Public Act 0402 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1958 Enrolled LRB104 10341 LNS 20415 b

Public Act 104-0402

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act is amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 20, and 25 and by adding Sections 3, 21, and 24 as follows:

(110 ILCS 150/3 new)

Sec. 3. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to enhance the transfer of academic credits between community colleges and State universities in Illinois, ensuring equitable and consistent practices, reducing barriers for students, and promoting accountability and transparency in transfer credit acceptance.

(110 ILCS 150/5)

Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Associate degree for transfer" means any of the following community college degree programs: Associate in Arts; Associate in Engineering Science; Associate in Fine Arts; or Associate in Science.

"Community college" means a public community college in this State.

"State university" means a public university in this State.

"Transfer articulation agreement" means a formal written agreement between a community college and State university that outlines a process for the seamless transfer of credits from an associate degree for transfer from a community college to a bachelor's degree at a State university.

(Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)

(110 ILCS 150/10)

Sec. 10. Associate degree for transfer.

(a) Commencing with the fall term of the 2016-2017 academic year, a community college student who earns an associate degree for transfer, an Associate of Arts, or an Associate of Science that is consistent with degree requirements of the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education and aligned with the policies and procedures of the Illinois Articulation Initiative, granted pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section is deemed eligible for transfer into the baccalaureate program of a State university if the student meets the requirements of the transfer degree and major-specific prerequisites and obtains a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

(b) As a condition of receipt of State funds, a community college district shall develop and grant associate degrees for transfer that meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section. A community college district may not impose any requirements in addition to the requirements of this Section for a student to be eligible for an associate degree for transfer and subsequent admission to a State university pursuant to Section 15 of this Act without the approval of the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education.

(c) The General Assembly encourages a community college district to enter into transfer consider the articulation agreements and other work between the respective faculties from the affected community college and State universities in implementing the requirements of this Section. Pursuant to Section 21 of this Act, if a transfer articulation agreement is requested by a community college district or State university, both parties shall enter into an agreement.

(d) A community college shall The General Assembly encourages community colleges to facilitate the acceptance of credits earned at other community colleges toward an associate degree for transfer pursuant to this Section.

(e) This Section does not preclude students who are assessed below collegiate level from acquiring remedial noncollegiate level coursework in preparation for obtaining an associate degree for transfer. Remedial noncollegiate level coursework and all other non-transfer coursework must not be counted as part of the transferable units required pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)

(110 ILCS 150/20)

Sec. 20. Coursework.

(a) A State university may not require a student transferring pursuant to this Act to take more than 60 additional semester units beyond the lower-division major requirements for majors requiring 120 semester units, provided that the student remains enrolled in the same program of study and has completed university major transfer requirements. Specified high unit majors are exempt from this subsection (a) upon agreement by the board of trustees of the State university and the Board of Higher Education.

(b) A State university may not require students transferring pursuant to this Act to repeat courses that are articulated with those taken at the community college and counted toward an associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to Section 10 of this Act.

(c) A The General Assembly encourages State university shall universities to facilitate the seamless transfer of credits toward a baccalaureate degree pursuant to the intent of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)

(110 ILCS 150/21 new)

Sec. 21. Community college and State university transfer articulation agreements.

(a) A State university or community college shall, upon the request of the community college district or State university, enter into a transfer articulation agreement to provide a seamless pathway for transfer. The community college or State university may request to enter into multiple articulation agreements as appropriate and requested.

The agreement between the State university and the community college district may include 2+2 programs, which are designed for students to take half of a degree at the community college and the second half of the degree at the State university, or 3+1 programs, which are designed for students to transfer to the State university for completion of their final, senior-level coursework if permitted by 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1050, university policy, institutional accreditors, and professional licensure bodies.

(b) Community colleges and State universities are also encouraged to enter into agreements whereby community college students may indicate their transfer destination of choice on their application to the community college. If a transfer destination is provided, the community college may share the student's contact information with the destination university so that it may contact the student and co-advise the student on the recommended coursework for seamless transfer.

(c) A transfer articulation agreement shall be signed by the president or chancellor of the community college or the president's or chancellor's designee and by the president or chancellor of the State university or the president's or chancellor's designee.

A transfer articulation agreement shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement identifying the participating institutions or divisions of institutions that are part of the agreement.

(2) A list of the eligibility criteria for transfer admissions, including any minimum grade-point-average requirements and prerequisites needed. Any limitations to the agreement for admission to specific academic programs shall also be included.

(3) A list of any scholarships or financial assistance available to students participating in the articulation agreement.

(4) A standardized transfer-credit framework for general education and lower-division, major-specific courses that clearly identifies specific courses that will transfer between institutions, the number of credits that will transfer, the program at the State university to which credits will apply, if applicable, and an outline of how transferred credits will be applied toward degree requirements.

(5) A clearly defined transfer pathway outlining how students at the community college can progress from their program at the community college to the corresponding program at the State university and be granted junior or senior status as appropriate.

(6) Other degree requirements, including, but not limited to, standardized test scores, required clinical hours, internships, or residency requirements.

(7) A policy on the reverse transfer of credit for those students who transfer prior to completion of the community college degree as stated in the agreement and, as applicable, the transfer of credit earned for experiential learning, including, but not limited to, prior learning assessment and competency-based education.

(8) The academic and non-academic opportunities and support, such as designated transfer admission coordinators, academic advisors, or other support specific to student participating in the agreement, if applicable.

(9) Data-sharing requirements and limitations, including, if applicable, assessment policies to measure the effectiveness of the agreement.

(10) An agreement on the marketing process and responsibilities for programs covered by the articulation agreement, including any limitations imposed by either party.

(11) A clear and transparent policy and appeal process for resolving disputes over transfer credit acceptance.

(12) Dates of applicability of the agreement and conditions for renewal or termination of the agreement.

(d) A transfer articulation agreement executed under this Section does not negate any previous transfer articulation agreement between a community college and a State university.

(e) If, within 180 calendar days after the initial request to enter into a transfer articulation agreement, the community college and State university do not reach an agreement on the transfer articulation agreement, then the community college may submit a written request to the Illinois Community College Board or the State university may submit a written request to the Board of Higher Education, which shall jointly assist with facilitation of an agreement between the community college and State university.

(110 ILCS 150/24 new)

Sec. 24. Transfer credit review process. Each community college and State university shall publish the institution's process and a timeline for reviewing and making decisions regarding transfer credit requests on the institution's website. The institution shall update its website within 30 days after making a change to its process and timeline for reviewing and making decisions regarding transfer credit requests.

(110 ILCS 150/25)

Sec. 25. Reporting requirements on course transfer Board of Higher Education reviews and reports.

(a) (Blank). The Board of Higher Education shall review the implementation of this Act and file a report on that review with the General Assembly on or before May 31, 2017, as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act.

(b) (Blank). The Board of Higher Education shall review both of the following and file a report on that review with the General Assembly within 4 years after the effective date of this Act, as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act:

(1) The outcomes of implementation of this Act, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The number and percentage of community college students who transferred to a State university and earned an associate degree for transfer pursuant to this Act.

(B) The average amount of time and units it takes a community college student earning an associate degree for transfer pursuant to this Act to transfer to and graduate from a State university, as compared to the average amount of time and units it took community college transfer students prior to the implementation of this Act and compared to students using other transfer processes available.

(C) Student progression and completion rates.

(D) Other relevant indicators of student success.

(E) The degree to which the requirements for an associate degree for transfer take into account existing articulation agreements and the degree to which community colleges facilitate the acceptance of credits between community college districts, as outlined in subsections (c) and (d) of Section 10 of this Act.

(F) It is the intent of the General Assembly that student outcome data provided under this subsection (b) include the degree to which State universities were able to accommodate students admitted under this Act in being admitted to the State university of their choice and in a major that is similar to their community college major.

(2) Recommendations for statutory changes necessary to facilitate the goal of a clear and transparent transfer process.

(c) For the purposes of this subsection (c), "courses" refers only to those courses for which a student has received a passing grade as determined by a State university.

By October 1, 2027 and by October 1 of each subsequent year, each State university shall report to the Board of Higher Education, in a form prescribed by the Board of Higher Education, all of the following information based on the previous academic year:

(1) The total number of community college transfer students admitted, offered provisional admission, and denied admission, disaggregated by a student's community college district of origin.

(2) Of the transfer students enrolled, the total number of courses presented for transfer and number of courses accepted for transfer, in accordance with subsection (e) of Section 10, from each community college district.

(3) For each Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curricula course, the number of courses that are denied transfer from each community college district.

(4) For each Illinois Articulation Initiative major course, the number of courses that are denied transfer from each community college district, the number of courses that are accepted for elective credit but not major credit, and the number of courses that are accepted for major credit.

(5) Beginning October 1, 2028, for each non-Illinois Articulation Initiative course, in accordance with subsection (e) of Section 10, the number of courses that are denied transfer from each community college district.

The Board of Higher Education shall publish an analysis and report of the information provided by State universities by March 1, 2028 and by March 1 of each subsequent year. The report shall be filed with the Governor and General Assembly. An electronic copy of the report shall be accessible on the Board of Higher Education's official website. The Illinois Community College Board and Board of Higher Education shall, every 3 years, review the reports to determine if the reports are generating useful information or whether the reports need to be revised or discontinued.

(Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.