Section 1501.101  Definition of Terms and Incorporations by Reference

 

a)         Definitions

 

"Act" means the Public Community College Act [110 ILCS 805]. 

 

"Board" means the Board of Trustees of an Illinois public community college district.

 

"Classification of Instructional Programs" or "CIP" means a taxonomic scheme that supports the accurate tracking and reporting of fields of study and program completion activity.

 

"College" means an Illinois public community college.

 

"Executive Director" means the executive officer of the ICCB.

 

"ICCB" or "State Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.

 

 "ICCB Grants" means funds appropriated by the State of Illinois to ICCB for community colleges.

 

"Student Member" means the member of ICCB who has been selected by ICCB's Student Advisory Committee. The student member has all the privileges of membership defined in Section 2-3 of the Act.

 

"Recognition Continued" means a status granted to a district that generally meets ICCB standards.

 

"Recognition Continued-with Conditions" means a status granted to a district that generally does not meet ICCB standards.  A district is judged not to meet ICCB standards when one or more of the following conditions exist:  

 

the district continues to be out of compliance with standards cited during the previous visit;

 

applicable standards are disregarded; and/or

 

the district is found to be out of compliance with significant applicable standards.

 

"Recognition Interrupted" is a status granted to a district that fails to meet ICCB standards within a specified period of time after being assigned a status of recognition continued-with conditions.

 

"Shared Data Agreement" means a written contract between parties that defines the care and handling of sensitive or restricted use data, including, but not limited to, the terms of the agreement, ownership of the data, security measures and access to the data, uses of the data, data confidentiality procedures, duration of the agreement, and disposition of the data at the completion of the contract.

 

"Student Advisory Committee" or "SAC" means the ICCB student advisory committee created by Section 2-1 of the Act.

 

"Student-Level Data" means demographic, performance, and other data that pertains to a single student.

 

b)         Incorporation by Reference

"Program Classification Structure", 2^nd Edition (Technical Report 106) (1978). Collier, Douglas J. This document may be obtained from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), 3035 Center Green Drive, Suite 150, Boulder CO 80301-2251 or from info@nchems.org. This incorporation by reference does not include any later editions or amendments.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.102  Advisory Groups

 

a)         Advisory Organizations.  Independent organizations may be considered by the ICCB to be advisory upon petition to the State Board.  Independent organizations so recognized by the ICCB as "advisory" will have the opportunity to bring matters before the ICCB during a regular ICCB meeting and will have an opportunity to provide advice to the ICCB on proposed rule and policy adoptions and matters of interest to community colleges.  An advisory organization may have its recognition status withdrawn by action of the ICCB or by request of the organization.  Advisory organization recognition may be granted by the ICCB at the request of an organization that meets the following criteria:

 

1)         The organization exists independently of ICCB and any individual college;

 

2)         A primary purpose of the organization is to deal with matters of systemwide importance; and

 

3)         Representatives of Illinois community college districts are included as voting members of the organization.

 

b)         Advisory Committees.  Advisory committees to the ICCB may be authorized and appointed by the ICCB.  Membership and terms of appointment shall be established at the time of authorization.

 

c)         Student Advisory Committee

 

1)         Purpose.  The purposes of this committee are to:

 

A)        Review proposed ICCB policies;

 

B)        Inform the ICCB of systemwide issues that impact the education of community college students; and

 

C)        Select the ICCB Student Member.

 

2)         Membership. Each member of the Student Advisory Committee shall be the nonvoting student member of the local district board of trustees.  In the case of multi-college districts, the student trustee of the district shall automatically be designated as the voting member for the individual college where he or she attends. If the student member of the local district board of trustees cannot  serve and, for colleges that are part of a multi-college district not represented by the district's student member, the district's president or chief executive officer may designate a student as a voting member.  No community college shall have more than one voting member per college.  The ICCB Student Member will serve ex officio.

 

3)         Officers.  The Student Advisory Committee shall annually select the following officers from its membership to serve a one-year term: a Chair to conduct the meeting of the Committee; a Vice Chair to assist the Chair, to conduct the meeting if the Chair is absent, and to represent the SAC on the IBHE Student Advisory Committee; and a Recording Officer to record the minutes of all SAC meetings.

 

4)         The Executive Director of ICCB shall call SAC meetings as necessary and notify each local district board of trustees at least 30 days in advance.

 

5)         ICCB Meetings.  The SAC report shall be given at regular ICCB meetings

 

d)         Selection of ICCB Student Member. The SAC will seek nominations for the ICCB Student Member from all Illinois public community colleges. A college district can nominate one candidate for this position. The nomination shall include information such as personal information (name and address), number of credit hours (current and expected), college and community activities, resume, letters of reference, and rationale for desiring the position. The ICCB Student Member shall be elected before June 1 by a majority vote of SAC members present from all nominations who meet ICCB student membership requirements as delineated in subsection (e).

 

e)         Membership Requirements of ICCB Student Member.  The ICCB Student Member shall be enrolled in an Illinois public community college for a minimum course load of six semester hours during both the fall and spring semesters or equivalent for each term of his/her appointment.  If the course load of the ICCB Student Member falls below the minimum credit hours, that member shall be replaced by a majority vote of the SAC members present at the next SAC meeting.

 

f)         Length of Term of ICCB Student Member.  The ICCB Student Member shall serve for a term of one year beginning on July 1 and expiring on June 30.  No ICCB Student Member shall serve for more than two terms.  Service during a partial term shall not be considered as one term.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.103  Rule Adoption (Recodified)

 

(Source:  Recodified to 2 Ill. Adm. Code 5175.140 at 8 Ill. Reg. 6032, effective April 24, 1984)

 

Section 1501.104  Manuals

 

The Executive Director is authorized to develop and promulgate manuals for the purpose of administering ICCB rules.

 

Section 1501.105  Advisory Opinions

 

ICCB will provide advisory opinions regarding interpretation of the Act to community colleges upon request of the district's chief executive officer or Chair of the board and with the approval of the ICCB Chair and Executive Director. These opinions also will be provided to recognized advisory organizations upon request of the chair of each group, subject to the approval of the ICCB Chair and Executive Director.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 18869, effective October 3, 2018)

 

Section 1501.106  Executive Director

 

The Executive Director shall perform all specific statutory responsibilities, administer the ICCB rules, and perform any other duties requested or delegated by the ICCB.

 

Section 1501.107  Information Request (Recodified)

 

(Source:  Recodified to 2 Ill. Adm. Code 5175.30 at 8 Ill. Reg. 6032, effective April 24, 1984)

 

Section 1501.108  Organization of ICCB (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.109  Appearance at ICCB Meetings (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.110  Appeal Procedure

 

Any ICCB decision, not otherwise covered by a specific appeal procedure, may be appealed within thirty (30) days of the decision by submitting a written request for reconsideration of the decision to the ICCB Chair. The Chair shall review the request and place it on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the ICCB.  The appellant may make both oral and written presentations to the ICCB at the time the decision is reconsidered.

 

(Source:  Amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 4635, effective March 9, 1994)

 

Section 1501.111  Reporting Requirements (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 16 Ill. Reg. 12445, effective July 24, 1992)

 

Section 1501.112  Certification of Organization (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 16 Ill. Reg. 12445, effective July 24, 1992)

 

Section 1501.113  Administration of Detachments and Subsequent Annexations

 

a)         ICCB decisions concerning approval or disapproval of requested detachments and subsequent annexations are required by Section 6-5.3 of the Act to be based on the criteria of being in the best interests of the schools in the general area and the educational welfare of the students residing within the territory. These criteria are defined as follows:

 

1)         In the best interests of schools – The effect of the proposed annexation/new district formation on:

 

A)        Reasonableness of cost to taxpayers of the territory being annexed to an existing community college district or becoming part of a new community college district, that is, whether the operating tax rate of the community college district exceeds the chargeback levy of the nondistrict territory;

 

B)        Finances of the existing or new community college district, that is, the equalized assessed valuation of the nondistrict territory is examined to determine how much tax revenue will be generated for the community college district to which the nondistrict territory could annex; and

 

C)        Enrollments of the existing district,

 

i)          which community college the nondistrict territory students have been attending; and

 

ii)         effect of additional enrollments when the nondistrict territory is annexed to a community college district.

 

2)         Educational welfare of students – The effect of the proposed annexation/new district formation on:

 

A)        Program availability to students of the territory being annexed to an existing community college district, that is, will the program be more available to students should annexation be approved?

 

B)        Physical access of students to the campus(es) of the existing or new community college district, that is, what is the distance and time which the students must travel to attend?

 

C)        Cost to students to attend the existing or new community college district, that is, what are the tuition and fees and commuting costs associated with attending that community college district?

 

D)        And participation by students in their normal economic, cultural, and social activities, that is, where do potential students shop, work, and attend religious and cultural events?

 

b)         In addition to the criteria identified in subsection (a), consideration will be given to the expressed wishes of local residents.  The expression shall be in the form of signatures on a petition submitted in accordance with Section 6-5.3 of the Act.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 18869, effective October 3, 2018)

 

Section 1501.114  Recognition

 

a)         Recognition Provisions

 

1)         Recognition Status.  A district will be granted a status of recognition continued, recognition continued − with conditions, or recognition interrupted.

 

2)         Effect of Recognition Continued.  A district that has been granted the status of recognition continued will be entitled to receive ICCB grants for which it is otherwise entitled and eligible.

 

3)         Effect of Recognition Continued-With Conditions.  A district that has been granted the status of recognition continued − with conditions will be entitled to receive ICCB grants for which it is otherwise entitled and eligible, but it will be given a specified time to resolve the conditions that led to its assignment to that status.  A follow-up visit will be scheduled not sooner than three nor later than nine months after ICCB action on the assignment to determine the district's progress in resolving the conditions.

 

4)         Effect of Recognition Interrupted.  A district that has been granted a status of recognition interrupted may apply for recognition when all requirements set forth by ICCB have been satisfied.  A district on recognition interrupted status will have State funding suspended on a prorata, per diem basis for the period for that such status is in effect.

 

5)         Recognition Action.  Recognition is considered to be continuous unless action is taken to interrupt it.  The ICCB will act on the recognition status of a district at the meeting subsequent to the ICCB recognition report being received.  A district that previously has not been granted a recognition status by the ICCB may apply for a recognition status at any time.  A district that has the status of recognition continued shall apply for continuation of that status at least 30 days before a scheduled recognition team visit.

 

b)         Evaluation.  The ICCB staff recognition team will conduct an in-depth evaluation of a district at least once every  5 years. Additional or alternate focused evaluations may be conducted to review circumstances of alleged gross noncompliance with ICCB standards. The purpose of the evaluation will be to determine compliance with ICCB standards.  The evaluation may include an on-site visit.  No district will be granted a recognition status without having received a prior in-depth evaluation.  A district will receive a draft report of the recognition team's findings no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the evaluation.  The district will have 30 days to review the draft report, respond to compliance recommendations, and return the responses to ICCB.  A final report will be presented to the ICCB at its next regularly scheduled meeting and will include the district's responses to the draft report's findings.  Accompanying the final report will be the evaluating team's recommendation for recognition status.

 

c)         Review and Appeal.  The ICCB may place a district on a recognition interrupted status for failure to meet ICCB standards after being granted a status of recognition continued − with conditions and receiving a follow-up evaluation if the district has not resolved the conditions within the stated time allowed. Any district whose recognition is interrupted may file a written request with the ICCB for a hearing on the decision in accordance with Section 1501.110. Pending the hearing and decision, any consequences of recognition interrupted will be suspended.

 

d)         Recognition Standards.  The recognition standards by which a district will be evaluated for recognition purposes will be the applicable statutes within the Public Community College Act and applicable ICCB rules.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 18869, effective October 3, 2018)

 

Section 1501.115  Data Repository

 

Under the authority of the P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act (105 ILCS 13], ICCB is the State Education Authority responsible for collecting and maintaining authoritative enrollment, completion, and student characteristic information on community college students.  Illinois Community College system data collection, administrative data matching, and reporting is coordinated through ICCB.

 

(Source:  Added at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.116  Use, Security and Confidentiality of Data

 

a)         The ICCB and entities accessing ICCB data shall comply with all applicable federal and State laws which regulate the privacy and use of, and access to, shared data. (See, e.g., the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 USC 1232g); the Illinois School Student Records Act [105 ILCS 10]; the Data Processing Confidentiality Act [30 ILCS 585]; the Freedom of Information Act [5 ILCS 140]; Section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 USC 1094)).

 

b)         ICCB data is confidential and shall not be used or shared for any purpose other than that which is directly related to internal operations of ICCB or that which is stipulated in an ICCB shared data agreement with another entity.  Entities accessing ICCB data shall be responsible for meeting ICCB shared data agreement security procedures and protocols, pursuant to Section 1501.117, to protect the integrity of the data accessed, stored, transmitted or received.

 

(Source:  Added at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.117  Shared Data Agreements

 

a)         Student-level data furnished by the ICCB on behalf of Illinois community colleges is licensed by ICCB and remains the property of ICCB.

 

b)         All requests for data files, data products, aggregations or reports containing student-level data elements, except in the case of State and federal mandated accountability reporting,  shall be made in writing to ICCB using ICCB forms.

 

c)         All requests shall be approved by the Executive Director prior to execution of a shared data agreement.

 

d)         All data obtained from ICCB shall be used solely for the purpose identified by the requesting entity.  The scope and term of this usage will be detailed in a shared data agreement specific to each request.  Use of the data for any other purpose shall require a separate and specific written request, approval, and shared data agreement.

 

e)         The entity in receipt of ICCB student-level data must comply with applicable laws and regulations with respect to the protection of privacy, security and dissemination of the confidential information.  Upon completion of the data sharing purpose, the entity shall return it to ICCB or destroy it and any copies, as specified in the data sharing agreement. 

 

(Source:  Added at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.118  Processing Fees

 

The Board may charge fees to the requesting entity for providing access to data files or producing studies, data products or analyses of data.  A schedule of fees for datasets and products is set forth in Appendix A.  In addition to standard data product fees, the Board will assess a 30 percent surcharge for complex requests related to longitudinal analysis and generation of outcomes measures.  Providing outcomes measures includes data compilation for performance and evaluation and interpretation of results.

 

(Source:  Added at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.201  Reporting Requirements

 

Complete and accurate reports shall be submitted by the district/college to ICCB in accordance with ICCB requirements and on forms provided by ICCB, where applicable. Listed in this Section is the schedule of due dates indicating when items from the community colleges are due at the Illinois Community College Board Office:

 

January 15	•	annual financial statements and notice of publication (see Section 1501.506)
January 31	•	certificate of tax levy (see Section 1501.510(d))
February 1	•	annual African American Employment Plan Survey (see Section 1501.308(b))
	•	annual Asian Employment Plan Survey (see Section 1501.308(b))
	•	annual Bilingual Needs and Bilingual Pay Survey (see Section 1501.308(b))
	•	annual Hispanic/Latino Employment Plan Survey (see Section 1501.308(b))
	•	Annual Native American Employment Plan Survey (see Section 1501.308(b))
February 15	•	spring semester (2nd term) enrollment survey (see Section 1501.406(b))
March 1	•	annual Underrepresented Groups Report (see Section 1501.406(c))
March 31	•	policies for the award of academic credit for prior learning (see Section
		1501.311(a))
June 15	•	annual faculty and staff salary and benefits data (see Section 1501.308(a))
July 15	•	report of out-of-state extensions (see Section 1501.312(d)(4))
	•	annual noncredit course enrollment N1 (see Section 1501.406(d))
August 1	•	annual student enrollment and completion data (see Section 1501.406(a))
	•	Resource Allocation and Management Plan (RAMP/CC) (see Section 1501.510(a))
	•	annual tuition and fees survey (see Section 510(e))
	•	Facilities data (see Section 1501.607)
September 1	•	budget and tax survey (see Section 1501.510(c))
	•	program review report (see Section 1501.303(d)(7))
	•	program review listing (see Section 1501.303(d)(7))
	•	annual Student Identification data submission (see Section 1501.406(f))
	•	annual report of student course information submission (see Section 1501.406(g))
October 1	•	fall semester enrollment data (see Section 1501.406(a))
	•	fall semester enrollment survey (see Section 1501.406(b))
October 15	•	fiscal year budget (see Section 1501.504)
November 1	•	summer graduate reporting (for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Graduation Rate Survey) (see Section 1501.406(e))
November 15	•	faculty, staff, and salary data (see Section 1501.308(a))
December 30	•	institutional plan for scaling evidence-based developmental education reforms (see Section 1501.314(d))
	•	external audit (see Section 1501.503(a))
	•	annual instructional cost report (see Section 1501.510(c))
	•	unexpended special initiative grant funds return report (see Section 1501.519(d))
30 days after the end of each term	•	credit hour claims (see Section 1501.507(a))

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.202  Certification of Organization

 

Within five working days after the convening of the newly elected board or the new board as provided in Section 3-8 of the Act, the chair of the board of trustees shall certify in writing to the ICCB that the board of trustees has been organized.  The certification shall include the name of the chair, vice chair, and the secretary and state the time and place of regular meetings. If the board, by resolution, establishes a policy for the terms of office to be one year, instead of the normal two years, or provides for the election of officers for the remaining one year, a copy of this resolution shall also accompany the certification.

 

(Source:  Amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 4635, effective March 9, 1994)

 

Section 1501.203  Delineation of Responsibilities

 

The board and administration responsibilities shall be delineated as follows:

 

a)         The board shall serve as the policy-making body for the district and for all colleges within the district.

 

b)         Roles of the board and of the chief executive officer and administrative staff shall be delineated in board policies.

 

c)         Administration of the district/college shall be in accordance with policies of the board.

 

(Source:  Section repealed, new Section added at 16 Ill. Reg. 12445, effective July 24, 1992)

 

Section 1501.204  Maintenance of Documents or Information

 

The district shall maintain the following documents or information:

 

a)         board policy manual;

 

b)         staff handbook(s) or copy of rules pertaining to faculty and administrative staff;

 

c)         organizational chart;

 

d)         college catalog or other written information on course listings, programs, admission requirements, grading system, financial aid, and graduation requirements; and

 

e)         student handbook or copy of rules pertaining to students.

 

(Source:  Section repealed, new Section added at 16 Ill. Reg. 12445, effective July 24, 1992)

 

Section 1501.205  Recognition Standards (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 16 Ill. Reg. 12445, effective July 24, 1992)

 

Section 1501.206  Approval of Providers of Training for Trustee Leadership Training

 

Entities that offer professional development activities, such as training organizations, institutions, firms, professional associations, and colleges and universities, may apply to the State Board for approval to conduct leadership training activities for members of the board of trustees of an Illinois public community college district in each of the topics specified in Section 3-8.5 of the Act. 

 

a)         Except as provided in subsections (b), each entity wishing to receive approval to offer the leadership training required under Section 3-8.5 of the Act shall submit an application on a form supplied by the State Board.  Each entity shall provide:

 

1)         a description of the intended offerings in any of the required areas;

 

2)         the qualifications and experience of the entity and of each presenter to be assigned to provide the leadership training, which shall include evidence of a presenter's specific skills and knowledge in the area or areas in which he or she will be assigned;

 

3)         the mode of delivery of the professional development (e.g., in-person instruction, online learning);

 

4)         a sample course schedule or syllabi; and

 

5)         a schedule of fees the entity intends to charge for each mode of delivery of training.

 

b)         An entity that meets any of the following criteria will be pre-approved by the State Board to provide leadership training:

 

1)         The leadership training course or course provider is accredited by the Illinois Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board;

 

2)         The leadership training provider is an Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation registered public accountant continuing professional education sponsor;

 

3)         The leadership training course is provided by an Illinois public community college using the college's own qualified faculty or staff; or

 

4)         The leadership training course is provided by the Illinois Office of the Attorney General.

 

c)         All pre-approved entities, except the Illinois Office of the Attorney General, shall submit notification of intent to provide leadership training and verification of status as a pre-approved provider on forms provided by the State Board. The State Board may request reverification of pre-approved status at any time.

 

d)         Applicants may be asked to clarify particular aspects of their materials.

 

e)         The State Board shall consider each application for approval at its next regularly scheduled meeting.  Applications submitted within 30 days prior to a regularly scheduled State Board meeting shall be considered at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

f)         An entity shall be approved to offer leadership training if the entity's application presents evidence that:

 

1)         the leadership training that it sponsors or conducts will be developed and presented by persons with education and experience in the applicable areas to which they will be assigned; and

 

2)         the proposed training meets the requirements of Section 3-8.5 of the Act.

 

g)         The State Board will post on its website the list of all approved providers. The website also will indicate that the Illinois Community College Trustees Association is authorized under Section 3-8.5(c) of the Act to provide leadership training. 

 

h)         Approval as a provider shall be valid for two years commencing on the date of initial approval or renewal. To request renewal of approval, a provider shall submit a renewal application on a form supplied by the State Board containing:

 

1)         a description of any significant changes in the material submitted as part of its approved application or a certification that no such changes have occurred;

 

2)         evidence that the material to be used in the renewal cycle conforms to current statute, rules and procedures of the State Board; and

 

3)         a listing of trainings provided during the last approval period.

 

i)          A provider's approval shall be renewed if the application conforms to the requirements of subsection (h), provided that the Executive Director has received no evidence of noncompliance with the requirements of this Section.

 

j)          The State Board may evaluate an approved provider at any time to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Section. Upon request by the State Board, a provider shall supply information regarding its schedule of leadership training, which the State Board may, at its discretion, monitor at any time.  In the event an evaluation indicates that the requirements have not been met, the State Board may withdraw approval of the provider.

 

(Source:  Added at 43 Ill. Reg. 7454, effective June 20, 2019)

 

Section 1501.207  Local District Board Member Vacancy

 

a)         Within five working days after a vacancy occurs on an elected board of trustees, the chair of the board of trustees shall notify the ICCB in writing of the name of the trustee and the date of vacancy. 

 

b)         The remaining members shall fill the vacancy in accordance with Section 3-7 of the Act.  [110 ILCS 805]. Upon filling the vacancy, the chair of the board of trustees shall notify the ICCB in writing of the name of the newly appointed trustee and the effective date of the appointment.

 

c)         If the remaining members fail so to act within 60 days after the vacancy occurs, the chair of the ICCB shall fill the vacancy in accordance with Section 3-7 of the Act.  [110 ILCS 805].

 

(Source:  Added at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.301  Definition of Terms

 

"Adult Basic Education" means basic skills courses designed to bring students to a competency of Grade 8 equivalency, including English as a Second Language.

 

"Adult Secondary Education" means courses designed to bring students to a competency of Grade 12 equivalency, including English as a Second Language, and the high school equivalency examination preparation.

 

"Associate Degree" means an award for satisfactory completion of a curriculum of 60 semester credit hours or more.

 

"Associate in Applied Science Degree" means an award for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum intended to prepare individuals for employment in a specific field.

 

"Associate in Arts Degree" means an award for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum intended to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs in one of the arts, humanities, or social or behavioral sciences or one of the professional fields with these disciplines as a base.

 

"Associate in Engineering Science Degree" means an award for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum intended to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs in engineering.

 

"Associate in Fine Arts Degree" means an award for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum intended to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs in one of the fine arts: art, music, or theater.

 

"Associate in General Studies Degree" means an award for the satisfactory completion of a curriculum that has been individually designed by mutual agreement between the student and his/her college-appointed advisor to meet the student's educational intent.

 

"Associate in Science Degree" means an award for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum intended to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs in one of the mathematical, biological, or physical sciences or one of the professional fields with these disciplines as a base.

 

"Baccalaureate/Transfer Education" means coursework intended to prepare individuals for transfer into a baccalaureate curriculum in a related field of study.

 

"Branch" means an administrative unit of a college that has a continuing educational mission and serves as a secondary instructional site for the college.

 

"Bridge Instruction" means coursework in adult education, developmental education, career and technical education, vocational skills education, or a combination of these types of education, to prepare individuals for entering credit courses and curricula.

 

"Campus" means an organized administrative unit of a college that has a continuing educational mission and serves as a primary instructional site for the college.

 

"Career and Technical Education" means organized educational programs of study that prepare students for employment in a specific field and should be aligned with related secondary and/or upper-division programs that require a common knowledge and skill set.

 

"Certificate" means an award for satisfactory completion of a series of courses or curriculum of less than 59 semester credit hours.

 

"General Certificate" means a noncredit award for satisfactory completion of a series of courses of 30 semester credit hours or less in adult basic education, adult secondary education, remedial education, vocational skills, or general studies.

 

"Occupational or Career and Technical Certificate" means a credit award for satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum intended to prepare an individual for employment in a specific field.

 

"College" means a district's administrative unit that is authorized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to grant postsecondary-level degrees and certificates, is recognized by the ICCB, and provides a comprehensive program of instruction in accordance with Section 1-2(e) of the Act.

 

"Contact Hour" means instructional time based on a 50-60 minute clock hour of instructional activity that may include classroom, online, laboratory, clinical or work-based instruction or any combination of those instructional methods.

 

"Cooperative Agreement" means a contract or agreement between a college and one or more other colleges, organizations, associations, educational institutions, or government agencies to obtain, deliver, or share educational services for academic credit.  A cooperative agreement does not include collective bargaining agreements with any labor organization.

 

"Course" means a sequential presentation, through one or more instructional modes, of subject matter in a particular field to meet specific objectives within a designated time period, such as a semester or a quarter.

 

"Credit for Prior Learning" means evaluation and assessment of a student's life learning through employment, training and experiences outside an academic environment from which skills that comprise terminal objectives are mastered to an acceptable degree of proficiency for college credit, certification or advanced standing toward further education or training.

 

"Curriculum" means an approved unit of instruction consisting of a series of courses designed to lead to an associate degree or a certificate.

 

"District Curriculum" means a curriculum approved for offering within a district, on the basis of student interest, employment demand, and available resources within the district.

 

"General Studies Curriculum" means a curriculum designed to meet individual student goals, in the promotion of personal improvement and self-understanding.

 

"Regional Curriculum" means a curriculum approved for offering within a particular region of the State, on the basis of student interest and employment demand within the region. An institution holding authority to offer a regional curriculum shall not exclude additional districts, including those within the defined region or regional consortia of colleges, from requesting approval to offer the same curriculum in its district.

 

"Statewide Curriculum" means a curriculum approved for offering on the basis of student interest and employment demand statewide. An institution holding authority to offer a statewide curriculum shall not exclude additional districts from requesting approval to offer the same curriculum statewide, regionally or in its district.

 

"Developmental Education" means courses in computation, communication (that is, writing and speaking), and reading, designed to improve the competency of high school graduates, or those persons achieving high school equivalency, to the level necessary to successfully complete introductory college-level coursework.

 

"Dual Credit Course" means a college course taken by a high school student for credit at both the college and high school level [110 ILCS 27/5].

 

"Educational Agency" means an agency, corporation, or other defined legal entity that offers instruction.

 

"Electronic Exchange System" means an online tool for organizing ICCB proposals and tracking their status.

 

"Extension Center" means an instructional site for the college that is used for offering some of the college's courses and/or programs for a limited duration.

 

"GECC" means the General Education Core Curriculum of the Illinois Articulation Initiative.

 

"General Education Core Curriculum Credential" or "GECC Credential" means a credential provided by the college for completion of the 37 to 41 credit hours to satisfy the GECC.

 

"Higher Learning Commission" or "HLC" means an independent corporation that serves as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the U.S. and accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central Region, which includes Illinois.

 

"Instructional Activity" means classroom, online, laboratory, clinical or work-based instruction or any combination of those instructional methods.

 

"Internship/Practicum" means a course of planned and supervised training that allows the application of theory to actual practice and prepares a student for working independently in a specific career. The internship/practicum generally occurs after the student has completed 12 credit hours.  It takes place at a regular worksite and instruction/supervision is shared by a college instructor/supervisor and a qualified employee at the worksite.  Clinical practicums take place in a hospital or other medical/health facility and require close supervision/instruction/monitoring by a qualified college instructor.

 

"Laboratory" means a course of planned and supervised training in which students learn new methods or principles through experimentation, observation, and/or practice.  A lab class can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of a particular course of study and may be a specially equipped room designed for experimentation, observation, and/or practice on the college campus or at the worksite.

 

"Lecture" means a course presented in an oral or related format that allows for content to be discussed among class participants.

 

"Multiple Measures Placement" means the availability of more than one single, individual assessment measure to determine student's readiness for coursework, and subsequent placement into credit-bearing coursework, which must include but is not limited to high school GPA, transfer credit, and transition courses, as defined in by Section 1501.314.  The demonstration of readiness shall be satisfied by a student meeting the established readiness threshold on any one of the single, individual measures.

 

"PBVS Program of Study" means any of the programs listed in Section 10 of the Career and Workforce Transition Act [110 ILCS 151].

 

"Principal Site" means the official mailing address of the college.

 

"Private Business Vocational School" or "PBVS" means a non-degree granting institution that is regulated and approved by the Board of Higher Education under the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012 [105 ILCS 426] and that is nationally accredited by an accreditor approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

 

"Public Service" means noncredit classes and other activities of an educational nature, such as workshops, seminars, forums, exhibits, and the provision of college facilities and expertise to the community, designed to be of service to the public.

 

"Research" means investigations or experiments to discover or interpret facts, to revise accepted theories, or to apply those revised theories.

 

"Secondary School" means a private or parochial secondary school, public secondary school district, or public unit school district.

 

"Unit of Instruction" means any one of the following:

 

An organized program of study consisting of a sequence of courses that results in the award to a student of a certificate or an associate degree.

 

Any existing organized program of study offered at a new geographical location outside of the college district.

 

Any organized administrative entity that would have a continuing instructional mission, including but not limited to a college, campus or branch.

 

"Unit of Research or Public Service" means a college's subdivision (e.g., a division, institute or center) that administers one or more research or public service programs.

 

"Vocational Skills Education" means courses designed to provide short-term job entry training, to upgrade the skills of persons already employed, or to review skills for career re-entry.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.302  Units of Instruction, Research, and Public Service

 

a)         Approval of New Units of Instruction.  An application for approval of a proposed new unit of instruction shall be submitted to the ICCB on forms provided by ICCB.  The criteria for approval of new units of instruction, which also apply to existing programs offered by community colleges, are:

 

1)         Mission and Objectives

 

A)        The objectives of the unit of instruction are consistent with the mission of the college as set forth in Section 1-2(e) of the Act.

 

B)        The objectives of the unit of instruction are consistent with what the title of the unit of instruction implies.

 

2)         Academic Control

 

A)        The design, conduct and evaluation of the unit of instruction are under the direct and continuous control of the college's established processes for academic planning and quality maintenance, and clear provision is made for ensuring a high level of academic performance of faculty and students.

 

B)        The admission, course placement, and graduation requirements for the unit of instruction are consistent with the stated objectives of the unit of instruction and with Section 3-17 of the Act, when applicable.

 

3)         Curriculum.  The content of the curriculum ensures that the objectives of the unit of instruction will be achieved.

 

A)        The range of total number of credit hours required for completion of an associate degree curriculum shall be within the following parameters:

 

i)          For the Associate in Arts degree and the Associate in Science degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 64 semester credit hours or equivalent;

 

ii)         For the Associate in Fine Arts and the Associate in Engineering Science degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 68 semester credit hours or equivalent;

 

iii)        For the Associate in Applied Science degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 72 semester credit hours or equivalent, except in such occupational fields in which accreditation or licensure by a state or national organization requires additional coursework; and

 

iv)        For the Associate in General Studies degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 64 semester credit hours or equivalent.

 

B)        An associate degree curriculum shall include a specific general education component consisting of coursework in communication, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics and science within the following parameters:

 

i)          For the Associate in Arts degree and the Associate in Science degree, the general education component required will represent at least 37 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion;

 

ii)         For the Associate in Fine Arts degree, the general education component required will represent at least 25 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion;

 

iii)        For the Associate in Engineering Science degree, the general education component required will represent at least 19 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion;

 

iv)        For the Associate in Applied Science degree, the general education component required will represent at least 15 semester credit hour or equivalent for completion; and

 

v)         For the Associate in General Studies degree, the general education component required will represent no less than 20 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion.

 

4)         Faculty and Staff

 

A)        The academic preparation and experience of faculty and staff ensure that students receive education consistent with the objectives of the unit of instruction.

 

B)        The involvement of faculty in the unit of instruction is sufficient to cover the various fields of knowledge encompassed by the curriculum, to sustain scholarship appropriate to the unit of instruction, and to ensure curriculum continuity.

 

C)        Support personnel, including counselors, administrators, clinical supervisors, and technical staff, have the educational background and experience necessary to carry out their assigned responsibilities.

 

5)         Support Services

 

A)        Facilities, equipment, and instructional resources (e.g., laboratory supplies and equipment, instructional materials, computation equipment) necessary to provide quality instruction will be available and maintained.

 

B)        Library holdings and acquisitions necessary to support quality instruction and scholarship are available, accessible and maintained.

 

C)        Provision is made for the guidance and counseling of students, the evaluation of student performance, the continuous monitoring of progress of students toward their degree or certificate objectives, the placement of completers of the unit of instruction, and appropriate academic record keeping.

 

6)         Financing

 

A)        The financial commitments to support the unit of instruction are sufficient to ensure that the stated objectives can be attained and that the faculty, staff and support services necessary to offer the unit of instruction can be acquired and maintained.

 

B)        Projections of revenues necessary to support the unit of instruction are based upon supportable estimates of general revenue, student tuition and fees, private gifts, and/or governmental grants and contracts.

 

7)         Public Information

The information that the college provides to students and the public accurately describes:  the unit of instruction offered; the objectives of the unit of instruction; length of the unit of instruction; residency requirements, if any; schedule of tuition, fees and all other charges and expenses necessary for completion of the unit of instruction; cancellation and refund policies; and such other material facts concerning the college and the unit of instruction as are likely to affect the decision of the student to enroll.

 

8)         Accreditation and Credentialing

 

A)        Appropriate steps have been taken to ensure that accreditation of the proposed new unit of instruction will be granted in a reasonable time.

 

B)        The proposed new unit will provide the skills required to obtain individual credentialing (certification, licensure, registration) needed for entry into an occupation as specified in the objectives of the proposed new unit of instruction.

 

9)         Program Needs and Priorities

 

A)        The unit of instruction must be educationally and economically justified based on the educational priorities and needs of the citizens of Illinois and the college's district.

 

B)        The unit of instruction meets a need that is not currently met by units of instruction that are offered by other institutions in the district.

 

b)         Approval of New Administrative Units of Research or Public Service.  An application for approval of a proposed new administrative unit of research or public service shall be submitted to the ICCB on forms provided by ICCB.  The criteria for approval of new administrative units of public service or research are:

 

1)         The proposed new administrative unit shall be authorized by the board of trustees;

 

2)         The objectives of the proposed new administrative unit are consistent with the mission of the college;

 

3)         The proposed new administrative unit shall meet a district's need to deliver a public service or research program which cannot be met through the district's current structure as indicated by an organizational chart;

 

4)         The proposed new administrative unit shall administer at least one public service or research program;

 

5)         The needs assessment demonstrates that the demand for the public service or research program to be administered by the proposed new unit shall be continuous for at least three years; and

 

6)         The district shall provide evidence that the resources for the facilities, equipment and materials, and staff necessary to provide a quality program or service shall be made available to the proposed new administrative unit.

 

c)         Withdrawal.  An approved unit of instruction, public service, or research may be withdrawn by the college when it decides to suspend operation of the unit.  The withdrawal request shall be submitted to ICCB through an electronic exchange system. Withdrawal of a curriculum will require reassignment of related courses.

 

d)         Reasonable and Moderate Extensions

 

1)         An approved unit of instruction, public service, or research may be modified or extended by the college within the parameters listed in subsections (d)(2) through (4).  The college shall notify ICCB of the extensions on forms provided by ICCB.

 

2)         Reasonable and moderate extensions of previously approved units of instruction include:

 

A)        The addition, modification or withdrawal of courses within an approved unit of instruction that does not alter the objectives of the unit of instruction.

 

B)        A change in minimum credit hours for completion of an approved unit of instruction that does not affect the instructional level of the unit of instruction.

 

C)        A change in title of an approved unit of instruction that does not indicate a different objective of the unit than that previously approved.

 

D)        The creation of an option (major, concentration or specialization) within an approved unit of instruction in which:

 

i)          the option created is within the same general academic discipline or occupational field as the previously approved unit of instruction;

 

ii)         the option created within a previously approved associate degree curriculum shares a common core of first-year courses with the previously approved unit of instruction; and

 

iii)        the option created does not substitute more than 15 semester credit hours of other courses for courses previously approved as part of an associate degree curriculum or cluster of closely related curricula, e.g., from the same four-digit CIP code or substitute more than 9 semester credit hours of other courses for courses previously approved as part of a certificate curriculum (or closely related cluster) of 30 semester credit hours or more.

 

E)        The creation of certificate curricula from previously approved associate degree curricula and certificate curricula, including closely related curricula; e.g., from the same four-digit CIP code, providing no more than 6 semester credit hours are substituted for certificates of up to 30 semester credit hours or no more than 9 semester credit hours are substituted in certificates of 30 semester credit hours or more.

 

F)         The creation of certificate curricula of less than seven semester credit hours from previously approved associate degree curricula and certificate curriculum from the same two-digit CIP code.

 

G)        Modifications.  An approved unit of instruction, public service or research may be modified by the colleges within the parameters listed in subsection (d)(2)(D). The college shall notify ICCB of the modifications through an electronic exchange system. Modifications to existing units of instruction include:

 

i)          The addition, modification or withdrawal of courses within an approved unit of instruction that does not alter the objectives of the unit of instruction;

 

ii)         A change in minimum credit hours for completion of an approved unit of instruction that does not affect the instructional level of the unit of instruction;

 

iii)        A change in title of an approved unit of instruction that does not indicate a different objective of the unit than that previously approved; or

 

iv)        A change in program/course classification code that does not alter the objectives of the unit of instruction.

 

3)         Reasonable and moderate extensions of previously approved units of research or public service include units with an annual operating expenditure from whatever source of less than $250,000 or an annual operating expenditure from state appropriations of less than $50,000.

 

4)         Reasonable and moderate extensions of previously approved units of administration include any administrative reorganization of a college.

 

e)         Approval in a Multi-College District.  Approval of new units of instruction, research, or public service in a multi-college district will be for a specific college.  Transfer of a unit to, or duplication of a unit by, other colleges within the district constitutes a new unit requiring approval by the ICCB.  However, up to 9 hours of a program approved at one college may be offered by any other college in the district at the option of the Board.

 

f)         Inactivation.  When a college no longer offers an approved unit of instruction to additional new students, that unit of instruction shall be reported to the ICCB and shall be removed from the college catalog and other documents advertising the program offerings to the public. An inactive unit of instruction shall be maintained on the ICCB Curriculum Inventory File with the date that it became inactive for a period of at least 10 years.  The effective date that a unit of instruction becomes inactive shall be determined by the college.

 

g)         Reactivation. A unit of instruction that has been inactivated by a college may be reactivated by submitting the materials outlined in subsection (a) for review and approval by ICCB.

 

1)         A unit of instruction that has been inactive for less than three years may be reactivated by the college once it has completed the following:

 

A)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from its chief executive administrator;

 

B)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from agencies that license, certify, or accredit the program, if appropriate; and

 

C)        Submitted a request for reactivation and an updated copy of the curriculum to ICCB.

 

2)         A unit of instruction that has been inactive for three to 10 years may be reactivated by the ICCB Executive Director if the college has completed the following:

 

A)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from its chief executive administrator;

 

B)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from agencies that license, certify or accredit the program, if appropriate;

 

C)        Demonstrated through local surveys or State labor market data that the labor market demand and supply shows a need for graduates of the program;

 

D)        Conducted a review of the program with representatives from business and industry including on-site visits and advice regarding current technologies and equipment;

 

E)        Demonstrated, in accordance with subsections (a)(5) and (a)(6), that the college has adequate facilities, equipment and financial resources to offer a quality program;

 

F)         Demonstrated, in accordance with Section 1501.303(f), that the college has available qualified faculty to provide the instruction for the program; and

 

G)        Submitted a request for the reactivation and an updated copy of the curriculum to ICCB.

 

3)         A unit of instruction that has been inactive for over 10 years may be reactivated by following the new unit approval process described in subsection (a).

 

h)         Discontinuation of Programs.  The ICCB may discontinue programs thatfail to reflect the educational needs of the area being served as follows:

 

1)         Programs that do not meet standards of need, quality and cost effectiveness may be discontinued by the ICCB.  This determination shall be made based on review and collective findings of information available to the ICCB through ICCB and Illinois Board of Higher Education program review, evaluation and productivity processes; the ICCB Management Information System; and other sources of pertinent information on the following criteria:

 

A)        Program need, including educational priorities of the district, accessibility, credit hours generated, enrollments, completions, and labor market supply and demand.

 

B)        Program quality, including job placement or education continuation, program content, academic control, faculty qualifications, and accreditation and credentialing.

 

C)        Program costs, including adequacy of financial support and unit costs.

 

2)         ICCB will use special State-level analyses to identify programs that appear to be of questionable need, cost or quality based on State data. Programs identified through State-level analysis will be referred to the colleges to enable them to evaluate the programs in detail in their normal process and to obtain the results and comments from the local level.

 

3)         ICCB will notify college districts of programs being considered for discontinuation and shall grant the district 60 days to respond to concerns regarding the program in question before action by the Board.  This information shall be taken into account in determining if a program should be discontinued by the ICCB.

 

4)         Once a program is discontinued by the ICCB and the appeal process is concluded, the college must inactivate the program by not enrolling any additional new students and develop a plan for an orderly discontinuation of the program for students currently enrolled.  Programs discontinued by the ICCB may be reestablished by obtaining approval as a new unit of instruction under subsection (a).

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.303  Program Requirements

 

a)         Comprehensive Program.  The programs of a college shall be comprehensive and shall include:  pre-baccalaureate, occupational, and general studies curricula, and public service programs.

 

b)         Degrees and Certificates.  A college shall award associate degrees and certificates in accordance with units of instruction approved by ICCB.  This authority is not extended to administrative units of the college.

 

c)         Honorary Degrees.  Honorary degrees awarded by a board shall be limited to the associate degree.

 

d)         Review and Evaluation of Programs.

 

1)         A college shall have a systematic, collegewide program review process for evaluating all of its instructional, student services, and academic support programs at least once within a five-year cycle.

 

2)         The minimum review criteria for program review shall be program need, program cost, and program quality, as defined by each college.

 

3)         The review of academic disciplines, student and academic support, cross-disciplinary instruction (developmental education, adult education and vocational skills), and career and technical education shall be scheduled according to the published ICCB schedule.  A college shall follow the published schedule set by ICCB that shows when each program will be reviewed during a five-year cycle.  If a college seeks an exception to the published schedule, the college must receive written approval from ICCB.

 

4)         The five-year schedule of program review is determined through a combination of several factors, including but not limited to:

 

A)        National trends that consider high need, high demand sectors;

 

B)        Accreditation requirements in specific occupational areas;

 

C)        Areas that the agency has determined are in specific need of review based upon industry trends;

 

D)        Feedback from local community colleges;

 

E)        Changes in federal priorities, including specific updates to CIP classifications;

 

F)         Other factors as appropriate.

 

5)         ICCB may request the college to include special reviews of programs that have been identified as a result of State-level analyses, legislative resolutions, or Illinois Board of Higher Education policy studies by notifying the college of this request before January 1 of the year the special review is to be conducted.

 

6)         A college shall keep on file for ICCB recognition purposes a copy of the current program review process, its five-year schedule for program review, and complete reports of program reviews conducted during the past five years.

 

7)         A college shall submit to ICCB by September 1 each year a summary report of its previous year's program review results in a format designated by the ICCB and a copy of the current five-year schedule of program reviews.  If an institution cannot meet this deadline, a written request for an extension shall be submitted to ICCB for approval.

 

e)         Academic Calendar. 

 

1)         A college shall operate on an academic calendar that provides at least two academic terms consisting of at least 15 weeks (at least 75 days of instruction each), three academic terms consisting of at least 10 weeks (at least 50 days of instruction each) or a different combination of academic terms consisting of at least 30 weeks (at least 150 days of instruction).

 

2)         The days of instruction prescribed in subsection (e)(1) shall include all days when there is a full schedule of classes and support services, but will exclude holidays, Saturdays, Sundays, and days scheduled exclusively for registration, orientation, collegewide placement or assessment testing, faculty workshops, and final examinations.

 

3)         Colleges may include terms during the summer or any other time during the year, in addition to the ones identified in subsection (e)(1).

 

4)         Courses/classes may be scheduled between academic terms, spanning academic terms, for a shorter time frame than the academic term, or for a longer time frame than the academic term, if the schedule provides sufficient duration and contact hours to meet the requirements in Sections 1501.309(b) and 1501.507(b)(10).

 

5)         If an emergency such as a fire, flood, pandemic, or strike makes it necessary for the college to shorten one of its academic terms, the college may request that the Executive Director approve a shorter term. In such cases, the length of the term may be shortened, but only to the extent that enables all courses to meet the contact hours specified in Section 1501.309(b).

 

6)         Colleges must have a plan in place to address modifications to the academic terms in the event of an emergency.  This plan must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

f)         Preparation of Professional Staff.  Professional staff shall be educated and prepared in accordance with generally accepted standards and practices for teaching, supervising, counseling and administering the curriculum or supporting system to which they are assigned.  This preparation may include collegiate study and professional experience.  Graduate work through the master's degree in the assigned field or area of responsibility is expected, except in those areas in which the work experience and related training is the principal learning medium.

 

g)         Library.  A college shall maintain a library or learning resource center with a collection of reference works and other learning resources to meet the specific needs of its curricula and students.  This collection shall be kept up to date through a planned program of acquisition and deletion.

 

h)         Supplies and Equipment.  Classrooms, laboratories, and shops shall be provided with equipment and supplies that are adequate for effective teaching and learning.

 

i)          General Education.  Organized curricula leading to an associate degree shall include general education courses designed to contribute to the liberal education of each student.

 

j)          Apprenticeships.  A college that participates in apprenticeships coordinated by the Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor and/or other programs related to business, industrial, or trade groups or organizations shall meet applicable federal, State, and local governmental rules, regulations, and guidelines.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.304  Statewide and Regional Planning

 

a)         Program planning is based on an assessment of program needs within districts, regions, and the State as a whole.  Program approval shall be based, in part, on the labor market and economic needs of the district or regional consortium of colleges requesting authority to offer specific curricula.

 

b)         Approval of statewide and regional curricula is limited to three years, after which the program must be reapproved by the Board or it is automatically converted to district approval.

 

c)         Admission of Students to Regional Curricula.  Regions, or regional consortia of colleges, may comprise a community college district and one or more adjacent districts; e.g., some or all surrounding districts or the regional university/community college consortium.  A college that offers approved regional curricula shall admit qualified students from throughout the Region on the same priority basis as in-district students.

 

d)         Admission of Students to Statewide Curricula.  A college that offers approved statewide curricula shall admit qualified students from throughout the State on the same priority basis as in-district students.

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12514, effective September 21, 2021)

 

Section 1501.305  College, Branch, Campus, and Extension Centers

 

a)         Approval of a New College.  An application for approval for a proposed new college shall be submitted to ICCB on forms provided by ICCB. The criteria for approval of a new college are:

 

1)         The proposed college shall be authorized by the Board of Trustees.

 

2)         The proposed college shall meet educational needs that cannot be met within that area of the district as demonstrated by a needs assessment. The needs assessment shall include identification of all other educational institutions providing postsecondary education within a 30-mile radius of the proposed college, identification of student demand for postsecondary education by program area within the service area of the proposed college, a statement on how the establishment of the proposed college will impact the enrollments on these postsecondary educational institutions within a 30-mile radius of the proposed college, a statement on how the establishment of the proposed college will impact the current enrollments of the district's present colleges, and of student enrollments for the proposed college.

 

3)         The proposed college shall provide a comprehensive program of instruction as specified in Section 1-2(e) of the Act.

 

4)         The district shall certify that the resources for the facilities, equipment, instructional materials, library holdings, and faculty and staff necessary to provide quality instruction pursuant to Section 1501.302 shall be made available to the proposed college.

 

5)         The needs assessment substantiates that the student enrollment for the proposed college shall be at least 1,000 full-time equivalent students (30,000 semester credit hours) per year by the second full year of operation.

 

6)         The district shall have at least $150 million of assessed valuation for each of its colleges, including the proposed college.

 

7)         The proposed college shall serve a population of at least 60,000 or a geographic area of at least three entire counties.

 

8)         The plans to obtain regional accreditation for the proposed college have been developed.

 

b)         Approval of a Branch or Campus.  An application for approval of a proposed branch or campus shall be submitted to ICCB on forms provided by ICCB. The criteria for approval of a branch or campus are:

 

1)         The proposed branch or campus shall be authorized by the Board of Trustees.

 

2)         The proposed branch or campus shall meet educational needs that cannot be met in that area of the district as demonstrated by a needs assessment.

 

3)         The college shall certify that resources for facilities, equipment, instructional materials, library holdings, and faculty and staff necessary to provide quality instruction pursuant to Section 1501.302 shall be made available to the proposed branch or campus.

 

4)         The proposed branch or campus shall provide student and academic support services on site that are adequate pursuant to Section 1501.302 to support the curricula offered and the students in attendance at the branch or campus.

 

c)         Extension Centers.  An extension center located within the community college district is a reasonable and moderate extension of a college and may be established at the discretion of the district's Board of Trustees. An extension center located outside the community college district requires ICCB approval under Section 1501.307.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.306  State or Federal Institutions (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 9 Ill. Reg. 3691, effective March 13, 1985)

 

Section 1501.307  Cooperative Agreements

 

Cooperative agreements may be established for the purpose of providing more accessible instructional services to students and increasing efficiency in the use of educational resources.  An application for approval shall be submitted to ICCB on forms provided by ICCB.

 

a)         Cooperative Agreements for Instruction.  A community college district may enter into contractual arrangements to deliver or obtain educational programs or services for previously approved units of instruction upon approval by ICCB.  Criteria for the approval of agreements for instruction shall be:

 

1)         accessibility of instruction to students;

 

2)         labor market need;

 

3)         cost-effectiveness in providing instructional programs;

 

4)         comprehensiveness of available programs for student;

 

5)         impact on regional and statewide programs;

 

6)         impact on programs at neighboring community college districts, applicable only if the college is delivering service outside its district; and

 

7)         the partnering entity's past experience in offering similar units of instruction, applicable only if partnering to obtain services.

 

b)         Interdistrict Cooperative Agreements for Instruction.   A community college district may enter into interdistrict contractual arrangements with another community college district to enable its students to attend the other district's programs/courses.

 

1)         The curricula included in the cooperative agreement for instruction shall be listed in the catalog of the college that does not have the program but is making it available to its students through a contractual arrangement with another college. A copy of the listing shall be kept on file at the district central administrative office.

 

2)         Interdistrict Cooperative Agreements may be entered into for courses and/or curricula offered through Illinois Community Colleges Online.  The cooperative agreement shall specify that the programs/courses will be approved as programs/courses of the receiving district and will be included in the receiving district's Illinois Community College Board curricula and course master files as such.  This agreement would allow the receiving institution to offer the program only through online delivery through the sending college.  The sending institution will be the institution of academic control of the course/curriculum.

 

c)         Copies of these contractual arrangements shall be kept on file at the district central administrative office.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.308  Reporting Requirements

 

A college shall submit the following specified items in a format prescribed by ICCB and according to the schedules indicated: 

 

a)         Annual salary data and basic characteristics, including but not limited to sex, date of birth, ethnic classification, highest degree earned, tenure status, and employment or teaching areas, of the faculty and staff employed by the college as of November 1 shall be submitted on or before November 15 of each year. Fiscal year data shall be submitted on or before June 15.

 

b)         An annual African American Employment Plan Survey, Asian Employment Plan Survey, Bilingual Needs and Bilingual Pay Survey, Hispanic/Latino Employment Plan Survey, and Native American Employment Plan Survey submitted on or before February 1.  (See 5 ILCS 410.)

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 2227, effective February 1, 2023)

 

Section 1501.309  Course Classification and Applicability

 

a)         Course Classification.  Information on courses for which credit is to be awarded shall be submitted to ICCB through an electronic exchange system in order for the courses to be classified into appropriate instructional and funding categories and added to the college's Management Information System (MIS) Course Master File.

 

b)         Course Credit Hour Determination

 

1)         Credit hours for courses for which ICCB credit hour grants are to be claimed shall be determined on the basis of an expected 45 hours of combined classroom/laboratory and study time for each semester hour.

 

2)         Lecture Courses.  Courses with students participating in lecture/discussion oriented instruction shall be assigned one semester credit hour or equivalent for each 15 classroom contact hours, at a minimum, of instruction per semester or equivalent.  It is assumed that two hours of outside study will be invested for each classroom contact hour.

 

3)         Laboratory Courses.  Courses in which students participate in laboratory/clinical-laboratory oriented instruction shall be assigned one semester credit hour or equivalent for each 30-45 classroom contact hours, at a minimum, of instruction per semester or equivalent.  It is assumed that one hour of outside study will be invested for each two laboratory contact hours.

 

4)         Clinical Practicum courses. Courses in which students participate in clinical practical experiences shall receive one semester credit hour or equivalent each 30-60 contact hours, at a minimum, per semester or equivalent.  It is expected that one hour of outside study time will be invested for each two clinical practicum contact hours.

 

5)         Internship Courses.  Courses in which students participate in nonclinical internship, practicum, or on-the-job supervised instruction shall receive one semester credit hour or equivalent for each 75-149 contact hours, at a minimum, per semester credit hour or equivalent.

 

6)         Students who participate in an approved program with an intensified or accelerated schedule shall be exempt from the contact hour requirements of this subsection (b).

 

c)         Course Syllabus.  A syllabus shall be developed and maintained for each credit course and shall be available to the public and students upon request.  A syllabus contains the description of the course, specific objectives of the course, a topical outline, and the method for evaluating student performance.

 

d)         Course Applicability.  All credit courses must be part of an approved unit of instruction (see Section 1501.302), and the approved unit of instruction for each course shall be indicated on the college's ICCB MIS Course Master File.

 

1)         Lower-division Baccalaureate Courses.  Courses designed to meet lower-division baccalaureate degree requirements shall be applicable to associate transfer degrees.  For each baccalaureate course offered, the college shall either obtain approval for the course to be listed as a Statewide articulated transfer course by a general education or baccalaureate major panel of the Illinois Articulation Initiative or maintain current written articulation agreements or transfer equivalency documents with:

 

A)        at least three Illinois public universities;

 

B)        at least three baccalaureate degree-granting institutions to which a majority (51%) of the college's students transfer; or

 

C)        one or more baccalaureate degree-granting institutions to which a majority (51%) of the college's students, majoring in the field for which the course is required, transfer.

 

2)         GECC Credential.  Upon a student's completion of the GECC, a college is authorized to award a GECC credential, which shall, at a minimum, consist of a notation on a transcript for the student achieving the credential.

 

3)         Remedial Course Credit.  No remedial course credit shall be applicable to associate degrees designed for transfer to institutions granting baccalaureate degrees.

 

4)         Adult Basic Education Course Credit.  No adult basic education course credit applies to degrees or to certificates, except the Adult Basic Education Certificate.

 

5)         Adult Secondary Education Course Credit.  No adult secondary or college preparatory education course credit applies to degrees or certificates, except the Adult Secondary Education Certificate.

 

6)         Career and Technical Education Course Credit. Courses designed to prepare individuals with a technical skill shall be applicable towards the requirements or electives for completion of an associate's degree (applied or transfer) or a career and technical education certificate.

 

7)         General Studies Course Credit.  General studies course credit applies only to the Personal Development; Homemaking; Improving Family Circumstances; Intellectual and Cultural Studies; Community and Civic Development; and Health, Safety and Environment Certificates.

 

e)         Special Upper-Division Courses

 

1)         A college may offer any course that is offered by a university, regardless of numbering system, if the university normally permits its own students to take the course as lower-division students.  These courses will be eligible for ICCB grants, if they meet all other criteria.

 

2)         If at least three public universities in Illinois agree, or if a public university that is the principal recipient of transfers from the community college agrees, certain special courses taught at the upper-division level may be offered by a college and be eligible for ICCB grants, provided they meet all other criteria.

 

f)         Independent Study.  Independent Study course credit shall not exceed 25 percent of the credit hour requirements for a student to earn an associate degree.  The topic of an independent study course shall be listed on the student's permanent academic record.

 

g)         Internships.  An internship experience for credit that is designed to provide the student an opportunity to put into practice the theories and techniques learned in the classroom/laboratory shall be applicable to an associate degree or certificate, provided at least 12 semester credit hours or equivalent in the corresponding curriculum are completed by the student before, or are taken by the student concurrently with, the experience.

 

h)         Courses Approved as Repeatable

 

1)         Courses in which the content varies from term to term or from student to student (e.g., independent study, special topics, and internship courses) or in which a student is expected to gain increased depth of knowledge and skill through repetition shall, at the request of the college, be approved for repeatability under the following conditions:

 

A)        The number of times the course may be taken for credit does not exceed four times, or the semester equivalent, e.g., a single course can be taken one time and repeated no more than three times per student;

 

B)        The method of determining the amount of credit to be awarded for each section of the course, for each term, or for each student is specified in the college's catalog, on the course syllabus, and on the course classification form, and the subject matter and number of credits for which the student enrolled is specified on the student's permanent academic record;

 

C)        The college's catalog, the course syllabus, and the course classification form requesting approval of repeatability by the ICCB indicate the number of such credits that will apply to degree or certificate completion for a single course or a combination of related courses; and

 

D)        The total number of credit hours for a single course or for a combination of related courses that are applicable to degree or certificate completion does not exceed the maximums established in subsection (b) governing credit hour determination, subsection (f) governing independent study, or Section 1501.507(b)(10) governing the maximum rate of credit hour production.

 

2)         Vocational skill courses that must be retaken periodically by law for persons employed in an occupation or vocation to maintain employment shall, at the request of the college, be approved for repeatability beyond the limits described in subsection (h)(1)(A) under the following conditions:

 

A)        The content of the course is determined by law and does not change from one year to the next; and

 

B)        A copy of the law (or regulation administering it) and a course syllabus accompany the course classification form requesting repeatability.

 

3)         An adult basic, adult secondary, or a remedial education course that is organized into discrete modules and offered for variable credit shall, at the request of the college, be approved for repeatability under the following conditions:

 

A)        No discrete module is repeated more than three times;

 

B)        The title of a module completed and the grade received is permanently recorded on the student's permanent academic record; and

 

C)        The content and number of credit hours for a discrete module is shown on the course syllabus and on the course classification form requesting approval of repeatability by ICCB.

 

4)         An adult basic, adult secondary or remedial education course that is not organized into discrete modules shall, at the request of the college, be approved for repeatability under the following conditions:

 

A)        The number of times the course may be taken for credit does not exceed four times, or the semester or equivalent; e.g., a single course can be taken one time and repeated no more than three times per student.

 

B)        The variety of skill levels included in the course and the methods used to accommodate individual differences based on an assessment of student skills is specified in the course syllabus; and

 

C)        The course title and the grade received is permanently recorded on the student's academic record each time that the course is taken.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.310  Acceptance of Private Business Vocational School Credits by Community Colleges in Select Disciplines

 

a)         Approval of Private Business and Vocational School Programs of Study. An application for approval of each proposed program of study eligible for credit transfer and acceptance shall be submitted to the ICCB on forms provided by the ICCB on or before July 1.  The criteria for approval of PBVS programs of study eligible for community college credit acceptance are:

 

1)         Program Goals and Objectives

 

A)        The proposed PBVS program of study meets the goals for career and technical education or workforce preparation within the district and region.

 

B)        The objectives of the PBVS program of study are consistent with what the title of the program of study implies.

           

2)         Academic Control

 

A)        The PBVS has the capacity to develop, deliver and support the PBVS program of study.

 

B)        The PBVS has established clear provisions for ensuring a high level of academic performance of faculty and students.

 

3)         Curriculum

 

A)        The content of the curriculum ensures that the objectives of the PBVS program of study will be achieved.

 

B)        The PBVS has developed quality curricula that align with federal, State and local requirements, is responsive to the local workforce needs, and will prepare graduates with the appropriate level of skill to meet their educational goals.

 

C)        The PBVS program curricula and community college coursework and curricula are aligned to ensure a smooth transition for students.

                       

4)         Faculty Qualifications. The academic preparation and experience of faculty and staff shall be consistent with Section 1501.303(f).

 

5)         Program Needs

 

A)        A student's completion of the PBVS program of study satisfies employment requirements in the occupational field.

 

B)        Labor market data for each PBVS program of study shows that the program is feasible and demonstrates evidence of labor market need.

 

6)         Assessment and Evaluation

 

A)        Assessment plans demonstrate clear and appropriate program and student learning goals and have identified appropriate outcomes. 

 

B)        The PBVS utilizes continuous quality improvement to ensure the curricula remains rigorous and relevant; uses Assessment of Student Learning information and data to improve curricula; and includes educational, business and community partners in the improvement process.

 

7)         Accreditation.  The PBVS has successfully completed a full term of national accreditation without probation, without being denied accreditation, and without withdrawing an application.

           

b)         Application.   Applications for approval of each PBVS program of study as eligible for credit transfer and acceptance shall have attached to them the following:

 

1)         Evidence verifying that the PBVS is in good standing during the period of its national accreditation from an accreditor approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

 

2)         A Permit of Approval Certificate from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

 

3)         A catalog description for each PBVS program of study as it appeared in the PBVS's catalog.

 

4)         A curriculum chart for each PBVS program of study indicating the general education, career and technical education, work-based learning and elective requirements and options to complete the program.

 

5)         Individual course syllabi for each course that is part of the PBVS program of study.

 

c)         Credit Transfers.  Credit transfers from the PBVS may be made only during the institution's verified accreditation period.  A PBVS under review due to probation, that is denied accreditation, or withdraws an application for national accreditation shall not be approved by ICCB.

 

d)         Faculty Advisory Committee.  The State Board may establish a faculty advisory committee, from the appropriate program disciplines, to assist ICCB staff with curriculum review of the PBVS programs of study.

 

e)         Additional Information Site Visit. In the case of a proposed PBVS program of study for which staff determines it is necessary to verify or supplement the information supplied in the application, the staff may request additional written documentation and/or arrange for a site visit.

 

f)         Renewal.  A PBVS shall submit a renewal application every 5 years following the approval by the State Board.  A PBVS shall also submit a renewal application if curriculum changes are made to the approved PBVS programs of study.

 

g)         Appeal Process 

 

1)         All decisions of the State Board that result in non-approval of a PBVS or PBVS program of study shall be provided in writing in the form of a letter delivered by certified mail and shall specify the reason for the non-approval.

 

2)         All decisions of the State Board that result in non-approval may be appealed within 30 days after the written notification by submitting a written request for reconsideration of the decision to the ICCB Chair.

 

3)         The ICCB Chair shall review the request and place it on the agenda no later than 60 days after the conclusion of the 30-day appeal process.

 

4)         The appellant may make both oral and written presentations to ICCB at the time the decision is reconsidered.

 

h)         Acceptance of Credits

 

1)         A community college district shall accept up to 30 credit hours from a PBVS that has been approved by the Board if a student has completed a  PBVS program of study that is listed in Section 10 of the Career and Workforce Transition Act [110 ILCS 151] at that institution.

 

2)         The community college may accept the credits as direct equivalent credits or prior learning credits, as determined by the college and consistent with the accrediting standards and requirements of the Board, the Higher Learning Commission, other State and national accreditors,  and State licensing bodies, as appropriate.

 

(Source:  Added at 42 Ill. Reg. 2819, effective January 24, 2018)

 

Section 1501.311  Credit for Prior Learning

 

a)         Policy and Procedures

 

1)         Each college shall electronically submit to ICCB for review its policies for the award of academic credit for prior learning. This submission shall be made by March 31 of each calendar year for policies effective in the subsequent Fall semester,

 

A)        These policies shall include a listing of the types of documentation acceptable to the college and the dates of inclusion for which credit for prior learning is acceptable. 

 

B)        At a minimum, each college shall publish the procedures for students to earn credit for prior learning in its catalog and on its official website.

 

C)        Colleges shall regularly monitor, evaluate and, if necessary, revise credit for prior learning activities.

 

2)         As a part of these policies, each college shall adopt a specific policy for the awarding of academic credit for military training that is considered applicable to the requirements of the student's certificate or degree program.

 

A)        The policy shall apply to any student who is enrolled at the college and who has successfully completed a military training course or program as part of his or her military service that is:

 

i)          recommended for credit by a national higher education association that provides credit recommendations for military training courses and programs;

 

ii)         included in the student's military transcript issued by any branch of the armed services; or

 

iii)        otherwise documented as military training or experience.

 

B)        These policies may be incorporated into the college's broader credit for prior learning policies.

 

3)         This Section is not applicable to secondary/postsecondary articulation agreements or dual enrollment.

 

b)         Awarding Credit for Prior Learning

 

1)         Credit for prior learning can be awarded only after the assessment of prior learning experiences and only for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all terminal objectives for a specific course or courses. 

 

2)         Colleges awarding credit for prior learning must validate credit on a course-by-course basis.  The following publications and methods are acceptable for validating prior learning for awarding credit:

 

A)        Standardized tests:

 

i)          College-Level Examination Program (CLEP);

 

ii)         Excelsior College/Formerly American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program (ACT-PEP/RCE EXCELSIOR);

 

iii)        Defense Activity for Nontraditional Educational Support (DANTES);

 

iv)        Advanced Placement (AP);

 

v)         International Baccalaureate (IB);

 

B)        College examinations:

 

i)          Examination (written, oral, demonstration or a combination of all three) that is equivalent to the comprehensive final exam;

 

ii)         Evaluation by an area dean or designated subject expert;

 

C)        Published guides:

 

i)          American Council on Education (ACE) for military training and experiences;

 

ii)         ACE (non-collegiate) for industrial and corporate training programs;

 

iii)        Other published guides developed by nationally recognized organizations;

 

D)        National Certifications: Child Development Associate (CDA);

 

E)        Portfolios:

 

i)          Credit through the development of a portfolio;

 

ii)         Evaluation by subject matter experts.

 

3)         Credit may not be awarded twice for the same learning.

 

c)         Standard for Awarding Credit for Prior Learning

 

1)         The student must enroll at the college and meet all admission requirements for the program in which course credit for prior learning is being sought.  A college may seek an exception to this provision by making a request and receiving subsequent approval from ICCB.

 

2)         Students must be able to meet residency requirements for certificates and degrees without the use of prior learning credit in the determination.

 

3)         Assessment of prior learning credit may happen at any point during the application and admission process.  To award a degree or certificate, the college must ensure that residency requirements are met. Typically, fifteen credit hours is required towards a degree or at least twenty-five percent of the required credit for a certificate.

 

4)         College validation procedures should be objective to the extent that external evaluators would reach the same conclusion given the material reviewed.

 

d)         If pursuing a transfer degree (Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) or Associate in General Studies (AGS)), credit for prior learning will only be granted for the purpose of satisfying graduation requirements.  These credits might not transfer to other colleges. 

 

e)         All work assessed for prior learning must meet or exceed a grade level of "C".  Minimum cut-off scores on standardized tests are set at a "C" grade level. 

 

f)         In the process of determining if credit can be awarded for prior learning, colleges shall charge students only for the cost of the prior learning assessment services and not for the amount of credit awarded.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 2227, effective February 1, 2023)

 

Section 1501.312  Extension of Curricula/Credit Courses

 

a)         A community college may extend previously approved credit courses into another community college district with approval of the other community college district.

 

b)         A community college may extend previously approved curricula into another community college district upon approval of ICCB.  Criteria for approval shall be:

 

1)         a request from the community college district in which the proposed extension is to be offered;

 

2)         labor market need;

 

3)         cost-effectiveness in providing instructional programs;

 

4)         adequacy of facilities and support services;

 

5)         impact on regional and statewide programs; and

 

6)         impact on programs at neighboring community college districts.

 

c)         If a district in which military installations, correctional institutions, or other State or federal institutions are located elects not to provide previously approved units of instruction to these institutions, any other college may be selected by the ICCB to do so.  ICCB will select a college using the following criteria:

 

1)         proximity of the college to the institution;

 

2)         availability at the college of the instructional units needed by the institution;

 

3)         cost of providing the instructional units for the institution; and

 

4)         college's past experience in offering similar units of instruction.

 

d)         Curricula and credit courses offered at out-of-state locations (except for field trips and travel that are in conjunction with a course offered within the district) must have prior annual approval by ICCB.  A community college shall be granted approval to offer previously approved curricula and credit courses out-of-state provided that it meets the following criteria:

 

1)         A request for approval including information about the curricula and courses, location of the proposed extension, projected enrollments, and projected funding is submitted on forms provided by ICCB.

 

2)         The college shall identify how the extension will be used by students to complete degree or certificate programs.

 

3)         If the extension is offered for out-of-state students, the college shall submit a copy of a written request from the group desiring the service and assurance that no State or local tax monies will be used to provide the extension.

 

4)         The college shall submit annual reports of its out-of-state extensions for the past fiscal year, on forms provided by ICCB, by July 15 of each year.

 

5)         The college shall request approval of its out-of-state extensions, on forms provided by ICCB, prior to May 15 for the fiscal year beginning on the next July 1.

 

6)         Deletion, modification or addition of courses and curricula offered at out-of-state extensions previously approved by ICCB are reasonable and moderate extensions and must be reported to ICCB.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 2227, effective February 1, 2023)

 

Section 1501.313  Dual Credit

 

a)         Dual credit courses offered by the college for high school students during the regular school day shall be college-level and shall meet the following requirements:

 

1)         State Laws and Regulations and Accreditation Standards.  All State laws, ICCB regulations, accreditation standards specified by the Higher Learning Commission and local college policies that apply to courses, instructional procedures, and academic standards at the college apply to college-level courses offered by the college on campus, at off-campus sites, and at secondary schools.  These policies, regulations, instructional procedures, and academic standards apply to students, faculty and staff associated with these courses. The Board hereby incorporates by reference the following:  Higher Learning Commission Assumed Practices:  Number:  CRRT.B.10.020. (2018), with no later editions or amendments, available from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL  60604-1411.

 

2)         Instructors.  The instructors for these courses shall be selected, employed and reviewed by the community college.  They shall be selected from individuals with appropriate credentials and demonstrated teaching competencies at the college level.

 

A)        For instructors teaching transfer courses (1.1 PCS (in the ICCB Program Classification System)), these qualifications shall include a minimum of a master's degree within the discipline or any master's degree with 18 graduate hours appropriate to the academic field of study or in the discipline in which the instructors will be teaching.

 

B)        High school instructors teaching dual credit transfer courses who do not meet the faculty credential standards of this subsection (a)(2) to determine minimally qualified faculty may teach dual credit courses if the instructor has a professional development plan, approved by the college and shared with the State Board of Education. 

 

C)        For a high school instructor entering into a professional development plan by December 31, 2022, to raise his or her credentials to be in line with these credentials, the following requirements are in effect.

 

i)          The college shall have 30 days to review the plan and approve an instructor professional development plan that is in line with the credentials appropriate to the discipline being taught.

 

ii)         These approvals shall be good for as long as satisfactory progress toward the completion of the credential is demonstrated, but in no event shall a professional development plan be in effect for more than 3 years from the date of its approval.

 

iii)        The instructor shall qualify for a professional development plan if the instructor has a master's degree in any discipline and has earned 9 graduate hours in a discipline in which he or she is currently teaching or expects to teach; or

 

•           Has a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 graduate hours in a discipline that he or she is currently teaching or expects to teach; and

 

•           Agrees to demonstrate his or her progress toward completion to the supervising college, as outlined in the professional development plan. [110 ILCS 27/20(1)(B)]

 

iv)        The provisions of this subsection (a)(2)(B) and (C) shall not apply after December 31, 2022. 

 

D)        For a high school instructor entering into a professional development plan on or after January 1, 2023, to raise his or her credentials to be in line with these credentials, the following requirements are in effect.

 

i)          The college shall have 30 days to review the plan and approve an instructor professional development plan that is in line with the credentials appropriate to the discipline being taught.

 

ii)         These approvals shall be good for as long as satisfactory progress toward the completion of the credential is demonstrated, but in no event shall a professional development plan be in effect for more than 3 years from the date of its approval.

 

iii)        The instructor shall qualify for a professional development plan if the instructor has a master's degree in any discipline and has earned 9 graduate hours in a discipline in which he or she is currently teaching or expects to teach; or is a fully licensed instructor in career and technical education who is halfway toward meeting the institution’s requirements for faculty in the discipline to be taught and agrees to demonstrate his or her progress toward completion as outline in the professional development plan.  [110 ILCS 27/20]

 

E)        For instructors teaching career and technical education (1.2 PCS) courses, these qualifications shall include 2,000 hours of work experience and appropriate recognizable credentials and demonstrated teaching competencies appropriate to the field of instruction.

 

3)         Qualification of Students.  Students accepted for enrollment in college-level courses must have appropriate academic qualifications, a high level of motivation, and adequate time to devote to studying a college-level course.  The students' course selections shall be made in consultation with high school counselors and/or principals and are restricted to students who are able to demonstrate readiness for college-level work, as determined by placement procedures consistent with those that would be used with college level students.  The students shall meet all college criteria and follow all college procedures for enrolling in courses.  Credit hours generated by freshman and sophomore students for dual credit courses are not eligible for reimbursement.

 

4)         Placement Testing and Prerequisites.  High school students enrolling in college-level courses must satisfy the same course placement tests or course prerequisites as other college level students, when applicable, to assure that they are qualified and prepared. 

 

5)         Course Offerings.  Courses shall be selected from transfer courses that are direct equivalents of those of baccalaureate institutions in Illinois (i.e., have been articulated) (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1501.309(d)) or from courses in ICCB approved certificate or associate in applied science degree programs. 

 

6)         Course Requirements.  The course outlines utilized for these courses shall be the same as for courses offered on campus and at other off-campus sites and shall contain the content articulated with colleges and universities in the State.  Course prerequisites, descriptions, outlines, requirements, learning outcomes and methods of evaluating students shall be the same as for on-campus offerings. 

 

7)         Concurrent Credit.  The determination of whether a college course is offered for concurrent high school and college credit shall be made at the secondary level, according to the school's policies and the practices of the district.

 

b)         A community college district shall, upon the request of a school district within the jurisdiction of the community college district, enter into a partnership agreement with the school district to offer dual credit coursework.

 

1)         A school district may offer any course identified in the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum package under the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act [110 ILCS 152] as a dual credit course on the campus of a high school of the school district and may use a high school instructor who has met the academic credential requirements under this subsection (b) to teach the dual credit course. [110 ILCS 27]

 

2)         The partnership agreement shall include all of the following:

 

A)        definition of roles and responsibilities for both the college and the high school;

 

B)        the dual credit courses that the high school district will offer its students and location of courses;

 

C)        criteria for eligibility for high school students to enroll in dual credit coursework;

 

D)        limitations that the college or school district may have on course offerings;

 

E)        requirements for academic credentials for dual credit instructors, consistent with ICCB rules and Higher Learning Commission standards;

 

F)         criteria by which the school district shall identify, and the college review and approve, high school instructors of dual credit on the high school campus;

 

G)        the collaborative process and criteria by which the community college district and the school district will work to ensure students with disabilities have access to dual credit;

 

H)        criteria as to how the college will take appropriate steps to ensure that dual credit courses are equivalent to those offered at the community college; and

 

I)         identification of costs associated with the dual credit course. 

 

3)         The college shall establish a mechanism for evaluating and documenting on a regular basis the performance of students who complete dual credit courses consistent with students in traditional credit-bearing college courses.

 

4)         A partnership agreement entered into, amended, renewed, or extended after the December 31, 2022, shall allow a high school student who does not otherwise meet the community college’s academic eligibility requirements to enroll in a dual credit course taught at the high school, but only for high school credit.  Instructors, in coordination with their higher learning partner, may differentiate instruction by credit section. However, this shall not be construed to allow the award of dual credit to a student who does not meet the requirements of the partnership agreement.

 

A)        High schools shall establish procedures, prior to the first day of class, to notify all individual high school students enrolled in a mixed enrollment dual credit course that includes students who have and have not met the criteria for dual credit coursework of whether or not they are eligible to earn college credit for the course.

 

B)        The expectations for maintaining the rigor of dual credit courses that are taught at the high school and including students not deemed ready for college-level coursework are set according to the standards of the community college.

 

5)         If, within 180 calendar days after the school district's initial request to enter into a partnership agreement with the community college district, the school district and the community college district do not reach agreement on the partnership agreement, then the school district and community college district shall jointly implement the provisions of the Model Partnership Agreement, published on the ICCB website. [110 ILCS 27/16]

 

6)         A college may combine its negotiations with multiple high schools to establish one multi-district partnership agreement or may negotiate individual partnership agreements at its discretion.

 

c)         Within 15 days after entering into or renewing a partnership agreement, the institution shall notify its faculty of the agreement, including access to copies of the agreement if requested. 

 

d)         The ICCB shall provide a report annually on its website that reports on aspects of professional development plans as specified in P. A. 102-1077

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 14801, effective October 6, 2023)

 

Section 1501.314  Multiple Measures Placement

 

a)         Use of Multiple Measures. The college shall individually accept each of the multiple measures listed in subsection (a)(2) and (a)(3) to determine placement of a student in introductory college-level English language or mathematics coursework and shall use the scores set forth in recommendations approved by the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents on June 1, 2018, as published on the ICCB's official website. [110 ILCS 175/100-15(a)] Colleges may accept scores lower than those set forth in these recommendations at their discretion.

 

1)         "College-level English language or mathematics course" or "college-level English language or mathematics coursework" means a course that bears credit and fulfills English language or mathematics credit requirements for a baccalaureate degree, a certificate, or an associate degree from a postsecondary educational institution. [110 ILCS 175/100-10]

 

2)         Mathematics

 

A)        A student's cumulative high school grade point average.

 

B)        A student's successful completion of an ICCB approved high school transition course in mathematics including any one of the following:

 

i)          TM 001 - STEM

 

ii)         TM 002 – Quantitative Literacy and Statistics

 

iii)        TM 003 – Technical Math (Career and Technical Education 

 

C)        A student's successful completion of a developmental mathematics education course appropriate to the course pathway.

 

D)        A student's successful completion of an introductory college-level mathematics course at another regionally accredited postsecondary educational institution.

 

E)        In determining the placement of a student in introductory college-level mathematics coursework, a community college shall consider the standardized test scores provided by the student for placement in an introductory college-level mathematics course.

 

F)         Any other single, individual measures that the college deems appropriate if the student has not already placed into college-level courses through the previously listed measures.

 

3)         English

 

A)        A student's cumulative high school grade point average.

 

B)        A student's successful completion of an appropriate, ICCB approved high school transition course in English including TE 001 – ELA Transitional English.

 

C)        A student's successful completion of a developmental English education course appropriate to the course pathway.

 

D)        A student's successful completion of an introductory college-level English language course at another regionally accredited postsecondary educational institution.

 

E)        In determining the placement of a student in introductory college-level English language a community college shall consider the standardized test scores provided by the student for placement in an introductory college-level English language course.

 

F)         Any other single, individual measures that the college deems appropriate if the student has not already placed into college-level courses through the previously listed measures.

 

b)         Revisions to recommendations of Illinois Council of Community College Presidents approved June 1, 2018. If the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents approves any revised recommendations for determining the placement of students in introductory college-level English language or mathematics courses in response to changes in scoring systems, the introduction and use of additional measures, or evidence that demonstrates the inaccuracy in the use of scores in previous recommendations, then, within one year after the date of the adoption of those revised recommendations, colleges shall utilize the most current revised recommendations to determine placement pursuant to subsection (a). [110 ILCS 175/100-20]

 

c)           Public posting of placement policy.  Each college shall publicly post its placement policy on the college's website in a manner that is easily accessible to both students and prospective students. [110 ILCS 175/100-25(a)]

 

d)          Reporting requirements. Each college shall submit, in a format prescribed by ICCB, their institutional plan for scaling evidence-based developmental education reforms by December 30 of each year.  At a minimum, the plan shall include all the following:

 

1)         A description of the current developmental education models offered by the college.

 

2)         A description of the developmental education models that will be implemented and scaled or modified for improvements in the upcoming academic year. The college shall include the basis of the evidence and associated data that the college considered in making the decision to scale each model.

 

3)         Baseline data and benchmarks for progress, including, but not limited to,

 

A)        enrollment in credit-bearing English language or mathematics courses,

 

B)        rates of successful completion of introductory college-level English language or mathematics courses, and

 

C)        college-credit accumulation.

 

4)         Plans for improving outcomes for all students placed in traditional developmental education models or models with comparable introductory college-level course completion rates. The plan shall provide details about the expected improvements in educational outcomes for Black students as result of the proposed reforms. [110 ILCS 175/100-30(a)]

 

(Source:  Added at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.401  Definition of Terms (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 42 Ill. Reg. 18869, effective October 3, 2018)

 

Section 1501.402  Admission of Students

 

a)         Students Whose Connection With a Secondary School is Severed. Any student who is 16 or 17 years of age and has severed connection with a secondary school, as certified in writing by the chief executive officer of the secondary school in which the student has legal residence, is eligible to attend a college in accordance with policies of the Board.  Courses taken by those students are eligible for ICCB grants.

 

b)         Students Currently Enrolled in a Secondary School Program. Students currently enrolled in a secondary school program may be accepted into college courses.  If the courses are offered during the regular school day established by the secondary school or are offered for secondary school credit, prior approval of the chief executive officer of the secondary school must be received.

 

c)         Admission of Students in Programs.  Students shall be admitted to instructional programs supported by State funds for which they are otherwise qualified without regard to race, religion, sex, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or membership in any profession, group, organization or association.

 

1)         Designating Specific Sections.  Course enrollments shall be open to those individuals identified in this subsection (c).  However, the nature of the instructional unit may make it desirable to offer specific sections for students with certain common backgrounds, experiences, and future aspirations.

 

2)         Organizations' Standards Not Applicable.  While it is recognized that certain organizations, groups, fraternities and associations have standards that must be met to become employed in a particular field, those standards shall not be applicable to the continuing participation of students in college courses receiving ICCB grants.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 18869, effective October 3, 2018)

 

Section 1501.403  Student Services

 

Student services including, but not limited to, advising and counseling, financial aid, and placement, shall be provided by the college in a manner convenient to students as defined below.

 

a)         Advising and Counseling.  The college shall have a comprehensive and organized program of academic advising and career counseling.

 

b)         Financial Aid.  The college shall provide a financial aid program, which provides students with information about and access to available financial support.

 

c)         Placement.  The college shall provide job placement services for students.

 

Section 1501.404  Academic Records

 

The college shall maintain permanent academic records for each student and protect them against loss, damage, or unauthorized alteration.

 

Section 1501.405  Student Evaluation

 

A system of evaluating and recording student performance in courses shall be in effect as per district policies and shall be available for review.

 

Section 1501.406  Reporting Requirements

 

A college shall submit the items listed in this Section in a format prescribed by ICCB and according to the schedules indicated.

 

a)         Basic characteristics, including sex, date of birth, ethnic classification, and instructional area of enrollment, of each student enrolled in all courses offered for credit during each term within the following schedule:

 

1)         Students enrolled as of the end of the regular registration during the fall term shall be reported on or before October 1 of that year.

 

2)         Students enrolled and/or completing a certificate or degree program during the fiscal year shall be reported on or before August 1.

 

b)         Student headcount and full-time equivalent enrollments as of the end of regular registration for fall and spring/winter terms within the following schedule:

 

1)         Fall Term:                    On or before October 1

 

2)         Spring Semester:         On or before February 15

 

c)         An annual report on underrepresented groups submitted on or before March 1.

 

d)         An annual noncredit course enrollment data submission (N1) on or before July 15.

 

e)         Summer graduate reporting (for the Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data System Graduation Rate Survey) submitted on or before November 1.

 

f)         An annual Student Identification data submission on or before September 1.

 

g)         An annual course submission on or before September 1.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.501  Definition of Terms

 

"Annual Financial Statement" means an annual financial report and an annual program report that are required to be published by a district.  An annual financial report includes a statement of revenues and expenditures, along with other basic financial data.  An annual program report includes a narrative description of programs offered, goals of the district, and student and staff data.

 

"Attendance at Midterm" means a student is "in attendance at midterm" in a course if the student is currently enrolled in and actively pursuing completion of the course.

 

"Auditor" means a person who enrolls in a class without intent to obtain academic credit and whose status as an auditor is declared by the student, approved by college officials, and identified on college records before the end-of-registration date of the college for that particular term.

 

"Deferred Maintenance Grants" means State grants allocated proportionally to a community college district based on the latest on-campus nonresidential gross square feet of facilities as reported to ICCB.  These grants are to be used for capital improvements such as rehabilitation and repair; architect/engineer services; supplies, fixed equipment and materials; and all other expenses required to complete the work.

 

"Healthcare Pathway" means credentials, certificates, and degree programs that allow students to enter into or advance their careers in the healthcare industry.

 

"Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grants" means scholarships provided to a community college for graduates of the Lincoln's Challenge Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Military Affairs.

 

"Midterm Class List Certification" means the college's process for certifying to ICCB students in attendance at the midterm as part of the proof that a student's credit hours are eligible for State funding.  The district shall file with ICCB a document outlining the process (including but not limited to specific steps and/or procedures, steps for obtaining an electronic midterm certification signature, etc.) it follows as part of that certification and the district shall file an amended process any time changes are made, but not less than once every five years.

 

"Midterm Certification Signature" means midterm class lists obtained and maintained by the college that are manually signed and dated by faculty or electronic signature of the faculty.

 

If the college chooses to accept an electronic signature of faculty, then the college must include in the midterm class list certification process a written summary explaining what steps are in place that ensure:

 

Appropriate administrative and operational controls are in place to ensure faculty only have access to midterm class lists they teach;

 

Appropriate controls are in place to only allow an electronic signature at the midpoint of the class during a specified period (that is, one or two weeks before and one or two weeks after the midpoint of the class);

 

A faculty member's identity is authenticated and attributed to the midterm certification signature;

 

The integrity of the electronically signed midterm class list of a course section has been secured and verified; and

 

The college has the capability of generating signed printed midterm class lists that support the ICCB credit hour claim submission.

 

A final grade sheet electronic signatures process, if adopted, should be implemented in the same manner as the electronic midterm certification signature.

 

"Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce Program (PATH) Grants" means State grants allocated to community college districts to create, support, and expand opportunities of individuals enrolled at a public community college in a healthcare pathway. [110 ILCS 802/2-12.2]

 

"Residency − Applicability Proof" means the college's processes, in accordance with Section 2-16.02 of the Act, for verifying to ICCB the residency status of its students as part of the proof that its credit hours are eligible to receive ICCB grants.  The process shall include the methods for verifying residency as defined in the general provisions, special State provisions, and district provisions of this Section.  A district shall file descriptions of any revisions to its process with ICCB before their implementation.

 

"Residency − General Provisions".  The following provisions apply both to State and district residency definitions:

 

To be classified as a resident of the State of Illinois or of the community college district, a student shall have occupied a dwelling within the State or district for at least 30 days immediately before the date established by the district for classes to begin.

 

The district shall maintain documentation verifying State or district residency of students.

 

Students occupying a dwelling in the State or district who fail to meet the 30-day residency requirement may not become residents simply by attending classes at a community college for 30 days or more.

 

Students who move from outside the State or district and who obtain residence in the State or district for reasons other than attending the community college shall be exempt from the 30-day requirement if they demonstrate through documentation a verifiable interest in establishing permanent residency.

 

Students who are currently under the legal guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or have been recently emancipated from the Department and had a placement change into a new community college district shall be exempt from the 30-day requirement if they demonstrate proof of current in-district residency.  Documentation of current residency may be submitted to the district from the student, a caseworker or other personnel of the Department, or the student's attorney or guardian ad litem.

 

"District Provisions".  Students shall not be classified as residents of the district where attending even though they may have met the general 30-day residency provision if they are:

 

federal job corps workers stationed in the district;

 

inmates of State or federal correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in the district;

 

full-time students attending a postsecondary educational institution in the district who have not demonstrated through documentation a verifiable interest in establishing permanent residency; or

 

students attending under a chargeback or contractual agreement with another community college.

 

"Special State Provisions".  Students shall be classified as residents of the State without meeting the general 30-day residency provision if they are:

 

federal job corps workers stationed in Illinois;

 

members of the armed services stationed in Illinois;

 

inmates of State correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in Illinois; or

 

employed full time in Illinois.

 

"Senior Citizen" means a person 65 years or older whose annual household income is less than the threshold amount provided in Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act [320 ILCS 25].

 

"Special Initiatives Grants" means funds for conducting special initiatives activities.  Special initiatives activities are based upon criteria specified in a Grant Agreement between the college or vendor and ICCB.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 11426, effective July 11, 2023)

 

Section 1501.502  Financial Planning

 

Financial planning for current and future operation shall provide for both a sound educational program and prudent use of public funds.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 18869, effective October 3, 2018)

 

Section 1501.503  Audits

 

a)         External Audits.

 

1)         A copy of the annual external audit shall be submitted electronically to ICCB on or before December 30 following the close of the fiscal year. If the audit cannot be completed by this date, the district may submit a request for extension of time to the Executive Director on or before December 30 following the close of the fiscal year.  This request shall be with an explanation of the circumstances that cause the report to be delayed, along with an estimated date for submission.

 

2)         An audit report shall contain financial statements composed of the funds established in Section 1501.511, a comment on internal control, a comment on basis of accounting, uniform financial statements prepared using the modified accrual basis of accounting, a certificate of chargeback verification and a State grant compliance section that includes a schedule of enrollment data, a proof of enrollment data, a description of the process for verifying residency status, a schedule of the district equalized assessed valuation, schedules for the restricted/special initiative grants distributed by ICCB and received by the district in the manner and format established by ICCB, and a schedule of federal financial assistance and related reports as prescribed by the federal Office of Management and Budget.

 

3)         Each ICCB restricted or special initiatives grant shall verify that grant funds received by the district were expended in the manner designated by ICCB.  ICCB shall designate allowable expenditures for each of the restricted or special initiatives grants to include, but not be limited to, salary and benefits, contractual services, materials, instructional and office equipment, staff development, and travel.  The external audit shall include an auditor's report on compliance with State requirements, along with a balance sheet and a statement of revenues and expenditures based upon an understanding of the purpose of the grant, allowable expenditures, expenditure limitations, grant administrative standards, and transfer of funds, if applicable.

 

b)         Confirmation of ICCB Grants. To confirm district records, a district shall provide a copy of ICCB allocation of grants to its external auditor.  External auditing firms can confirm allocations using the community college Operating Budget and Technical Appendix located on the ICCB website.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.504  Budgets

 

An electronic copy of the official district budget shall be filed with ICCB by October 15 of each year in the format prescribed by the ICCB.  An electronic copy of amended budgets shall also be filed with ICCB within 30 days after their adoption.  Colleges may develop a budget format for internal use that reflects their own individual organizational structures.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.505   Student Tuition

 

A community college district will establish its own student tuition rates for in-district residents, in-state out-of-district residents, out-of-state residents, and out-of-country residents in accordance with the Act and this Section.

 

a)         In-District Tuition.  The local community college board of trustees may set the tuition rates for in-district residents within the following policies:

 

1)         The local community college board of trustees may set tuition rates for its in-district residents, including variable rates for each of its programs, terms, time of enrollment, courses, delivery method, or other identifiable grouping of courses, as long as the weighted average of the tuition for all credit courses, including adult education, is no more than 1/3 the college district's per capita cost.  The method of calculating the per capita cost will be as prescribed in Section 6-2 of the Act.

 

2)         A public community college shall charge in-district tuition rates for students who are currently under the legal guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or who have been recently emancipated from the Department and meet the general residency provisions in Section 1501.501.

 

3)         A public community college shall charge in-district tuition rates for students utilizing benefits under the fedearl All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program or the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or any subsequent variations of that Act.

 

b)         Out-of-District Tuition.  The local community college board of trustees may set the tuition rates for out-of-district residents living within Illinois within the following policies:

 

1)         The college will use the calculation for out-of-district tuition for chargeback purposes as prescribed in Section 6-2 of the Act.  The depreciation rate used in the out-of-district tuition calculation for capital expenditures for equipment and temporary buildings shall be 12.5 percent a year for eight years and for permanent facilities 2 percent a year for 50 years.

 

2)         The college may use the variable tuition provision in Section 6-4 of the Act to set market-driven out-of-district tuition rates for courses offered via Internet, correspondence, and other distance learning modes.

 

3)         The college may set the out-of-district tuition rates for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and English as a second language courses for students who do not meet eligibility requirements in Section 10-22.20 of the School Code.

 

4)         The college may charge in-district tuition to a student who is an out-of-district resident but who is employed for at least 35 hours per week by an entity located in the district or is enrolled in a course that is being provided under terms of a contract for services between the employing entity and the college.

 

5)         The college board of trustees may at its option charge in-district tuition to out-of-district residents who are attending an educational institution located within the college district.

 

6)         The college may enter into cooperative agreements for instruction with its neighboring districts for any or all of their programs to provide increased access to education for their students and may charge in-district tuition rates for students from any district within the cooperative agreement.

 

7)         The college may set the out-of-district tuition rate for all other credit instruction offered by the college at a minimum of 1.5 times the highest in-district tuition rate of any of its neighboring contiguous Illinois community college districts.

 

c)         Out-of-State Tuition.  The local community college board of trustees may set the tuition rates for out-of-state residents within the following policies:

 

1)         The college may use the variable tuition provision specified in Section 6-4 of the Act to set market-driven out-of-state tuition rates for courses offered via Internet, correspondence, and other distance learning modes.

 

2)         The college may set the out-of-state tuition rates for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and English as a second language courses for students who do not meet eligibility requirements in Section 10-22.20 of the School Code.

 

3)         The college may charge in-district tuition to a student who is an out-of-state resident but who is employed for at least 35 hours per week by an entity located in the district or is enrolled in a course that is being provided under terms of a contract for services between the employing entity and the college.

 

4)         The community college board of trustees may at its option charge in-district tuition to students who are out-of-state residents but who are attending educational institutions within the college district.

 

5)         The college may set out-of-state tuition rates within interstate agreements for instruction with out-of-state institutions in accordance with the agreement, subject to approval by the ICCB.

 

6)         The college may set out-of-state tuition rates for all other credit instruction offered by the college at a minimum of 1.67 times its in-district tuition rate.

 

d)         Out-of-Country Tuition.  The local community college board of trustees may set the tuition rates for out-of-country residents using the same policies as for out-of-state residents described in subsection (c).

 

e)         Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver. The local community college board of trustees shall permit senior citizens, as defined in Section 1501.501, who reside within the community college district to enroll without the payment of tuition in regularly scheduled credit courses, other than credit courses designed specifically for senior citizens, profided that available classroom space exists and tuition paying students enrolled constitute the minimum number required for the course.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.506  Published Financial Statements

 

The Annual Financial Statement shall be published in at least one newspaper having general circulation within the district.  If no such newspaper exists, then publications shall be made in 2 or more newspapers which together cover the district.  This statement shall be published not later than December 31 following the close of the fiscal year.  A copy shall be filed with ICCB on or before January 15 following the close of the fiscal year.

 

            (Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.507  Credit Hour Claims

 

a)         Claims.  Claims for credit hours shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of each term in a format used by ICCB.

 

b)         Course Requirements.  Courses that produce credit hours eligible for ICCB grants shall satisfy the following requirements:

 

1)         Courses shall be offered for the number of credit hours for which they are approved by ICCB.

 

2)         Courses that have variable credit hours shall be claimed in specified increments only up to the maximum credit value approved for the course.

 

3)         Course data shall be posted to the permanent academic record of each student claimed.

 

4)         Courses shall be a part of units of instruction that have been approved by ICCB, or the courses must be authorized extensions of existing units of instruction.

 

5)         Courses shall have specific written objectives.

 

6)         A course outline shall be available for review by any student or citizen.

 

7)         Courses shall have a method of evaluating student performance that follows the adopted college grading system.

 

8)         Courses shall follow the adopted college policies on student tuition.

 

9)         The following categories of physical education courses shall be the only ones to produce eligible credit hours:

 

A)        elective physical education courses;

 

B)        required courses for majors and minors in physical education, recreational leadership, and related programs;

 

C)        physical education courses in teacher education programs as required by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

 

10)         Courses shall produce a maximum rate of one semester credit hour or equivalent per week.  Requests for exceptions to this requirement may be submitted to ICCB.  The criteria utilized by ICCB for exceptions shall include:

 

A)        documentation of need for an intensified or accelerated schedule;

 

B)        student population identified with testing and/or screening to indicate special needs and/or competencies;

 

C)        how courses are instructed, including schedule of classes, study time allotted for students, method of instruction and how students are evaluated;

 

D)        time period of instructional activity and projected termination date;

 

E)        procedures to evaluate the accelerated instructional activity.

 

c)         Student Requirements.  The following requirements shall apply to students who generate credit hours eligible for ICCB grants.

 

1)         Students shall be certified by their instructors as being in attendance at midterm by including a certification statement on the midterm class roster, signed and dated by the instructor.

 

2)         Students who complete a course with a passing grade by the end of the term and who were not certified as being in attendance at midterm by the instructor shall be considered as having been in attendance at midterm.

 

3)         Students enrolled in variable entry/variable exit classes or short-term classes of less than eight weeks may be certified by their instructors as having been in attendance at midterm by including a certification statement on the final class roster, signed and dated by the instructor.

 

4)         Students shall be residents of the State of Illinois.

 

5)         Auditors or visitors in a course shall not produce eligible credit hours.

 

6)         Students who repeat enrollment in a course shall produce credit hours eligible for ICCB grants when one of the following conditions is met.

 

A)        If the student completed the course the first time of enrollment with less than a grade of C (or equivalent) and if the student was claimed for funding, the student may enroll and be claimed in the course one additional time.

 

B)        If the student enrolled in the course previously and withdrew before completing the course, and if the student was claimed for funding, the student may enroll and be claimed in the course one additional time.

 

C)        If a student completed the course previously and was claimed for funding, the student may be claimed for retaking the course if the student uses his/her option to retake the course tuition free under the college's educational guarantee program.

 

D)        If the last time the student completed the course was at least four years previously, the student may be claimed for funding if the student repeats the course to upgrade his/her skills in that area.

 

E)        If a course has been approved by ICCB to be repeated, the student may repeat the course and be claimed as often as approved by ICCB.

 

d)         Exceptions.  The following credits will not be eligible for ICCB funding:

 

1)         credit by examination;

 

2)         military service credit for physical education;

 

3)         transfer of credit earned at other institutions or in the armed forces;

 

4)         proficiency examinations;

 

5)         advanced placement credits;

 

6)         other methods of program acceleration that do not include instruction; and

 

7)         credit hours generated by freshman and sophomore students for dual credit courses.

 

e)         Midterm Class List Certification Requirements

 

1)         The midterm class lists' primary purpose shall be for certification of students' credit hours for State funding eligibility or ineligibility.

 

2)         The process must rely on the course section's instructor's assessment of the students' pursuit of successful completion at the midpoint of the class, as indicated by that instructor's midterm certification signature.

 

3)         The college shall document and communicate district requirements to faculty each semester.

 

4)         The college must be able to provide, upon request, a hardcopy midterm class list print out of each course section, submitted on ICCB credit hour claims, containing either a manual faculty signature or an authenticated electronic faculty signature for either ICCB or external audit purposes.

 

5)         Students who participate in an approved program with an intensified or accelerated schedule shall be exempt from the midterm class list requirements of this subsection (e) provided that a final class list is provided.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.508  Special Populations Grants (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 24 Ill. Reg. 17522, effective November 20, 2000)

 

Section 1501.509   Workforce Preparation Grants (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 24 Ill. Reg. 17522, effective November 20, 2000)

 

Section 1501.510  Reporting Requirements

 

A college shall submit the items listed in this Section in a format prescribed by ICCB and according to the schedules indicated.

 

a)         Resource Allocation and Management Plan (RAMP) data by August 1 of each year.

 

b)         Annual Instruction Cost Report in a format prescribed by ICCB for the previous fiscal year by December 30 following the end of that fiscal year.

 

c)         A survey of local budget and tax extensions and collections by September 1 of each year.

 

d)         Certificate of Tax Levy by January 31 of each year.

 

e)         Annual tuition and fees survey by August 1 of each year.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.511  Chart of Accounts

 

a)         Community College Funds.  The funds listed below or a subset of these funds shall be used for publicly reporting community college financial transactions.  The local board of trustees may determine the distribution of unrestricted revenues among the operating funds, that is, the Education Fund; the Operations, Building and Maintenance Fund; and the Public Building Commission Operation and Maintenance Fund.

 

1)         Operating Funds.

 

A)        Education Fund.  Local property taxes for educational purposes shall be recorded as revenue in this fund.

 

B)        Operations, Building and Maintenance Fund.  Local property taxes for operations, building, and maintenance purposes shall be recorded as revenue in this fund.

 

C)        Public Building Commission Operation and Maintenance Fund.  Local property taxes for the operation and maintenance of college buildings leased from the Public Building Commission shall be recorded in this fund.  Each agreement to operate and maintain property must be accounted for using a separate set of self-balancing accounts.

 

2)         Restricted Purposes Fund.  This fund is to account for monies that have external restrictions regarding their use. Each of the restricted sources of revenue in this fund shall be accounted for separately using a group of self-balancing accounts.

 

3)         Audit Fund.  The audit tax levy shall be recorded in this fund. Monies in this fund shall be used only for the payment of auditing expenses.

 

4)         Liability, Protection and Settlement Fund.  The tort liability and Medicare insurance/FICA tax levies should be recorded in this fund.  The monies in this fund and interest earned on assets shall be used only for the payment of tort liability, unemployment, worker's compensation insurance and/or claims, or the cost of participation in the federal Medicare/Social Security program.

 

5)         Bond and Interest Fund.  Revenues in this fund consist of property taxes for principal and interest bond payments.  All principal and interest bond payments shall be expended from this fund.  The debt service for each bond issue must be accounted for with a group of self-balancing accounts within the fund.

 

6)         Public Building Commission Rental Fund.  Local property taxes for the payment of lease obligations to the Public Building Commission shall be recorded in this fund.  Each lease with the Public Building Commission shall be accounted for using a separate group of self-balancing accounts.

 

7)         Operations, Building and Maintenance Fund (Restricted).  This fund is used to account for funds which can be used only for site acquisition and construction and equipping of buildings.  The monies in this fund shall not be permanently transferred or loaned to any other fund.

 

8)         Building Bond Proceeds Fund.  Proceeds from construction bonds shall be recorded in this fund.  Each bond issue shall be accounted for using a separate group of self-balancing accounts.

 

9)         Auxiliary Enterprises Fund.  This fund is to account for those services for which a fee is being charged students and staff.  Only monies that the institution has control of should be included in this fund.  Each enterprise service where a fee is being charged should be accounted for using a separate group of self-balancing accounts.

 

10)         Working Cash Fund.  This fund shall be used to account for the proceeds of working cash bonds.

 

11)         Trust and Agency Fund.  This fund shall be used to receive and hold monies in which the district serves as a custodian or fiscal agent for another body.

 

12)         Investment in Plant Account Group.  This group of accounts shall be used to record the cost/value of plant assets.

 

13)         Long-term Liabilities Account Group.  This group of accounts shall be used to record liabilities that are payable beyond the current fiscal year.

 

b)         Program and Object Codes.  The program and object codes (report structure) used by ICCB shall be used for publicly reporting community college financial transactions.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.512  Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce Program (PATH) Grants

 

a)         PATH grant funds shall be determined annually by allocating the appropriation for this program among each community college district in accordance with the funding formula approved by the ICCB.  The formula shall include:

 

1)         Base Funding.  A base allocation of $100,000 per district. The base allocation may be prorated if the amount of funds appropriated for this program are insufficient.

 

2)         Student Completion Funding. Each district shall receive an additional amount based upon the average number of completions of students enrolled in eligible healthcare programs in the most recent academic year for which the board has collected data and the two prior academic years.

 

3)         Prioritized Programs. Student completions shall be weighted based upon statewide industry workforce demand as determined by the State Board. Non-prioritized programs will be funded at 67 percent of the amount allocated per completion to prioritized programs. This weighting may be adjusted if the amount of funds appropriated are insufficient.

 

b)         The ICCB will post on its website (www.iccb.org) the list of eligible healthcare programs by Classification of Instructional Program codes and identify those programs that are prioritized for purposes of the funding formula.

 

c)         The target population for each community college district receiving grant funds shall include, but not be limited to, incumbent workers who are already in the workforce looking to continue their education and advance their careers in a healthcare pathway and new students entering in a healthcare pathway with a locally identified need for support as determined by that community college.

 

d)         When sufficient funding is available, the ICCB shall publish on its website the planned PATH grant allocation to each district, implementation plan template, budget template, and standard grant application.

 

e)         Each district shall submit an application, implementation plan, and budget using forms prescribed by the ICCB in subsection (d). These documents may be submitted no later than the date specified by ICCB on its website.  The deadline will provide districts with at least 30 calendar days in which to submit their documents.

 

f)         The ICCB shall execute an intergovernmental grant agreement with each district for the distribution of PATH grant funds. Grant funds shall be vouchered to each community college district according to the terms of the agreement.

 

g)         The plan (see subsection (e)) shall represent the programmatic elements that are necessary for each institution to execute the PATH program.  The plan should track closely, where appropriate, with the budget submitted.  The plan elements themselves will be tied directly to the grant agreement executed for each college in order to access funding.

 

h)         The expenditure of PATH grant funds is limited to those credit and non-credit programs identified as eligible healthcare programs for the purposes of the funding formula in subsection (a)(2), unless specifically approved in writing by the ICCB. All programs developed or supported through this grant should be part of a healthcare pathway.

 

i)          Allowable expenditures of funds, as submitted in the implementation plan, will be specified in an intergovernmental grant agreement executed with each community college district. Colleges should consider capacity-building activities as well as broad, wrap around services and supports for students as a key part of program development.

 

j)          Each community college district receiving grant funds shall administer an exit survey to each student near or upon program completion.  This survey shall, at a minimum, ask students to identify their post completion employment or education.

 

k)         PATH grant funds shall be accounted for in a restricted purpose fund.

 

l)          PATH grant funds shall be expended by the date specified in the intergovernmental grant agreement.  If the grant agreement allows, goods and services for which funds have been obligated by the contract end date shall be received and paid for not later than 60 days after the grant agreement end date.  Unexpended funds shall be returned to ICCB pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act [30 ILCS 705].

 

m)        PATH grant funds not used in accordance with the terms specified in the intergovernmental grant agreement, regardless of the amount, shall be returned to ICCB within six months after receipt of the external audit report by ICCB or other identification of improper expenditures subsequently verified by ICCB.

 

n)         Each community college district receiving grant funds shall file a programmatic and financial report with the ICCB in a format prescribed by the ICCB, and in accordance with the terms of the intergovernmental grant agreement, detailing how the funds were utilized.  The frequency and due dates of the reports shall be specified in the grant agreement.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 10170, effective June 25, 2024)

 

Section 1501.514  Business Assistance Grants (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 12 Ill. Reg. 6660, effective March 25, 1988)

 

Section 1501.515  Advanced Technology Equipment Grant (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 24 Ill. Reg. 17522, effective November 20, 2000)

 

Section 1501.516  Deferred Maintenance Grants

 

a)         Districts may apply annually to ICCB for approval of deferred maintenance grant projects. Requests for ICCB approval of deferred maintenance grant projects shall be submitted using forms prescribed by ICCB.

 

b)         Expenditures of funds from this grant are limited to deferred maintenance projects that are within the scope of the definition of deferred maintenance grants contained in Section 1501.501.

 

c)         Funds received from this grant shall be accounted for in the Operations and Maintenance Fund (Restricted) (see Section 1501.511(a)(7)).

 

d)         Other sources of funding may be added to deferred maintenance grant funds to finance larger projects.

 

e)         Projects shall be designed and constructed to meet all applicable facilities codes as specified in Section 1501.603(g).

 

f)         Authority to approve deferred maintenance grant projects is delegated to the ICCB Executive Director.

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1616, effective January 21, 2021)

 

Section 1501.517  Retirees Health Insurance Grants (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 24 Ill. Reg. 17522, effective November 20, 2000)

 

Section 1501.518  Uncollectible Debts (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.519  Special Initiatives Grants

 

a)         Allowable expenditures for special initiatives grants will be specified in the grant agreement between the college or vendor and ICCB.

 

b)         Special initiatives grant funds shall be accounted for in a restricted account.

 

c)         The community college district or other vendor shall file a report with ICCB in a format used by ICCB or in accordance with the grant agreement, detailing how the funds were used.

 

d)         Special initiatives grant funds shall be expended by the date specified in the grant agreement.  If the grant agreement allows, goods and services for which funds have been obligated by the contract end date shall be received and paid for not later than 60 days after the grant agreement end date.  Unexpended funds shall be returned to ICCB on or before December 30.

 

e)         Special initiatives grant funds not used in accordance with the terms specified in the grant agreement regardless of the amount shall be returned to ICCB within six months after receipt of the external audit report by ICCB or other identification of improper expenditures subsequently verified by ICCB.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 2227, effective February 1, 2023)

 

Section 1501.520  Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grants

 

a)         Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grants shall be vouchered to community colleges.

 

b)         Students can qualify for their first Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grant if they meet the following criteria:

 

1)         Graduate from the Lincoln's Challenge Academy;

 

2)         Earn a high school equivalency certificate;

 

3)         Enroll at an Illinois public community college in a certificate or degree program the next semester following graduation;

 

4)         Maintain and complete an academic course load of at least six credit hours in each fall and spring semester; and

 

5)         Present the "notification of award" letter signed by the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board to the community college at the time of registration.

 

c)         The scholarship amount will be awarded up to $1,000 per student per semester for up to four successive semesters to be used toward the completion of a degree or certificate program. Scholarships for the summer semester will not be awarded.

 

d)         The scholarship grants shall be used to cover the cost of education, which includes tuition, books, fees, and required educational supplies for specific programs or classes.

 

e)         To remain qualified for a Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grant after initial enrollment, each semester a student must:

 

1)         Submit a renewal application to ICCB requesting continuation of the scholarship for the following semester. 

 

2)         Submit a grade transcript showing successful completion of a minimum of six credit hours in the previous semester and a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0.

 

3)         Submit a grade transcript and application postmarked by July 1 for application to the fall semester and January 1 for application to the spring semester. Applications submitted electronically will be considered postmarked on the date sent.

 

4)         Meet with the community college's designated Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship coordinator at the time of enrollment and at mid-semester, and arrange an exit interview before completing the semester.

 

5)         Comply with academic standards as defined by college policy.  Exceptions to this subsection (e)(5), such as extenuating circumstances, shall be documented and reviewed by ICCB staff and the college's Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship coordinator.

 

f)         Scholarship recipients shall notify ICCB of changes to contact information (including mailing address, email address, or phone number) or if the recipient enrolls in a community college other than the one listed on the original application.

 

g)         The grant will only reimburse the college at the in-district tuition rate.

 

h)         To receive the reimbursement, colleges must submit vouchers during the semester the student is enrolled or payment cannot be guaranteed.  The following information must be submitted to ICCB for each student:

 

            1)         Name;

 

            2)         Program of study;

 

            3)         Course schedule (including credit hours); and

 

4)         Costs broken out by tuition, fees, books and required educational supplies.

 

i)          The number of scholarships awarded each year is contingent upon the amount of funds appropriated.  The scholarships cannot be guaranteed to students even if all criteria are met.  The distribution of available funds among new and renewed scholarships will be determined by the Illinois Community College Board to maximize use of the funds.

 

j)          Community colleges may credit student accounts pending reimbursement, but are not required to waive tuition should funds not be appropriated.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)

 

Section 1501.521  Technology Enhancement Grants (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.522  Deferred Maintenance Grants (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 24 Ill. Reg. 17522, effective November 20, 2000)

 

Section 1501.523  Foundation Matching Grants (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.601  Definition of Terms

 

"Alter" means to remodel or modify a facility, without changing its original purpose or adding to its total dimensions, that would have been constructed differently had existing accessibility, energy conservation, or environmental protection laws, codes or standards (as specified in Section 1501.603(g)(2)) been in effect at the time of construction.

 

"Building efficiency" means the ratio of the total net assignable square feet (NASF) of a building, which includes the interior of classrooms, class laboratories, offices, study areas, libraries, special or general use areas, and supporting areas for each of these space types, to the total gross square feet (GSF) of a building, which includes circulation areas, custodial areas, mechanical areas and structural areas plus the NASF.

 

"Capital Project Design Phase" of a capital project means development of detailed architectural plans, specifications and cost estimates.

 

"Capital Project Needs Assessment" means the initial conceptualization and justification of the scope of the project.

 

"Credits" means capital project local contribution allowances certified by ICCB at its Board meeting on September 18, 1987.

 

"Deferred Maintenance Project" means a project that keeps a facility or asset in efficient operating condition, preserves the condition of the property, or restores property to a sound state after prolonged use.

 

"Facility" means any physical structure or entity that is necessary for the delivery of the district's programs and related services.

 

"Hazard" means a risk or peril resulting from unsanitary conditions, deficiencies in codes specified in Section 1501.603(g)(2), conditions increasing the risk of fire, or conditions otherwise endangering human life to a degree greater than normal.

 

"Licensed Architect or Engineer" means an architect or engineer licensed by or registered with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

 

"Locally Funded" means a capital project funded totally from local district bond issues, local district operating funds, federal grants, foundation or other grants, gifts, student fees, or any non-state appropriated source.

 

"Primary Site" means any site constituting a campus as defined in Section 1501.301.

 

"Repair" means rehabilitate or return a facility to its original condition after damage or deterioration, without changing its original purpose or adding to its total dimensions, when the condition of the facility poses a hazard to individuals or threatens the structural integrity of the facility.

 

"Scope" means the parameters of the project, primarily the physical dimensions of the project and the function of space included within the project.

 

"Secondary Site" means any location where the district maintains a permanent presence, but does not meet the criteria of a primary site.

 

"State-Funded" means a capital project partially or fully funded with a State appropriation.

 

"Structural Defect/Deficiency Project" means a capital project that has a defect or deficiency directly attributable to inadequate design or construction, or defective construction materials.

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1616, effective January 21, 2021)

 

Section 1501.602  Approval of Capital Projects

 

a)         Requests for approval of State-funded capital projects shall be submitted to ICCB on the forms prescribed by ICCB.

 

b)         An updated District Site and Construction Master Plan shall be filed with ICCB by July 1 of the year in which the district undergoes its recognition evaluation.  The purpose of the plan is to apprise ICCB of possible primary site new construction and secondary site acquisition/construction plans for the next five years throughout the district.  The plan should be updated, as needed, to ensure that any project submitted for approval has been reflected in the district plan on file with ICCB at least two months prior to submission of the project.  Any primary site new construction or secondary site acquisition/construction projects must be reflected in the plan in order to receive consideration for approval.  The plan, at a minimum, shall consist of a map of the district showing the location of all facilities owned by the district or leased for a period exceeding five years and a narrative describing the district's:

 

1)         Current permanent facilities where additions are planned.

 

2)         General plans for future site acquisition or acquisition/construction of permanent facilities either on the primary site or secondary sites.  The location may be identified in terms of the general geographic area within the district.

 

3)         Proposed schedule for acquiring additional sites, constructing additions to existing facilities, or acquiring/constructing new permanent facilities.

 

4)         The intended use of all proposed site acquisitions and facility acquisition/construction.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.603  State-Funded Capital Projects

 

a)         Projects Eligible to Receive State Funds.  State funds may be requested for capital projects, both those to be purchased and those to be constructed, as defined in this subsection (a).  The funds shall be requested before construction and may include or consist of architectural and engineering fees associated with the project.  These projects shall consist of:

 

1)         Buildings, Additions, and/or Structures (including fixed equipment). Types of buildings that may be included are:

 

A)        Administration and student personnel services facilities;

 

B)        Central utility facilities;

 

C)        Classrooms;

 

D)        Fine and applied arts classrooms and laboratories;

 

E)        Libraries;

 

F)         Occupational technical, and semi-technical laboratories, shops and classrooms;

 

G)        Other structures used for the operation and maintenance of the campus;

 

H)        Physical education instructional facilities;

 

I)         Science laboratories and related science facilities; and

 

J)         Student areas appropriate to the needs of a commuter institution, including food services, lounge areas, study areas, storage lockers, child care facilities, and facilities for student activities such as newspaper editing and student government.

 

2)         Land.

 

3)         Movable Equipment.

 

4)         Utilities (those beyond a five-foot perimeter of buildings).

 

5)         Remodeling or Rehabilitation of Existing Facilities.  These projects include provision for:

 

A)        Access for students with disabilities;

 

B)        Emergency repairs (including construction defects/deficiencies);

 

C)        Energy conservation; and

 

D)        Programmatic changes.

 

6)         Site Improvements.

 

A)        Clearance;

 

B)        Drainage;

 

C)        Earth movement;

 

D)        Finish grading, seeding, landscaping;

 

E)        Other work required to make land usable as a building site;

 

F)         Parking; and

 

G)        Streets and walkways.

 

7)         Planning.  A building project may be divided into sub-projects with planning funds (architect or engineering fees) requested for one fiscal year and construction funds requested in a subsequent year.

 

b)         Application Criteria for New Construction Projects at the Primary Site.  The acquisition of buildings/additions/structures through construction of new facilities or purchase of existing facilities includes planning, qualifying fixed and moveable equipment as necessary to support the new facility, land acquisition required for the facility, and any site improvements or utility work necessary to support the facility. In order for capital projects for new construction to be considered for State funding, the following requirements shall be met:

 

1)         Certification of local board approval of the projects requested shall be provided.

 

2)         Certification shall be provided that funds or credits are available to provide the local share of the cost of the projects in accordance with Articles IIIA and V of the Act.

 

3)         Certification shall be provided that a suitable construction site is available.  Suitability is determined through a site feasibility study and a Capital Development Board technical evaluation.  The feasibility study shall address, at a minimum, the following:

 

A)        The location of the site in relation to geography and population of the entire district and in relation to sites of the district's other colleges;

 

B)        The impact on the surrounding environment, including the effect of increased traffic flow;

 

C)        Accessibility to the site by existing and planned highways and/or streets;

 

D)        Cost of development of the site in relation to topography, soil condition and utilities;

 

E)        Size of the proposed site in relation to projected student population (as determined by census data) and land cost;

 

F)         The number, location and characteristics (type of terrain, geography, roadway access, and suitability of the site for building purposes) of alternative sites considered; and

 

G)        The location of the site in relation to existing institutions of higher education.

 

4)         Requests for site acquisition shall include a local board of trustees authorization to purchase the site, a copy of the feasibility study, a local board of trustees resolution that local funds are available, a copy of the Capital Development Board evaluation, three appraisals of the property, and a written request for ICCB approval in addition to the information requested in the Resource Allocation and Management Plan/Community Colleges (RAMP/CC).

 

5)         Evidence of need for the space requested shall be provided either on a general enrollment basis as specified in subsection (e)(1)(C) or a specific program need basis as specified in subsection (e)(1)(D).

 

6)         The project shall be within the mission of a community college as set forth in Section 1-2(e) of the Act.

 

c)         Application Criteria for Remodeling and Rehabilitation Projects. Projects to remodel and rehabilitate a facility shall require submittal of the following:

 

1)         An application on forms prescribed by ICCB;

 

2)         Certification of local board approval of the projects requested;

 

3)         Certification that funds or credits are available to provide the local share of the projects in accordance with Articles IIIA and V of the Act;

 

4)         A summary detailing the effects of the remodeling on space usage (classrooms, laboratories, offices, etc.); and

 

5)         A justification statement regarding the need to remodel.

 

d)         Application Criteria for Secondary Site Projects.  Projects for the acquisition/construction of a new site and/or structure for purposes other than a primary site facility and projects for acquisition of sites and/or structures adjacent to the primary site shall require submittal of the following:

 

1)         A resolution by the local board of trustees stating that:

 

A)        Local funds or credits are available to provide the local share of the projects in accordance with Articles IIIA and V of the Act; and

 

B)        The programs offered have been approved by ICCB and Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) or approval of these stated programs by those boards is pending.

 

2)         Copies of at least two appraisals of the property.

 

3)         Proof that the condition of the facility is not a threat to public safety.  This shall include tests of structural integrity, asbestos, toxic materials, underground storage tanks, and other hazardous conditions.  (Findings regarding the existence of these hazards shall not prevent the procurement of the site/structure but the knowledge of the hazardous condition and any costs incurred in correcting the condition shall be incorporated into the total cost of procuring the facility.)

 

4)         Identification of the location of the site and its relationship to the main campus, community college facilities in contiguous districts, and other higher education facilities in contiguous districts.

 

5)         Identification of all estimated costs associated with the purchase and any subsequent construction and/or rehabilitation of the site/structure.

 

e)         Site Purchase. Requests for State funds for land purchases not related to new facilities acquisition will be evaluated based on the need to support existing campus facilities and services. Requests must meet applicable criteria specified in subsection (b) for land purchases at the primary site or subsection (d) for secondary site projects.

 

f)         Utilities. Utilities projects (beyond a five-foot perimeter of buildings) not related to new facility acquisition will be evaluated based on the need to support existing campus facilities and services.

 

g)         Site Improvements. Site improvements not related to new facilities acquisition will be evaluated in conjunction with the facilities to which they relate and other demonstrated need.

 

h)         Project Priority Criteria.  All projects must meet requirements as stated in Sections 5-3 and 5-4 of the Act.  A maximum of 100 points will be awarded for each submitted capital project. Capital project priorities will be established according to the following criteria:

 

1)         Type of Space (10%). Priorities will be assigned to colleges based on the type of space to be constructed, purchased, improved, or remodeled (in priority order).  In the case of site purchases, utilities, and site improvements not related to new facilities acquisition, priorities will be assigned based upon the type of space associated with the project.

 

A)        Instructional, study, office and student areas (all weighted equally):

 

i)          Instructional space, including basic classrooms, lecture halls, seminar rooms and other rooms used primarily for scheduled instruction, both credit and noncredit.  These rooms may contain multimedia or telecommunications equipment.  Space used as classroom service, that is, projection rooms, telecommunication control booths, closets, etc., are included (FICM Codes 110-115).  Instructional space also includes laboratory facilities, both class and open, used for instructional purposes and service areas that serve as an extension of the activities of the laboratory (FICM Codes 210-255).

 

ii)         Study areas, including all library facilities, any rooms or areas used by individuals at their convenience, general learning labs, and any service areas necessary to support the activities of these rooms (FICM Codes 410-455).

 

iii)        Office facilities that provide work areas to support the academic, administrative, and service functions of the colleges.  Also includes rooms such as student counseling rooms and testing areas, staff conference rooms, file rooms, and break rooms (FICM Codes 310-355).

 

iv)        Student service areas include general use facilities such as child care facilities (FICM Codes 640 and 645), food service facilities (FICM Codes 630 and 635), lounge facilities (FICM Codes 650 and 655), merchandise areas such as bookstores, student supply stores, or ticket outlet services (FICM Codes 660 and 665), and rooms used for recreation and amusement (FICM Codes 670 and 675).  Meeting rooms used by the institution or the general public for a variety of nonclass meetings also are included (FICM Codes 680 and 685).

 

B)        Support areas, including central administrative computer and telecommunications rooms, maintenance shops, garages, warehouses, and storage facilities (FICM Codes 710-765).

 

C)        Assembly areas, including theaters, auditoriums, arenas, exhibition rooms, and concert halls, used primarily for general presentations or performances (FICM Codes 610-625).  Includes areas that serve as an extension of the activities in that facility.

 

D)        Physical education areas used for physical education instructional programs and intercollegiate and recreational activities.  Includes areas such as gymnasiums, athletic courts, swimming pools, and other special use athletic facilities (FICM Codes 520, 523, and 525). (Does not include specific classrooms more appropriately classified under FICM Code series 100.)

 

E)        Special use facilities not included elsewhere, such as armory, armory services, media production services, clinics, etc. (FICM Codes 510, 515 and 530-590).

 

2)         Core Campus Considerations (20%).  Priorities will be assigned to colleges that do not have adequate core campus components in place.  A core campus generally consists of classrooms, laboratories, student services, day care, learning resources/library, business and industry training services, and facilities to support high enrollment programmatic areas.

 

3)         Space Criteria/Considerations (20%). Utilization of existing space will be calculated by annual full-time equivalent enrollment per net assignable square feet (NASF) of the most recently completed fiscal year.  Priority will be assigned to those districts that have the highest utilization of owned space.

 

4)         Program Considerations (20%).  Consideration will be given to the need for special facilities based on the programs to be housed in the requested facilities.  Priorities will be assigned so that the greater the need for special facilities, the higher the priority.  Criteria evaluated for need will include (not in priority order), but not be limited to:

 

A)        Documented need as evidenced by the college's accountability and productivity reviews;

 

B)        Labor market demand for completers of the program (as indicated by current manpower data);

 

C)        Unavailability of special facilities needed for the program; and

 

D)        Other special needs or measures as described in the program justification statement submitted by the college with the project request.

 

5)         College Ranking (10%). Priorities will be assigned to projects that are ranked as a high priority by the college.

 

6)         Prior Commitment (10%). Additional consideration will be given to the project if it had previous ICCB approval for planning or construction or a commitment made through prior appropriations by the State.

 

7)         Structural Considerations (5%). Additional consideration will be given for structural considerations (in priority order).

 

A)        Those projects that will reduce physical health and safety hazards to the student body and staff (e.g., structural defects/deficiencies, accessibility modifications);

 

B)        Overall condition of space and/or other structural integrity considerations;

 

C)        Those projects that will result in financial and/or natural resource savings (energy conservation).

 

8)         Local Resources (5%). Consideration will be given to districts that qualify for Equalization Grants (see Section 2-16.02 of the Act), have a high poverty level within the district, and have an economically disadvantaged student body.

 

i)          Changes in budget and/or scope to approved construction projects shall be submitted for approval according to the following criteria:

 

1)         Changes in budget/scope totaling five percent or less of the approved project budget/scope shall be reconciled at the completion of the project and submitted to ICCB for information purposes.

 

2)         When changes in the project budget/scope have reached five percent, any subsequent change modifying the budget/scope of the project shall require approval by the ICCB Executive Director, prior to expenditure of funds on the additional work.  The criteria the ICCB Executive Director will use for approving changes in the project budget/scope will be the same as are listed in this Section.

 

j)          Construction Standards.  The standards listed in this subsection (j) shall be applied in the design and construction of facilities.

 

1)         Building Efficiency.  Campuswide building efficiency should be at least 70 percent.  However, individual buildings may be below this level if they are high-rise (four or more floors), include a large number of small classrooms and/or labs, or if a large portion of the building is designed for custodial or mechanical purposes to serve the entire campus.

 

2)         Facilities Codes.  All construction, remodeling and rehabilitation of facilities shall be in compliance with the following standards:

 

A)        All incorporations by reference refer to the standards on the date specified and do not include any additions or deletions subsequent to the date specified:

 

i)          International Building Code, 2018 Edition (International Code Council, 4051 W. Flossmoor Rd., Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478-5795).

 

ii)         International Mechanical Code, 2018 Edition (International Code Council, 4051 W. Flossmoor Rd., Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478-5795).

 

iii)        National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, 2020 Edition (National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471).

 

iv)        National Fire Protection Association 101, Life Safety Code, 2018 Edition (National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471).

 

B)        Illinois administrative rules that are referenced in this Part are:

 

i)          Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890).

 

ii)         Illinois Accessibility Code (71 Ill. Adm. Code 400) or the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Standards for Accessible Design (28 CFR 35 and 36), whichever is more stringent.

 

iii)        Fire Prevention and Safety (41 Ill. Adm. Code 100).

 

iv)        Illinois Energy Conservation Code (71 Ill. Adm. Code 600).

 

C)        Any local building codes that may be more restrictive than the codes listed in this subsection (g)(2).

 

3)         State of Illinois Building Related Requirements.  To assist the architect in determining which statutes and rules might be applicable to a project, the Capital Development Board (CDB) has assembled a Directory of Illinois Construction-Related Statutes and Rules that lists statutory requirements relative to State construction.  CDB also maintains a List of Codes Used Throughout the State of Illinois by City or County.  Both resources are available on CDB's website (http://www.illinois.gov/cdb/business/codes/

Pages/BuildingCodesRegulations.aspx).

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1616, effective January 21, 2021)

 

Section 1501.604  Locally Funded Capital Projects

 

All locally funded capital projects shall meet the same codes or standards listed in Section 1501.603(g)(2).

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.605  Project Changes (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.606  Progress Reports (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 8 Ill. Reg. 19383, effective September 28, 1984)

 

Section 1501.607  Reporting Requirements

 

A college shall submit the items listed in this Section in a format prescribed by ICCB by August 1 of each year:

 

a)         Annual facility data, including:

 

1)         acreage;

 

2)         NASF of owned and leased space by classroom, lab, office, study, support and special use categories;

 

3)         existing space in use for educational purposes at the end of the fiscal year (June 30); and

 

4)         project updates.

 

b)         Estimated deferred maintenance annual cost and current backlog.

 

c)         All completed and in-progress projects using State funds.

 

d)         All completed and in-progress local projects with a cost of $250,000 or more.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 2227, effective February 1, 2023)

 

Section 1501.608  Approval of Projects from 110 ILCS 805/3-20.3.01

 

Projects proposed for construction under Section 3-20.3.01 of the Act shall meet the criteria listed in this Section.

 

a)         A proposed project shall meet the definition of "alter" or "repair" in Section 1501.601.

 

b)         A proposed project shall meet the definition of "facility" in Section 1501.601 and be owned by the district or leased where the district has assumed the obligation to make alterations or repairs.

 

c)         A proposed project shall not be considered a maintenance project.

 

d)         Projects to repair facilities shall be to correct a hazard.

 

e)         A proposed project shall have an estimate by a licensed architect or engineer and, if financed through bonds in accordance with Article IIIA of the Act, shall be estimated to cost no more than $4,500,000, unless otherwise stated in statute.  A project may have several component parts if these components clearly relate to the same objective.

 

f)         A proposed energy conservation project shall provide an estimated "pay back" of eight years or less as certified by a licensed architect or engineer.

 

g)         A project shall meet the codes specified in Section 1501.603(g)(2).

 

h)         If project costs are financed through bonds as referenced in subsection (e), all bonds for those purposes may not exceed $4,500,000 in the aggregate at any one time unless otherwise stated in statute.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.609  Completion of Projects from 110 ILCS 805/3-20.3.01

 

When completed, a project shall be certified by a licensed architect or engineer as having been constructed within the budget and having met applicable plans, codes and specifications.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.610  Demolition of Facilities

 

A district may demolish a facility owned by the district.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 15723, effective December 18, 2017)

 

Section 1501.701  Definition of Terms (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 11274, effective August 28, 2017)

 

Section 1501.702  Applicability (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 11274, effective August 28, 2017)

 

Section 1501.703  Recognition (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 11274, effective August 28, 2017)

 

Section 1501.704  Programs (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 11274, effective August 28, 2017)

 

Section 1501.705  Finance (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 11274, effective August 28, 2017)

 

Section 1501.706  Personnel (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 11274, effective August 28, 2017)

 

Section 1501.707  Facilities (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 41 Ill. Reg. 11274, effective August 28, 2017)

 

Section 1501.801  Definition of Terms

 

"Automatic Rollover Clause" means the renewal of an employment contract after the anniversary date for an additional term without any additional agreement or signature.

 

"Misconduct" includes, but is not limited to, the following:

 

Conduct demonstrating conscious disregard of a college district's interest and found to be a deliberate violation or disregard of the reasonable standards of behavior the district expects of its employee. 

 

Carelessness or negligence to a degree or recurrence that manifests culpability or wrongful intent, or shows an intentional and substantial disregard of the district's interests or of the employee's duties and obligations to his or her college district.

 

Chronic absenteeism or tardiness in deliberate violation of a known policy of the district or one or more unapproved absences following a written reprimand or warning relating to more than one unapproved absence.

 

A violation of a college district's rule, unless the claimant can demonstrate that:

 

He or she did not know, and could not reasonably know, of the rule's requirements;

 

The rule is not lawful or not reasonably related to the job environment and performance; or

 

The rule is not fairly or consistently enforced.

 

Other conduct, including, but not limited to, committing criminal assault or battery on another employee, student, customer or invitee of the employer.

 

"Severance Pay" means the actual or constructive compensation, including salary, benefits, or perquisites, for employment services yet to be rendered that is provided to an employee who has recently been or is about to be terminated.  [5 ILCS 415/5]

 

"Sabbatical Leave" means a leave of absence granted by the Board of Trustees to eligible employees to provide opportunities for those employees to engage in activities aimed at developing the employees professionally and improving their abilities to perform their contractual responsibilities.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.802  Sabbatical Leave

 

Any Board of Trustees policy providing for sabbatical leave for its employees shall contain the following provisions:

 

a)         A statement of purpose and/or objectives;

 

b)         A description of the types of leaves (e.g., professional development, project, exchange) that may be granted;

 

c)         A statement of employee eligibility;

 

d)         A procedure for making application;

 

e)         A listing of criteria used in evaluating applications;

 

f)         A procedure for selection;

 

g)         A statement of limitations concerning the granting of leave (e.g., how many employees in a given year and subject to what, if any, financial limitations);

 

h)         A schedule of compensation, if any, to be granted and for what period;

 

i)          A statement of employee obligations (e.g., reporting requirements, returning to work after the leave); and

 

j)          Other conditions the Board believes may affect the employee-employer relationship as a result of a leave being granted.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 18869, effective October 3, 2018)

 

Section 1501.803  Employment Contracts

 

a)         Severance Pay.  Any community college district that enters into, amends, renews or extends an employment contract that includes a provision for severance pay must include the following in the contract:

 

1)         The limitation of severance pay to not exceed any amount greater than 20 weeks of compensation; and

 

2)         A prohibition of severance pay when an employee has been fired by the district for misconduct. [5 ILCS 415/10]

 

b)         Any employment contract entered into, amended, renewed, or extended with an employee of the community college district shall adhere to the following limitations:

 

1)         A contract with a determinate start and end date may not exceed 4 years [110 ILCS 805/3-65(b)(2)];

 

2)         The contract may not include any automatic rollover clauses [110 ILCS 805/3-65(b)(3)]; and

 

3)         All renewals or extensions of contracts must be made during an open meeting of the board.

 

c)         President and Chancellor Employment Contracts

 

1)         Final action on the formation, renewal, extension, or termination of the employment contract of a president or chancellor must be made during an open meeting of the board. [110 ILCS 805/3-70(2)]

 

2)         Any performance-based bonus or incentive-based compensation to the president or chancellors must be approved by the board in an open meeting. The performance criteria and goals upon which the bonus or incentive-based compensation is based must be made available to the public on the district's official website no less than 48 hours before board approval.  [110 ILCS 805/3-70(4)]

 

d)         Public Notice. Public notice, pursuant to the Illinois Open Meetings Act [5 ILCS 120], of an employment contract entered into, amended, renewed, extended, or terminated shall be provided by publication of the board item documenting, at a minimum, a description of the proposed financial components of the contract and a description of the action to be taken by the board. 

 

1)         If the proposed contract is written prior to the board meeting, a copy of the contract, including all addendums or any other documents that change an initial contract, shall be posted prior to board action on the district's official website. [110 ILCS 805/3-70(3)]

 

2)         If the proposed contract is not written prior to the board meeting, the board may take action to approve the contract or terms of the contract, provided that public notice was provided pursuant to this Section. As soon as possible following board action, copies of the contract enacted, including all addendums and other documents that change an initial contract, shall be posted to the district's official website.

 

e)         This Section does not apply to collective bargaining agreements.

 

(Source:  Added at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.804  President and Chancellor Performance Review

 

The board shall complete an annual performance review of the president or chancellor.  The board shall consider the annual performance review when contemplating a bonus, raise, or severance agreement for the president or chancellor.  [110 ILCS 805/3-75]  The annual performance criteria and goals shall be made available to the public on the district's official website.

 

(Source:  Added at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)

 

Section 1501.APPENDIX A   Fee Schedule for Data Matching

 

 

NUMBER OF REQUESTOR RECORDS PROCESSED	FEE
Up to 24,000 records	$1,900
24,001 to 80,000 records	$3,800
80,001 to 300,000 records	$8,300
300,001 to 1,000,000 records	$15,000

 

(Source:  Added at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)