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1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act is
5 amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 20, and 25 and by adding
6 Sections 3, 21, and 24 as follows:
7 (110 ILCS 150/3 new)
8 Sec. 3. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to enhance the
9 transfer of academic credits between community colleges and
10 State universities in Illinois, ensuring equitable and
11 consistent practices, reducing barriers for students, and
12 promoting accountability and transparency in transfer credit
13 acceptance.
14 (110 ILCS 150/5)
15 Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:
16 "Associate degree for transfer" means any of the following
17 community college degree programs: Associate in Arts;
18 Associate in Engineering Science; Associate in Fine Arts; or
19 Associate in Science.
20 "Community college" means a public community college in
21 this State.
22 "State university" means a public university in this
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1 State.
2 "Transfer articulation agreement" means a formal written
3 agreement between a community college and State university
4 that outlines a process for the seamless transfer of credits
5 from an associate degree for transfer from a community college
6 to a bachelor's degree at a State university.
7 (Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)
8 (110 ILCS 150/10)
9 Sec. 10. Associate degree for transfer.
10 (a) Commencing with the fall term of the 2016-2017
11 academic year, a community college student who earns an
12 associate degree for transfer, an Associate of Arts, or an
13 Associate of Science that is consistent with degree
14 requirements of the Illinois Community College Board and the
15 Board of Higher Education and aligned with the policies and
16 procedures of the Illinois Articulation Initiative, granted
17 pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section is deemed eligible
18 for transfer into the baccalaureate program of a State
19 university if the student meets the requirements of the
20 transfer degree and major-specific prerequisites and obtains a
21 minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
22 (b) As a condition of receipt of State funds, a community
23 college district shall develop and grant associate degrees for
24 transfer that meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this
25 Section. A community college district may not impose any
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1 requirements in addition to the requirements of this Section
2 for a student to be eligible for an associate degree for
3 transfer and subsequent admission to a State university
4 pursuant to Section 15 of this Act without the approval of the
5 Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher
6 Education.
7 (c) The General Assembly encourages a community college
8 district to enter into transfer consider the articulation
9 agreements and other work between the respective faculties
10 from the affected community college and State universities in
11 implementing the requirements of this Section. Pursuant to
12 Section 21 of this Act, if a transfer articulation agreement
13 is requested by a community college district or State
14 university, both parties shall enter into an agreement.
15 (d) A community college shall The General Assembly
16 encourages community colleges to facilitate the acceptance of
17 credits earned at other community colleges toward an associate
18 degree for transfer pursuant to this Section.
19 (e) This Section does not preclude students who are
20 assessed below collegiate level from acquiring remedial
21 noncollegiate level coursework in preparation for obtaining an
22 associate degree for transfer. Remedial noncollegiate level
23 coursework and all other non-transfer coursework must not be
24 counted as part of the transferable units required pursuant to
25 subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this Section.
26 (Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)
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1 (110 ILCS 150/20)
2 Sec. 20. Coursework.
3 (a) A State university may not require a student
4 transferring pursuant to this Act to take more than 60
5 additional semester units beyond the lower-division major
6 requirements for majors requiring 120 semester units, provided
7 that the student remains enrolled in the same program of study
8 and has completed university major transfer requirements.
9 Specified high unit majors are exempt from this subsection (a)
10 upon agreement by the board of trustees of the State
11 university and the Board of Higher Education.
12 (b) A State university may not require students
13 transferring pursuant to this Act to repeat courses that are
14 articulated with those taken at the community college and
15 counted toward an associate degree for transfer granted
16 pursuant to Section 10 of this Act.
17 (c) A The General Assembly encourages State university
18 shall universities to facilitate the seamless transfer of
19 credits toward a baccalaureate degree pursuant to the intent
20 of this Act.
21 (Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)
22 (110 ILCS 150/21 new)
23 Sec. 21. Community college and State university transfer
24 articulation agreements.
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1 (a) A State university or community college shall, upon
2 the request of the community college district or State
3 university, enter into a transfer articulation agreement to
4 provide a seamless pathway for transfer. The community college
5 or State university may request to enter into multiple
6 articulation agreements as appropriate and requested.
7 The agreement between the State university and the
8 community college district may include 2+2 programs, which are
9 designed for students to take half of a degree at the community
10 college and the second half of the degree at the State
11 university, or 3+1 programs, which are designed for students
12 to transfer to the State university for completion of their
13 final, senior-level coursework if permitted by 23 Ill. Adm.
14 Code 1050, university policy, institutional accreditors, and
15 professional licensure bodies.
16 (b) Community colleges and State universities are also
17 encouraged to enter into agreements whereby community college
18 students may indicate their transfer destination of choice on
19 their application to the community college. If a transfer
20 destination is provided, the community college may share the
21 student's contact information with the destination university
22 so that it may contact the student and co-advise the student on
23 the recommended coursework for seamless transfer.
24 (c) A transfer articulation agreement shall be signed by
25 the president or chancellor of the community college or the
26 president's or chancellor's designee and by the president or
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1 chancellor of the State university or the president's or
2 chancellor's designee.
3 A transfer articulation agreement shall include all of the
4 following:
5 (1) A statement identifying the participating
6 institutions or divisions of institutions that are part of
7 the agreement.
8 (2) A list of the eligibility criteria for transfer
9 admissions, including any minimum grade-point-average
10 requirements and prerequisites needed. Any limitations to
11 the agreement for admission to specific academic programs
12 shall also be included.
13 (3) A list of any scholarships or financial assistance
14 available to students participating in the articulation
15 agreement.
16 (4) A standardized transfer-credit framework for
17 general education and lower-division, major-specific
18 courses that clearly identifies specific courses that will
19 transfer between institutions, the number of credits that
20 will transfer, the program at the State university to
21 which credits will apply, if applicable, and an outline of
22 how transferred credits will be applied toward degree
23 requirements.
24 (5) A clearly defined transfer pathway outlining how
25 students at the community college can progress from their
26 program at the community college to the corresponding
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1 program at the State university and be granted junior or
2 senior status as appropriate.
3 (6) Other degree requirements, including, but not
4 limited to, standardized test scores, required clinical
5 hours, internships, or residency requirements.
6 (7) A policy on the reverse transfer of credit for
7 those students who transfer prior to completion of the
8 community college degree as stated in the agreement and,
9 as applicable, the transfer of credit earned for
10 experiential learning, including, but not limited to,
11 prior learning assessment and competency-based education.
12 (8) The academic and non-academic opportunities and
13 support, such as designated transfer admission
14 coordinators, academic advisors, or other support specific
15 to student participating in the agreement, if applicable.
16 (9) Data-sharing requirements and limitations,
17 including, if applicable, assessment policies to measure
18 the effectiveness of the agreement.
19 (10) An agreement on the marketing process and
20 responsibilities for programs covered by the articulation
21 agreement, including any limitations imposed by either
22 party.
23 (11) A clear and transparent policy and appeal process
24 for resolving disputes over transfer credit acceptance.
25 (12) Dates of applicability of the agreement and
26 conditions for renewal or termination of the agreement.
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1 (d) A transfer articulation agreement executed under this
2 Section does not negate any previous transfer articulation
3 agreement between a community college and a State university.
4 (e) If, within 180 calendar days after the initial request
5 to enter into a transfer articulation agreement, the community
6 college and State university do not reach an agreement on the
7 transfer articulation agreement, then the community college
8 may submit a written request to the Illinois Community College
9 Board or the State university may submit a written request to
10 the Board of Higher Education, which shall jointly assist with
11 facilitation of an agreement between the community college and
12 State university.
13 (110 ILCS 150/24 new)
14 Sec. 24. Transfer credit review process. Each community
15 college and State university shall publish the institution's
16 process and a timeline for reviewing and making decisions
17 regarding transfer credit requests on the institution's
18 website. The institution shall update its website within 30
19 days after making a change to its process and timeline for
20 reviewing and making decisions regarding transfer credit
21 requests.
22 (110 ILCS 150/25)
23 Sec. 25. Reporting requirements on course transfer Board
24 of Higher Education reviews and reports.
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1 (a) (Blank). The Board of Higher Education shall review
2 the implementation of this Act and file a report on that review
3 with the General Assembly on or before May 31, 2017, as
4 provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization
5 Act.
6 (b) (Blank). The Board of Higher Education shall review
7 both of the following and file a report on that review with the
8 General Assembly within 4 years after the effective date of
9 this Act, as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly
10 Organization Act:
11 (1) The outcomes of implementation of this Act,
12 including, but not limited to, all of the following:
13 (A) The number and percentage of community college
14 students who transferred to a State university and
15 earned an associate degree for transfer pursuant to
16 this Act.
17 (B) The average amount of time and units it takes a
18 community college student earning an associate degree
19 for transfer pursuant to this Act to transfer to and
20 graduate from a State university, as compared to the
21 average amount of time and units it took community
22 college transfer students prior to the implementation
23 of this Act and compared to students using other
24 transfer processes available.
25 (C) Student progression and completion rates.
26 (D) Other relevant indicators of student success.
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1 (E) The degree to which the requirements for an
2 associate degree for transfer take into account
3 existing articulation agreements and the degree to
4 which community colleges facilitate the acceptance of
5 credits between community college districts, as
6 outlined in subsections (c) and (d) of Section 10 of
7 this Act.
8 (F) It is the intent of the General Assembly that
9 student outcome data provided under this subsection
10 (b) include the degree to which State universities
11 were able to accommodate students admitted under this
12 Act in being admitted to the State university of their
13 choice and in a major that is similar to their
14 community college major.
15 (2) Recommendations for statutory changes necessary to
16 facilitate the goal of a clear and transparent transfer
17 process.
18 (c) For the purposes of this subsection (c), "courses"
19 refers only to those courses for which a student has received a
20 passing grade as determined by a State university.
21 By October 1, 2027 and by October 1 of each subsequent
22 year, each State university shall report to the Board of
23 Higher Education, in a form prescribed by the Board of Higher
24 Education, all of the following information based on the
25 previous academic year:
26 (1) The total number of community college transfer
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1 students admitted, offered provisional admission, and
2 denied admission, disaggregated by a student's community
3 college district of origin.
4 (2) Of the transfer students enrolled, the total
5 number of courses presented for transfer and number of
6 courses accepted for transfer, in accordance with
7 subsection (e) of Section 10, from each community college
8 district.
9 (3) For each Illinois Articulation Initiative General
10 Education Core Curricula course, the number of courses
11 that are denied transfer from each community college
12 district.
13 (4) For each Illinois Articulation Initiative major
14 course, the number of courses that are denied transfer
15 from each community college district, the number of
16 courses that are accepted for elective credit but not
17 major credit, and the number of courses that are accepted
18 for major credit.
19 (5) Beginning October 1, 2028, for each non-Illinois
20 Articulation Initiative course, in accordance with
21 subsection (e) of Section 10, the number of courses that
22 are denied transfer from each community college district.
23 The Board of Higher Education shall publish an analysis
24 and report of the information provided by State universities
25 by March 1, 2028 and by March 1 of each subsequent year. The
26 report shall be filed with the Governor and General Assembly.
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1 An electronic copy of the report shall be accessible on the
2 Board of Higher Education's official website. The Illinois
3 Community College Board and Board of Higher Education shall,
4 every 3 years, review the reports to determine if the reports
5 are generating useful information or whether the reports need
6 to be revised or discontinued.
7 (Source: P.A. 99-316, eff. 1-1-16.)
8 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9 becoming law.Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.