HIGHER ED-SURVEY/BD/REPORT

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4979

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HB4979 - 104th General Assembly

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House Amendment 001

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HB4979 Enrolled
LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
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 Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher
5
Education Act is amended by changing Section 35 as follows:

6

(110 ILCS 155/35)
7

Sec. 35.
Sexual misconduct climate survey.
8

(a) As used in this Section:
9

"Base survey" means a base set of common questions
10
recommended by the Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct
11
Climate Surveys and approved by the Executive Director of the
12
Board of Higher Education and Executive Director of the
13
Illinois Community College Board.
14

"Student" means a person who is enrolled in a public or
15
private degree-granting, post-secondary higher education
16
institution, whether part-time, full-time, or as an extension
17
student, including any person who has taken a leave of absence
18
or who has withdrawn from the higher education institution due
19
to being a victim of sexual misconduct.
20

"Trauma informed" means an understanding of the
21
complexities of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating
22
violence, or stalking through training centered on the
23
neurobiological impact of trauma, the influence of societal

HB4979 Enrolled
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1
myths and stereotypes surrounding sexual violence, domestic
2
violence, dating violence, or stalking, and understanding the
3
behavior of perpetrators.
4

(b) Beginning after the effective date of this amendatory
5
Act of the 104th General Assembly, each higher education
6
institution shall biennially conduct a sexual misconduct
7
climate survey of all students at the institution. Each higher
8
education institution's sexual misconduct climate survey shall
9
include the base survey, which the Board of Higher Education
10
or Illinois Community College Board, whichever is applicable,
11
shall provide to the institution every 2 years. Each
12
institution may append its own campus-specific questions to
13
the base survey if questions do not require the disclosure of
14
any personally identifying information by the students and are
15
trauma informed. The Board of Higher Education and Illinois
16
Community College Board, in consultation with the Office of
17
the Attorney General, as necessary, shall review any
18
complaints submitted by students who believe that questions
19
included in the campus sexual misconduct climate survey are
20
traumatizing. Within 120 days after completion of a sexual
21
misconduct climate survey, but no later than one year after
22
the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College
23
Board, whichever is applicable, issued the last base survey,
24
each institution shall compile a summary of the results of the
25
sexual misconduct climate survey, including, but not limited
26
to, the complete aggregated results for each base survey

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1
question, and shall submit the summary to the Board of Higher
2
Education or Illinois Community College Board, as well as
3
publish the summary on the institution's website in an easily
4
accessible manner.
5

(c) The Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate
6
Surveys is created. The Task Force shall consist of the
7
following members:
8

(1) the Executive Director of the Board of Higher
9

Education or a designee, who shall serve as chairperson;
10

(2) the Governor or a designee;
11

(3) one member of the Senate, appointed by the
12

President of the Senate;
13

(4) one member of the House of Representatives,
14

appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
15

(5) one member of the Senate, appointed by the
16

Minority Leader of the Senate;
17

(6) one member of the House of Representatives,
18

appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
19

Representatives;
20

(7) the Attorney General or a designee;
21

(8) the Director of Public Health or a designee;
22

(9) the Executive Director of the Illinois Community
23

College Board or a designee;
24

(10) the following members appointed by the Board of
25

Higher Education:
26

(A) one member who is a student attending a public

HB4979 Enrolled
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1

higher education institution in Illinois;
2

(B) one member who is a student attending a
3

private higher education institution in Illinois;
4

(C) one member who is a representative of the
5

University of Illinois recommended by the president of
6

the university;
7

(D) one member who is a representative of private
8

colleges and universities recommended by the
9

Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and
10

Universities;
11

(E) one member who is a chief student service
12

officer at a public or private university; and
13

(F) one member with expertise in institutional
14

research within a 4-year institution of higher
15

education;
16

(11) the following members appointed by the Illinois
17

Community College Board:
18

(A) one member who is a student attending a
19

community college in Illinois;
20

(B) one member who is a representative of the
21

community college system recommended by the Illinois
22

Council of Community College Presidents;
23

(C) one member who is a chief student service
24

office at a community college;
25

(D) one member with expertise in institutional
26

research within a 2-year institution of higher

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

education; and
2

(12) the following members appointed by the Governor:
3

(A) (Blank);
4

(B) (Blank);
5

(C) (Blank);
6

(D) (Blank);
7

(E) (Blank);
8

(F) (Blank);
9

(G) 3 members who are representatives of survivors
10

of sexual assault recommended by the Illinois
11

Coalition Against Sexual Assault, with one
12

specifically representing survivors in rural
13

communities and one specifically representing
14

survivors in urban communities;
15

(H) one member who is a representative of a
16

non-profit legal services organization that provides
17

legal representation to victims of campus sexual
18

assault in Illinois;
19

(I) one member who is a representative recommended
20

by the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence;
21

(J) one member who is a representative recommended
22

by Equality Illinois;
23

(K) one member who is a representative of an
24

immigrant rights advocacy organization;
25

(L) one member who is a representative recommended
26

by the Every Voice Coalition or any successor

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

organization of the Every Voice Coalition;
2

(M) one member who is a researcher with experience
3

in the development and design of sexual misconduct
4

climate surveys; and
5

(N) one member who is a researcher of statistics,
6

data analytics, or econometrics with experience in
7

higher education survey analysis.
8

The Task Force shall hold its first meeting as soon as
9
practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
10
the 102nd General Assembly. Administrative and other support
11
for the Task Force shall be provided by the Board of Higher
12
Education. Members of the Task Force shall serve 2-year terms
13
that commence on the date of appointment. Members shall
14
continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Any
15
vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any
16
vacancy occurring other than by expiration of the term shall
17
be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. A majority of
18
the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
19
of any business.
20

Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation
21
but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in
22
the performance of their duties if funds are available.
23
However, the higher education institution in which a student
24
member is enrolled may compensate that student for
25
participating on the Task Force through a work-study program
26
or by providing a stipend to support the work of the student

HB4979 Enrolled
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1
member on the Task Force.
2

(d) The Task Force shall develop and recommend to the
3
Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board
4
the base survey for distribution to higher education
5
institutions and provide the Board of Higher Education and
6
Illinois Community College Board with any related
7
recommendations regarding the content, timing, and application
8
of the base survey. The Task Force shall deliver the base
9
survey and related recommendations, including, but not limited
10
to, recommendations on achieving statistically valid response
11
rates, to the Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community
12
College Board no less often than every 2 years and for the
13
first time on or before July 31, 2023. Beginning after the
14
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
15
Assembly, the Task Force shall meet to recommend updates and
16
revisions to the base survey. The Task Force is dissolved
17
after the completion of the 2027 base survey. After the
18
dissolution of the Task Force, the Executive Director of the
19
Board of Higher Education or a designee and the Executive
20
Director of the Illinois Community College Board or a designee
21
shall review the base survey every 2 years to consider any
22
feedback that has been received and to implement improvements.
23

(e) In developing the base survey, the Task Force shall:
24

(1) utilize best practices from peer-reviewed research
25

and consult with individuals with expertise in the
26

development and use of sexual misconduct climate surveys

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

by higher education institutions, specifically the survey
2

design should consider survey length and time to complete,
3

respondent experience, minimization of question
4

redundancy, and question skip logic and branching
5

dependent on the respondent answers;
6

(2) review sexual misconduct climate surveys that have
7

been developed and previously utilized by higher education
8

institutions in Illinois and by other states that mandate
9

campus climate surveys;
10

(3) provide opportunities for written comment from
11

survivors and organizations that work directly with
12

survivors of sexual misconduct to ensure the adequacy and
13

appropriateness of the proposed content;
14

(4) consult with institutions on strategies for
15

optimizing the effectiveness of the survey;
16

(5) account for the diverse needs and differences of
17

higher education institutions; and
18

(6) review the base survey to ensure that the strategy
19

for gathering information is trauma informed.
20

(f) The base survey shall gather information on topics,
21
such as

including, but not limited to
:
22

(1) the number and type of incidents, both reported to
23

the higher education institution and unreported to the
24

higher education institution, of sexual misconduct at the
25

higher education institution;
26

(2) when and where incidents of sexual misconduct

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

occurred, such as on campus, off campus, abroad, or
2

online;
3

(3) student awareness of institutional policies and
4

procedures related to campus sexual misconduct;
5

(4) whether a student reported the sexual misconduct
6

to the higher education institution and, if so, to which
7

campus resource such report was made and, if not, the
8

reason for the student's decision not to report;
9

(5) whether a student reported the sexual misconduct
10

to law enforcement and, if so, to which law enforcement
11

agency such report was made;
12

(6) whether a student was informed of or referred to
13

local, State, campus, or other resources or victim support
14

services, including appropriate medical care, advocacy,
15

counseling, and legal services;
16

(7) whether a student was provided information
17

regarding his or her right to protection from retaliation,
18

access to school-based accommodations, and criminal
19

justice remedies;
20

(8) contextual factors, such as the involvement of
21

force, incapacitation, coercion, or drug or alcohol
22

facilitation;
23

(9) demographic information that could be used to
24

identify at-risk groups, including, but not limited to,
25

gender, race, immigration status, national origin,
26

ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation, and

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

gender identity;
2

(10) perceptions of campus safety among members of the
3

campus community and confidence in the institution's
4

ability to protect against and respond to incidents of
5

sexual misconduct;
6

(11) whether the student has chosen to withdraw or has
7

taken a leave of absence from the institution or
8

transferred to another institution;
9

(12) whether the student has withdrawn from any
10

classes or has been placed on academic probation as a
11

result of the incident; and
12

(13) other questions as determined by the Task Force.
13
All questions on the base survey shall be optional or shall
14
offer the student the option to select "I prefer not to answer"
15
as a response on the survey.
16

(g) The sexual misconduct climate survey shall collect
17
anonymous responses and shall not provide for the public
18
disclosure of any personally identifying information. No
19
institution may use or attempt to use information collected
20
through the sexual misconduct climate survey to identify or
21
contact any individual student on campus, nor shall the
22
results of the survey be used as the basis for any type of
23
investigation or disciplinary or legal proceeding.
24

(h) There shall be established within the Office of the
25
Board of Higher Education and the Office of the Illinois
26
Community College Board a data repository for all summaries of

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1
sexual misconduct climate surveys submitted by higher
2
education institutions to the Board of Higher Education or
3
Illinois Community College Board in accordance with subsection
4
(b). The Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community
5
College Board shall ensure that the sexual misconduct climate
6
survey data submitted by all applicable institutions is
7
available to the public in an easily accessible manner on the
8
Board of Higher Education's or Illinois Community College
9
Board's website.
10

(i) Each higher education institution shall publish on the
11
institution's website in an easily accessible manner:
12

(1) the campus level results of the survey;
13

(2) the annual security report required under the
14

federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
15

and Campus Crime Statistics Act;
16

(3) the reports required under Section 9.21 of the
17

Board of Higher Education Act; and
18

(4) a link to the Board of Higher Education's and
19

Illinois Community College Board's statewide data on
20

sexual misconduct climate survey data as set forth in
21

subsection (h).
22

(j) The Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community
23
College Board shall establish rules and procedures, including
24
deadlines for dissemination and collection of survey
25
information, consistent with the purposes of this Section and
26
shall promote effective solicitation to achieve the highest

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1
practical response rate, collection, and publication of
2
statistical information gathered from higher education
3
institutions.
4

(k) (Blank).
5
(Source: P.A. 103-288, eff. 7-28-23; 104-127, eff. 1-1-26
.)

6

Section 10.
The Board of Higher Education Act is amended
7
by changing Section 3 as follows:

8

(110 ILCS 205/3)

(from Ch. 144, par. 183)
9

Sec. 3.
Terms; vacancies.
10

(a) The members of the Board whose appointments are
11
subject to confirmation by the Senate shall be selected for
12
6-year terms expiring on January 31 of odd numbered years.
13

(b) The members of the Board shall continue to serve after
14
the expiration of their terms until their successors have been
15
appointed.
16

(c) Vacancies on the Board in offices appointed by the
17
Governor shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for
18
the unexpired term. If the appointment is subject to Senate
19
confirmation and the Senate is not in session or is in recess
20
when the appointment is made, the appointee shall serve
21
subject to subsequent Senate approval of the appointment.
22

(d) Each student member shall serve a term of one year
23
beginning on July 1 of each year
and
serve
until a successor is
24
appointed and qualified.

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

(e) The member of the Board representing public university
2
governing boards and the member of the Board representing
3
private college and university boards of trustees, who are
4
appointed by the Governor but not subject to confirmation by
5
the Senate, shall serve terms of 3 years beginning on July 1.
6
(Source: P.A. 102-1046, eff. 6-7-22; 103-288, eff. 7-28-23.)

7

Section 15.
The University of Illinois Act is amended by
8
changing Section 122 as follows:

9

(110 ILCS 305/122)
10

Sec. 122.
Academic major report.
The Board of Trustees
11
shall provide to each enrolled student, at the time the
12
student declares or changes his or her academic major or
13
program of study, a report that contains relevant,
14
independent, and accurate data related to the student's major
15
or program of study and to the current occupational outlook
16
associated with that major or program of study. The report
17
shall provide the student with all of the following
18
information:
19

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
20

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
21

of study.
22

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
23

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
24

her education under paragraph (1).

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
2

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
3

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
4

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
5

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
6

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
7

occupation related to that major or program of study.
8

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
9

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
10
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

11

Section 20.
The Southern Illinois University Management
12
Act is amended by changing Section 102 as follows:

13

(110 ILCS 520/102)
14

Sec. 102.
Academic major report.
The Board shall provide
15
to each enrolled student, at the time the student declares or
16
changes his or her academic major or program of study, a report
17
that contains relevant, independent, and accurate data related
18
to the student's major or program of study and to the current
19
occupational outlook associated with that major or program of
20
study. The report shall provide the student with all of the
21
following information:
22

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
23

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
24

of study.

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
2

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
3

her education under paragraph (1).
4

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
5

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
6

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
7

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
8

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
9

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
10

occupation related to that major or program of study.
11

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
12

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
13
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

14

Section 25.
The Chicago State University Law is amended by
15
changing Section 5-212 as follows:

16

(110 ILCS 660/5-212)
17

Sec. 5-212.
Academic major report.
The Board shall provide
18
to each enrolled student, at the time the student declares or
19
changes his or her academic major or program of study, a report
20
that contains relevant, independent, and accurate data related
21
to the student's major or program of study and to the current
22
occupational outlook associated with that major or program of
23
study. The report shall provide the student with all of the
24
following information:

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
2

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
3

of study.
4

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
5

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
6

her education under paragraph (1).
7

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
8

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
9

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
10

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
11

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
12

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
13

occupation related to that major or program of study.
14

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
15

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
16
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

17

Section 30.
The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
18
by changing Section 10-212 as follows:

19

(110 ILCS 665/10-212)
20

Sec. 10-212.
Academic major report.
The Board shall
21
provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student
22
declares or changes his or her academic major or program of
23
study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and
24
accurate data related to the student's major or program of

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1
study and to the current occupational outlook associated with
2
that major or program of study. The report shall provide the
3
student with all of the following information:
4

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
5

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
6

of study.
7

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
8

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
9

her education under paragraph (1).
10

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
11

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
12

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
13

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
14

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
15

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
16

occupation related to that major or program of study.
17

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
18

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
19
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

20

Section 35.
The Governors State University Law is amended
21
by changing Section 15-212 as follows:

22

(110 ILCS 670/15-212)
23

Sec. 15-212.
Academic major report.
The Board shall
24
provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student

HB4979 Enrolled
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LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b
1
declares or changes his or her academic major or program of
2
study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and
3
accurate data related to the student's major or program of
4
study and to the current occupational outlook associated with
5
that major or program of study. The report shall provide the
6
student with all of the following information:
7

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
8

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
9

of study.
10

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
11

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
12

her education under paragraph (1).
13

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
14

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
15

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
16

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
17

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
18

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
19

occupation related to that major or program of study.
20

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
21

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
22
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

23

Section 40.
The Illinois State University Law is amended
24
by changing Section 20-217 as follows:

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1

(110 ILCS 675/20-217)
2

Sec. 20-217.
Academic major report.
The Board shall
3
provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student
4
declares or changes his or her academic major or program of
5
study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and
6
accurate data related to the student's major or program of
7
study and to the current occupational outlook associated with
8
that major or program of study. The report shall provide the
9
student with all of the following information:
10

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
11

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
12

of study.
13

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
14

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
15

her education under paragraph (1).
16

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
17

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
18

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
19

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
20

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
21

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
22

occupation related to that major or program of study.
23

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
24

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
25
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

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1

Section 45.
The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
2
amended by changing Section 25-212 as follows:

3

(110 ILCS 680/25-212)
4

Sec. 25-212.
Academic major report.
The Board shall
5
provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student
6
declares or changes his or her academic major or program of
7
study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and
8
accurate data related to the student's major or program of
9
study and to the current occupational outlook associated with
10
that major or program of study. The report shall provide the
11
student with all of the following information:
12

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
13

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
14

of study.
15

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
16

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
17

her education under paragraph (1).
18

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
19

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
20

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
21

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
22

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
23

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
24

occupation related to that major or program of study.
25

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

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1

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
2
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

3

Section 50.
The Northern Illinois University Law is
4
amended by changing Section 30-222 as follows:

5

(110 ILCS 685/30-222)
6

Sec. 30-222.
Academic major report.
The Board shall
7
provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student
8
declares or changes his or her academic major or program of
9
study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and
10
accurate data related to the student's major or program of
11
study and to the current occupational outlook associated with
12
that major or program of study. The report shall provide the
13
student with all of the following information:
14

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
15

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
16

of study.
17

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
18

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
19

her education under paragraph (1).
20

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
21

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a
22

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
23

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
24

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.

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1

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
2

occupation related to that major or program of study.
3

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
4

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
5
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

6

Section 55.
The Western Illinois University Law is amended
7
by changing Section 35-217 as follows:

8

(110 ILCS 690/35-217)
9

Sec. 35-217.
Academic major report.
The Board shall
10
provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student
11
declares or changes his or her academic major or program of
12
study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and
13
accurate data related to the student's major or program of
14
study and to the current occupational outlook associated with
15
that major or program of study. The report shall provide the
16
student with all of the following information:
17

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education
18

associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program
19

of study.
20

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a
21

period of
10

20
years based on the estimated cost of his or
22

her education under paragraph (1).
23

(3) The
percentage of graduate jobs in which

average
24

job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for
a

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1

graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of
2

study
remains continuously employed with the same employer
3

in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters
.
4

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an
5

occupation related to that major or program of study.
6

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
7

into an occupation under paragraph (4).
8
(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

9

Section 60.
The Higher Education in Prison Act is amended
10
by changing Section 5 as follows:

11

(730 ILCS 225/5)
12

Sec. 5.
Higher education in prison programs.
13

(a) In this Section, "higher education" means
14
post-secondary academic education at the undergraduate or
15
graduate level in a community college or university setting.
16

(b) On or before September 1 of the year following the
17
effective date of this Act and each subsequent September 1,
18
the Department of Corrections shall release a report, to be
19
published on the Department of Corrections's Internet website,
20
detailing the following information pertaining to higher
21
education within Department institutions and facilities:
22

(1) the number of unique individuals involved in adult
23

basic education, high school equivalency, and credit and
24

non-credit bearing higher education programs over the

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1

course of the fiscal year;
2

(2) the racial, ethnic, age, and gender breakdown of
3

committed persons participating in higher education
4

programs;
5

(3) the length of sentence and length of remaining
6

sentence of persons enrolled in higher education programs;
7

(4) the number of committed persons who are on waiting
8

lists for participation in all educational programs,
9

including adult basic education, high school equivalency,
10

and higher education, and the average length of time spent
11

on each waiting list, including a breakdown by length of
12

remaining sentence;
13

(5) the total amount of earned program sentence credit
14

awarded to committed persons for participating in higher
15

education programs and the percentage of committed persons
16

participating in higher education programs that are
17

awarded earned program sentence credit;
18

(6) the number, category, and ultimate resolution of
19

grievances related to higher education programs;
20

(7) a financial statement that includes annual and
21

monthly expenditures of Department of Corrections
22

institutions and facilities on adult basic education, high
23

school equivalency, and higher education programs; and
24

(8) an explanation of how participation in adult basic
25

education, high school equivalency, and higher education
26

programs is factored into a committed persons' risk

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1

assessment score.
2

Personal, identifiable information shall be redacted to
3
protect privacy.
4

The report must be filed with the Governor and General
5
Assembly.
6

(c) The data provided in the report under subsection (b)
7
shall include an aggregate chart at the Department level and
8
individual reports by each correctional institution or
9
facility of the Department of Corrections.
10

(d) To facilitate the collection of information on higher
11
education in prison (HEP) programs, each 4-year public or
12
private institution of higher education with HEP degree or
13
certificate programs shall provide the Board of Higher
14
Education with student-level information as part of its
15
regular agency data-collection processes. Each public
16
community college with HEP degree or certificate programs
17
shall provide the Illinois Community College Board with
18
student-level information as part of its regular agency
19
data-collection processes. Upon request, the student-level
20
information shall include the correctional facility in which
21
the HEP program is being offered. The information provided to
22
the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community
23
College Board shall include HEP enrollment and completion data
24
disaggregated by variables, including, but not limited to,
25
race, ethnicity, gender, age, and type of degree or
26
certificate. The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois

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1
Community College Board shall annually make HEP program data
2
publicly available on their Internet websites
, as long as
3
public disclosure conforms with State and federal student
4
privacy standards and laws. The Board of Higher Education and
5
the Illinois Community College Board shall determine the form
6
in which HEP program data is made publicly available to
7
protect student privacy
.
8
(Source: P.A. 103-541, eff. 1-1-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)

9

Section 99.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect upon
10
becoming law.

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This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the
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|
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