Bill Text: IL SB1883 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Chaptered

---

Bill Title: Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, following notification to and a period of consultation with the appropriate board of control, the Board of Higher Education is authorized to take action on the dissolution or reduce in scope any and all existing programs of instruction, research, or public service that the Board finds to lack educational or economical justification at the public universities and community colleges. Requires each public university and community college to submit its plan for capital improvements of non-instructional facilities to the Board for approval before final commitments are made only if the total cost of the project as approved by the institution's board of control is in excess of $2 million.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-2)

Status: (Passed) 2011-08-26 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0610 [SB1883 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SB1883-Chaptered.html

---

Public Act 097-0610
SB1883 Enrolled LRB097 09271 NHT 49406 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by
changing Sections 7 and 8 as follows:
(110 ILCS 205/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 187)
Sec. 7. The Board of Trustees of the University of
Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois
University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University,
the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board
of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of
Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of
Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of
Northern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Western
Illinois University, the Illinois Community College Board and
the campuses under their governance or supervision shall not
hereafter undertake the establishment of any new unit of
instruction, research or public service without the approval of
the Board. The term "new unit of instruction, research or
public service" includes the establishment of a college,
school, division, institute, department or other unit in any
field of instruction, research or public service not
theretofore included in the program of the institution, and

includes the establishment of any new branch or campus. The
term does not include reasonable and moderate extensions of
existing curricula, research, or public service programs which
have a direct relationship to existing programs; and the Board
may, under its rule making power, define the character of such
reasonable and moderate extensions.
Such governing boards shall submit to the Board all
proposals for a new unit of instruction, research, or public
service. The Board may approve or disapprove the proposal in
whole or in part or approve modifications thereof whenever in
its judgment such action is consistent with the objectives of
an existing or proposed master plan of higher education.
The Board of Higher Education is authorized to review
periodically all existing programs of instruction, research
and public service at the State state universities and colleges
and to advise the appropriate board of control if the
contribution of each program is not educationally and
economically justified. Each State university shall report
annually to the Board on programs of instruction, research, or
public service that have been terminated, dissolved, reduced,
or consolidated by the university. Each State university shall
also report to the Board all programs of instruction, research,
and public service that exhibit a trend of low performance in
enrollments, degree completions, and high expense per degree.
The Board shall compile an annual report that shall contain
information on new programs created, existing programs that

have been closed or consolidated, and programs that exhibit low
performance or productivity. The report must be submitted to
the General Assembly. The Board shall have the authority to
define relevant terms and timelines by rule with respect to
this reporting.
(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)
(110 ILCS 205/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 188)
Sec. 8. The Board of Trustees of the University of
Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois
University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University,
the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board
of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of
Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of
Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of
Northern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Western
Illinois University, and the Illinois Community College Board
shall submit to the Board not later than the 15th day of
November of each year its budget proposals for the operation
and capital needs of the institutions under its governance or
supervision for the ensuing fiscal year. Each budget proposal
shall conform to the procedures developed by the Board in the
design of an information system for State universities and
colleges.
In order to maintain a cohesive system of higher education,
the Board and its staff shall communicate on a regular basis

with all public university presidents. They shall meet at least
semiannually to achieve economies of scale where possible and
provide the most innovative and efficient programs and
services.
The Board, in the analysis of formulating the annual budget
request, shall consider rates of tuition and fees at the state
universities and colleges. The Board shall also consider the
current and projected utilization of the total physical plant
of each campus of a university or college in approving the
capital budget for any new building or facility.
The Board of Higher Education shall submit to the Governor,
to the General Assembly, and to the appropriate budget agencies
of the Governor and General Assembly its analysis and
recommendations on such budget proposals.
Each state supported institution within the application of
this Act must submit its plan for capital improvements of
non-instructional facilities to the Board for approval before
final commitments are made if the total cost of the project as
approved by the institution's board of control is in excess of
$2 million. Non-instructional uses shall include but not be
limited to dormitories, union buildings, field houses,
stadium, other recreational facilities and parking lots. The
Board shall determine whether or not any project submitted for
approval is consistent with the master plan for higher
education and with instructional buildings that are provided
for therein. If the project is found by a majority of the Board

not to be consistent, such capital improvement shall not be
constructed.
(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)