HB5025 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 18920 NHT 45072 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB5025

Introduced , by Rep. Elaine Nekritz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 205/7	from Ch. 144, par. 187
110 ILCS 805/2-26 new
110 ILCS 805/3-25.1	from Ch. 122, par. 103-25.1

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act and the Public Community College Act. With respect to public community colleges, requires the approval of the establishment of new units of instruction, research, and public service and the review of existing programs of instruction, research, and public service to be made by the Illinois Community College Board rather than the Board of Higher Education. Requires the Illinois Community College Board to develop a comprehensive community college plan. Makes related changes.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT relating to education.

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

Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by changing Section 7 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 187)

Sec. 7. The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University, the Illinois Community College Board and the campuses under their governance or supervision shall not hereafter undertake the establishment of any new unit of instruction, research or public service without the approval of the Board. The term "new unit of instruction, research or public service" includes the establishment of a college, school, division, institute, department or other unit in any field of instruction, research or public service not theretofore included in the program of the institution, and includes the establishment of any new branch or campus. The term does not include reasonable and moderate extensions of existing curricula, research, or public service programs which have a direct relationship to existing programs; and the Board may, under its rule making power, define the character of such reasonable and moderate extensions.

Such governing boards shall submit to the Board all proposals for a new unit of instruction, research, or public service. The Board may approve or disapprove the proposal in whole or in part or approve modifications thereof whenever in its judgment such action is consistent with the objectives of an existing or proposed master plan of higher education.

The Board of Higher Education is authorized to review periodically all existing programs of instruction, research and public service at the State universities and colleges and to advise the appropriate board of control if the contribution of each program is not educationally and economically justified.

(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)

Section 10. The Public Community College Act is amended by changing Section 3-25.1 and adding Section 2-26 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/2-26 new)

Sec. 2-26. Comprehensive community college plan. The State Board shall analyze the present and future aims, needs, and requirements of the public community college system of this State and develop a comprehensive plan for the integration, coordination, efficient utilization, and expansion of the facilities and curricula of public community colleges not only in those areas that serve to bridge any gap between the education and training provided to students through a secondary education level and the education and training required for gainful career employment, but also in those areas that will promote or encourage freedom of movement and transfer of students from public community colleges to public and private universities. In developing a comprehensive community college plan under this Section, the State Board shall give due consideration to the ability of the plan to complement the objectives of the master plan for higher education developed by the Board of Higher Education. In addition, the State Board shall engage in a continuing study, analysis, and evaluation of the comprehensive community college plan developed under this Section and may from time to time recommend to the General Assembly any legislation that it deems necessary for the implementation or effective operation of the plan.

(110 ILCS 805/3-25.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 103-25.1)

Sec. 3-25.1. Units of instruction. To evaluate and review proposals authorize application to the Illinois Community College Board for the approval of new units of instruction, research or public service as defined in this Section and to establish or assist public community colleges in establishing such new units following approval in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Board of Higher Education Act.

No public community college shall hereafter undertake the establishment of any new unit of instruction, research, or public service without the approval of the State Board. The governing board of a community college district shall submit to the State Board all proposals for a new unit of instruction, research, or public service. The State Board, in cooperation with the Board of Higher Education, shall evaluate the proposal with reference to any proposed master plan of higher education developed by the Board of Higher Education, but the overriding standard to be applied by the State Board in determining whether to approve or disapprove the proposal in whole or in part or approve modifications thereof shall be whether, in the judgment of the State Board, the proposal is consistent with the objectives of a comprehensive community college plan as developed by the State Board for the public community college system of this State.

The State Board is authorized to review periodically all existing programs of instruction, research, and public service at public community colleges and to advise the board of trustees of each community college if the contribution of any such program offered at the public community college is not educationally and economically justified.

The term "new unit of instruction, research or public service" includes the establishment of a college, school, division, institute, department or other unit including majors and curricula in any field of instruction, research, or public service not theretofore included in the program of the community college, and includes the establishment of any new branch or campus of the institution. The term shall not include reasonable and moderate extensions of existing curricula, research, or public service programs which have a direct relationship to existing programs; and the State Board may, under its rule making power define the character of reasonable and moderate extensions.

(Source: P.A. 88-322.)