
6 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
7 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
8 admitted to the formal organized special assistance
9 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
10 providing that in either case, the institution
11 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
12 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
13 course deficiencies; and
14 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
15 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
16 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
17 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
18 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
19 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
20 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
21recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
22coursework required by subsection (a).
23 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
24scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
25SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
26test as a prerequisite to admission.

SB1624- 20 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
2which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
3application for admission to the University as a freshman
4student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
5active duty during the fall semester. The University may
6request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
7status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
8was on active duty during the fall semester.
9(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
10 Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is
11amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
12 (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
13 Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
14 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
15of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
16University unless such student also has satisfactorily
17completed:
18 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
19 the following 5 categories:
20 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
21 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
22 years may be collegiate level instruction;
23 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
24 and government);

SB1624- 21 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
2 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
3 fundamentals of computer programming);
4 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
5 agricultural sciences); and
6 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
7 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
8 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
9 education, or art;
10 (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
11 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
12 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
13 coursework taken, including vocational education courses
14 and courses taken in a charter school established under
15 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
16 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
17 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
18 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
19 Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
20 discriminate in the University's admissions process
21 against an applicant for admission because of the
22 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
23 under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
24 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
25 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
26 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally

SB1624- 22 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
2 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
3 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
4 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
5 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
6 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
7 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
8 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
9 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
10 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
11 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
12 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
13 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
14recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
15coursework required by subsection (a).
16 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
17scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
18SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
19test as a prerequisite to admission.
20 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
21which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
22application for admission to the University as a freshman
23student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
24active duty during the fall semester. The University may
25request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
26status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who

SB1624- 23 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1was on active duty during the fall semester.
2(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
3 Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
4by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
5 (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
6 Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
7 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
8of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
9University unless such student also has satisfactorily
10completed:
11 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
12 the following 5 categories:
13 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
14 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
15 years may be collegiate level instruction;
16 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
17 and government);
18 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
19 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
20 fundamentals of computer programming);
21 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
22 agricultural sciences); and
23 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
24 (which may be deemed to include American Sign

SB1624- 24 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 Language), music, vocational education, agricultural
2 education, or art;
3 (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit
4 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
5 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
6 coursework taken, including vocational education courses
7 and courses taken in a charter school established under
8 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
9 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
10 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
11 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
12 Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
13 discriminate in the University's admissions process
14 against an applicant for admission because of the
15 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
16 under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
17 University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
18 an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
19 curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
20 disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
21 organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
22 the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
23 the institution incorporates in the applicant's
24 baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
25 activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
26 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework

SB1624- 25 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
2 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
3 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
4 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
6 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
7recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
8coursework required by subsection (a).
9 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
10scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
11SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
12test as a prerequisite to admission.
13 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
14which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
15application for admission to the University as a freshman
16student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
17active duty during the fall semester. The University may
18request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
19status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
20was on active duty during the fall semester.
21(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)