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HB5319 • 2026

COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PROGRAM

COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PROGRAM

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Tracy Katz Muhl
Last action
2026-04-17
Official status
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PROGRAM

COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PROGRAM

What This Bill Does

  • COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PROGRAM

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-07 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles Meier

  2. 2026-05-07 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Travis Weaver

  3. 2026-05-06 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Rick Ryan

  4. 2026-04-17 Illinois General Assembly

    Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  5. 2026-04-10 Illinois General Assembly

    Second Reading - Short Debate

  6. 2026-04-10 Illinois General Assembly

    Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  7. 2026-03-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

  8. 2026-03-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Do Pass / Short Debate Executive Committee ; 012-000-000

  9. 2026-03-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ryan Spain

  10. 2026-03-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  11. 2026-03-24 Illinois General Assembly

    Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

  12. 2026-03-24 Illinois General Assembly

    Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis

  13. 2026-03-18 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brad Stephens

  14. 2026-03-04 Illinois General Assembly

    Assigned to Executive Committee

  15. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jackie Haas

  16. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt

  17. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting

  18. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John M. Cabello

  19. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha

  20. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kyle Moore

  21. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Bradley Fritts

  22. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer

  23. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro

  24. 2026-02-26 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Sheehan

  25. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Benton

  26. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel

  27. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

  28. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Cochran

  29. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

  30. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Fred Crespo

  31. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis

  32. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca

  33. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret A. DeLaRosa

  34. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter

  35. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech

  36. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias

  37. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr.

  38. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse

  39. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar

  40. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi

  41. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson

  42. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper

  43. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez

  44. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

  45. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez

  46. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer

  47. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh

  48. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez

  49. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones

  50. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

  51. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah

  52. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley

  53. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield

  54. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris

  55. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman

  56. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

  57. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal

  58. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz

  59. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid

  60. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita

  61. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter

  62. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava

  63. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed

  64. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella

  65. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams

  66. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

  67. 2026-02-25 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony M. McCombie

  68. 2026-02-24 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar

  69. 2026-02-24 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth

  70. 2026-02-24 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson

  71. 2026-02-24 Illinois General Assembly

    Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

  72. 2026-02-10 Illinois General Assembly

    First Reading

  73. 2026-02-10 Illinois General Assembly

    Referred to Rules Committee

  74. 2026-02-05 Illinois General Assembly

    Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

Official Summary Text

COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PROGRAM

Current Bill Text

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Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5319

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5319

Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 805/3-42.6 new

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees
of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate
degree program and confer a bachelor's degree if specified conditions are
met. Requires the board of trustees to demonstrate that the community
college district has the expertise, the resources, and sufficient student
demand to offer a baccalaureate degree. Sets forth the application
requirements. Prohibits a community college district from using semester
credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree program for certain
grants. Sets forth limitations on community college districts for
establishing baccalaureate programs. Requires a community college district
that offers a baccalaureate degree program to submit an annual report to
the Illinois Community College Board. Requires the Illinois Community
College Board and the Board of Higher Education to conduct a statewide
evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs established under the
amendatory Act and report the results of the evaluation on or before 5
years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, in addition to being
made publicly available online. Effective immediately.
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b

A BILL FOR

HB5319
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 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 1.
Findings.
The General Assembly finds the
5
following:
6

(1) The State's public and private universities and
7

community colleges have a longstanding tradition of
8

partnership with respect to the creation of seamless
9

transfer pathways, articulation agreements, and joint
10

programming that expand educational opportunities for
11

students.
12

(2) The State's public and private universities and
13

community colleges play a vital role in advancing this
14

State's higher education mission by delivering
15

high-quality academic programs, fostering innovation, and
16

supporting workforce development.
17

(3) The State's public and private universities and
18

community colleges serve a diverse student body, including
19

first generation students, low-income students, racial and
20

ethnic minorities, and working adults, helping them
21

achieve their academic and economic goals.
22

(4) The State benefits from a cohesive and
23

interconnected higher education ecosystem in which public
24

universities, private higher education institutions, and

HB5319
- 2 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

community colleges work collaboratively to meet the
2

diverse needs of learners and the regional economies they
3

serve.
4

(5) Community colleges can play a roll in filling the
5

gaps in this State's higher education system by granting
6

baccalaureate degrees to meet the growing demand for a
7

skilled workforce, thereby increasing access and reducing
8

costs for students.
9

(6) Baccalaureate degree programs offered pursuant to
10

this Act do not alter the existing role and mission of
11

community colleges.
12

(7) Nothing in this Act reduces this State's
13

dedication to improving associate-to-baccalaureate
14

program transfer pathways for this State's students, based
15

on robust and longstanding partnerships with public and
16

private universities.

17

Section 5.
The Public Community College Act is amended by
18
adding Section 3-42.6 as follows:

19

(110 ILCS 805/3-42.6 new)
20

Sec. 3-42.6.
Baccalaureate degree program.
21

(a) As used in this Section:
22

"Accessibility" includes, but is not limited to, time and
23
distance to a program at a university or off-site location
24
during the time the program is offered, availability of public

HB5319
- 3 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1
transportation, and proximity to a workforce partner.

2

"Applied baccalaureate" means a baccalaureate degree that
3
is based on a curriculum that incorporates both theoretical
4
and applied knowledge and skills in a specific vocational or
5
technical field, which shall meet the following criteria:
6

(1) is titled as a Bachelor of Applied Science;
7

(2) is designed for workforce entry or career
8

advancement in technical or professional fields; and
9

(3) is built upon applied associate degrees or closely
10

aligned curricula.

11

"CCB Region" means the following community college
12
baccalaureate regions:
13

(1) CCB Region 1: The College of Lake County, Harper
14

College, Oakton College, Triton College, and Morton
15

College.
16

(2) CCB Region 2: Elgin Community College, Kishwaukee
17

College, Waubonsee Community College, McHenry County
18

College, Rock Valley College, and the College of DuPage.
19

(3) CCB Region 3: Black Hawk College, Carl Sandburg
20

College, Highland Community College, John Wood Community
21

College, Sauk Valley Community College, and Spoon River
22

College.
23

(4) CCB Region 4: Heartland Community College,
24

Illinois Central College, Illinois Valley Community
25

College, Lincoln Land Community College, and Richland
26

Community College.

HB5319
- 4 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

(5) CCB Region 5: Joliet Junior College, Prairie State
2

College, South Suburban College, Moraine Valley Community
3

College, and Kankakee Community College.
4

(6) CCB Region 6: Parkland College, Danville Area
5

Community College, Lake Land College, and Illinois Eastern
6

Community College.
7

(7) CCB Region 7: Rend Lake College, John A. Logan
8

College, Southeastern Illinois College, and Shawnee
9

Community College.
10

(8) CCB Region 8: Lewis and Clark Community College,
11

Southwestern Illinois College, and Kaskaskia College.
12

(9) CCB Region 9: The City Colleges of Chicago.
13

"Course scheduling flexibility" includes, but is not
14
limited to, the times and days of the week courses are offered
15
and the ability of a university or partnership to use shared
16
instructional spaces and scheduling models developed in
17
partnership with university centers located on community
18
college campuses.

19

"Mode of delivery" includes, but is not limited to, online
20
courses, hybrid courses, and off-site courses.

21

"Workforce need" includes, but is not limited to, the
22
anticipated annual earnings of degree holders and the current
23
number of related employment vacancies, evidence of sustained
24
need that accounts for local or regional education and
25
training providers, and employer support within a community
26
college district.

HB5319
- 5 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

(b) The board of trustees of a community college district
2
may establish and offer a baccalaureate degree program and
3
confer a bachelor's degree if all the following conditions are
4
met:

5

(1) The community college district meets all of the
6

requirements as set forth in subsection (c) as
7

demonstrated through an application to offer a
8

baccalaureate degree that has been submitted and approved
9

by the State Board and the Board of Higher Education. The
10

State Board and the Board of Higher Education shall
11

collaborate on the development of an application process
12

that is no less restrictive than program approval of new
13

bachelor's degree programs at public and private
14

universities in this State.

15

(2) The community college district has identified, in
16

a feasibility study, unmet workforce needs, including the
17

number of potential students and workers necessary to meet
18

those needs, in the region served by the community college
19

in the subject area of the baccalaureate degree program to
20

be offered and student interest in the new degree. The
21

board of trustees shall publish the documentation on the
22

community college district's website, make the
23

documentation publicly available, and present the
24

documentation to the State Board.

25

(3) The community college shall hold an applicable
26

accreditation and be approved to offer baccalaureate

HB5319
- 6 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

degrees by the Higher Learning Commission.

2

(4) The community college district shall demonstrate
3

how the baccalaureate degree program will demonstrate
4

improved equity in student access, enrollment, and
5

completion.

6

(5) Tuition and fees per credit hour for the third and
7

fourth years of a 4-year baccalaureate program may not
8

exceed 150% of the tuition and fees per credit hour of
9

related lower-division course tuition and fees, and the
10

tuition charged a student who is a State resident shall
11

not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the
12

time he or she first entered the upper division program.

13

(6) The community college district provides a notice
14

of intent to consider offering a baccalaureate degree to
15

the State Board. The State Board shall provide the notice
16

of intent to the Board of Higher Education, all public
17

universities, and the Federation of Independent Illinois
18

Colleges and Universities. The State Board shall also
19

publish the notice on the State Board's website.
20

(7) At least 60 days before submission of an
21

application, the board of trustees shall publish a
22

feasibility study as set forth in paragraph (2) and notify
23

the State Board. The State Board shall provide notice to
24

the Board of Higher Education, all public universities,
25

and the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and
26

Universities.

HB5319
- 7 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

(8) After publication of the feasibility study, the
2

community college district shall enter into a good faith
3

collaboration process with interested universities. The
4

discussions during the good faith collaboration process
5

may include the university's ability to serve the
6

identified population to meet workforce need, alternative
7

pathways to meet student need, the ability of the
8

university to develop a new or expand a current program to
9

meet the unmet workforce need or student need in a timely
10

manner, or the creation of a new partnership. If, at the
11

end of 60 days, the community college and a university
12

cannot agree to pursue or establish, in writing, a new
13

partnership agreement or no interest has been expressed in
14

writing, a community college district may submit its
15

application. This good faith collaboration process shall
16

be documented by the community college district in its
17

application. Nothing in this paragraph (8) requires a
18

community college to enter into a partnership agreement
19

with a university.
20

(9) After the submission of an application, the State
21

Board shall post a reconsideration period of at least 30
22

days for universities to submit their documentation of
23

communication with the community college during the good
24

faith collaboration period, as well as any evidence that a
25

new community college baccalaureate program will be
26

duplicative, as set forth in paragraph (3) of subsection

HB5319
- 8 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

(c). The State Board and the Board of Higher Education
2

shall consider this documentation in their application
3

review process. Based on information submitted by a
4

university, the State Board and the Board of Higher
5

Education may jointly or individually request that an
6

applicant continue working toward some form of
7

collaboration before proceeding in the application
8

process. Nothing in this paragraph (9) requires a
9

community college to enter into a partnership agreement or
10

expand an existing partnership agreement with a
11

university.

12

(c) The board of trustees shall demonstrate that the
13
community college district has the expertise, the resources,
14
and sufficient student demand to offer a baccalaureate degree.
15
An application for approval to the State Board shall include,
16
but is not limited to, all of the following:

17

(1) The community college district shall describe the
18

employment goals for those individuals that will complete
19

the baccalaureate program, including the types of
20

licenses, jobs, and career paths for which the program
21

will train graduates.

22

(2) The community college district shall describe how
23

the proposed baccalaureate degree program addresses an
24

unmet workforce need as specified in paragraph (2) of
25

subsection (b).

26

(3) The State Board and the Board of Higher Education

HB5319
- 9 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

shall evaluate whether a proposed program is duplicative
2

based upon the following factors:
3

(A) A potential degree program shall be considered
4

duplicative if any of the following conditions are
5

met:
6

(i) The proposed degree program shares the
7

same 4-digit Classification of Instruction Program
8

(CIP) code as a degree program at a university or
9

community college within the community college's
10

district or within the following proximity:
11

(I) For the City Colleges of Chicago, the
12

proposed site at which the new degree program
13

will be offered is within a 20-mile radius of
14

a university site or community college site
15

outside of the City Colleges of Chicago.
16

(II) For all other community college
17

districts, the site at which the new degree
18

program will be offered is within a 40-mile
19

radius of a university site or community
20

college site outside of the community college
21

district.
22

(ii) The proposed degree program shares the
23

same 4-digit CIP code as an existing partnership
24

between the community college and a university.
25

(B) A proposed baccalaureate degree program
26

determined to be duplicative based upon the factors in

HB5319
- 10 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

this paragraph (3) may proceed for consideration by
2

the State Board and the Board of Higher Education if it
3

addresses unmet workforce need and student demand, as
4

demonstrated in the feasibility study, after
5

consideration of the following factors in its
6

evaluation of the proposed program:
7

(i) The estimated average out-of-pocket costs
8

for students for net tuition and fees, including
9

any scholarships, tuition discounts, or financial
10

assistance, including Monetary Award Program and
11

Pell grants, available to students in the proposed
12

baccalaureate degree program, when compared to the
13

same baccalaureate degree program offered by a
14

university, a partnership agreement, or another
15

community college.
16

(ii) Available program capacity sufficient to
17

meet unmet workforce need and student demand, as
18

well as the ability of a university to develop a
19

new program or expand a current program to meet
20

the unmet workforce need or student demand in a
21

timely manner as outlined in the university's
22

reconsideration documentation.
23

(iii) Course scheduling flexibility and the
24

university's ability and willingness to offer
25

course scheduling options that meet students'
26

needs.

HB5319
- 11 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

(iv) The mode of delivery of the program and
2

how this mode is able to meet students' needs.
3

(v) The accessibility of the proposed
4

baccalaureate degree program when compared to a
5

current degree program or partnership agreement at
6

a university or community college campus as it
7

pertains to students' needs.
8

(vi) Evaluation of the impact on existing
9

programs at community colleges and universities,
10

including a measurement of current transfer rates
11

to other community colleges and universities and
12

access for current programs to required learning
13

experiences, such as clinical placements.
14

(C) A proposed applied baccalaureate is not
15

considered duplicative if it does not share the same
16

6-digit CIP code with a university as outlined in this
17

paragraph (3).

18

(D) The State Board and the Board of Higher
19

Education shall use information gathered from the
20

application, documentation of good faith
21

collaboration, and reconsideration comments submitted
22

by universities to determine whether there is a
23

significant need to justify duplication. The State
24

Board and the Board of Higher Education may request
25

additional information from a university or a
26

community college to further examine duplication as a

HB5319
- 12 -
LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

part of their review process.

2

(4) The community college district shall provide
3

evidence that it has budgeted for financial support for
4

the program in a cost-effective manner. This shall
5

include, but not be limited to, faculty costs,
6

administrator costs, other personnel costs, equipment
7

costs, library costs, and other facilities and
8

instructional costs as directed by the State Board. The
9

community college district shall also demonstrate that it
10

has the infrastructure to support the program.

11

(5) The community college district shall provide
12

information demonstrating how student demand supports the
13

establishment of the baccalaureate program. The community
14

college district shall also describe the target population
15

of the proposed program.

16

(6) The community college district shall provide a
17

plan for attracting, recruiting, retaining, and completing
18

a diverse group of students.

19

(7) The community college district shall describe how
20

it has developed quality curricula that aligns with
21

federal, State, and local requirements, is responsive to
22

local workforce needs, and will prepare graduates with the
23

appropriate level of skill to meet their educational and
24

employment goals.

25

(8) The community college district shall document the
26

availability of faculty for teaching the program,

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1

including the number of full-time faculty anticipated to
2

teach in the program, and a description of the faculty's
3

qualifications, including the highest degree earned,
4

teaching experience, professional experience, and licenses
5

held. The community college district shall also indicate
6

anticipated market salaries for each faculty position and
7

how faculty are to be evaluated.
8

(9) The community college district shall demonstrate
9

that the baccalaureate degree program is built on existing
10

associate degree programs and will result in the earning
11

of an associate degree after approximately 60 credit hours
12

as students matriculate toward baccalaureate degrees,
13

preparing graduates for professional and technical
14

employment and the opportunity to matriculate to graduate
15

degree programs, if applicable.

16

(d) A community college district is prohibited from using
17
semester credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree
18
program for grants received pursuant to Section 2-16.02. A
19
baccalaureate degree program at a community college does not
20
qualify the community college or the students in the program
21
for State funding or assistance otherwise designated for
22
universities or university students.

23

(e) Excluding the City Colleges of Chicago, no community
24
college district may establish more than one community college
25
baccalaureate program within 3 years after the effective date
26
of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. Three

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1
years after of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
2
104th General Assembly, a community college district, other
3
than the City Colleges of Chicago, may establish no more than
4
one additional baccalaureate program for a total of 2 programs
5
over the period, subject to the regional limitations in this
6
subsection (e).
7

Excluding the City Colleges of Chicago, each CCB Region
8
may establish no more than one baccalaureate degree in early
9
childhood education, one baccalaureate degree in
10
cybersecurity, and one baccalaureate degree in nursing within
11
3 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
12
104th General Assembly. Three years after the effective date
13
of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, each CCB
14
Region, other than the City Colleges of Chicago, may establish
15
no more than one additional baccalaureate degree in early
16
childhood education, one additional baccalaureate degree in
17
cybersecurity, and one additional baccalaureate degree in
18
nursing.
19

Excluding the City of Colleges of Chicago, each CCB Region
20
is limited to the following number of community college
21
baccalaureate programs:
22

(1) CCB Region 1, 6 community college baccalaureate
23

programs.
24

(2) CCB Region 2, 7 community college baccalaureate
25

programs.
26

(3) CCB Region 3, 7 community college baccalaureate

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1

programs.
2

(4) CCB Region 4, 6 community college baccalaureate
3

programs.
4

(5) CCB Region 5, 6 community college baccalaureate
5

programs.
6

(6) CCB Region 6, 5 community college baccalaureate
7

programs.
8

(7) CCB Region 7, 5 community college baccalaureate
9

programs.
10

(8) CCB Region 8, 4 community college baccalaureate
11

programs.
12

The City Colleges of Chicago may establish no more than 3
13
baccalaureate degree programs within 3 years after the
14
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
15
Assembly. Three years after of the effective date of this
16
amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the City
17
Colleges of Chicago may establish no more than 2 additional
18
baccalaureate degree programs, for a total of 5 baccalaureate
19
degree programs.
20

The City Colleges of Chicago may establish no more than
21
one baccalaureate degree in early childhood education, one
22
baccalaureate degree in cybersecurity, and one baccalaureate
23
degree in nursing within 3 years after the effective date of
24
this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. Three years
25
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th
26
General Assembly, the City Colleges of Chicago may offer one

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LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1
additional baccalaureate degree in early childhood education,
2
for a total of 2 early childhood education baccalaureate
3
degrees. However, the City Colleges of Chicago may not
4
establish an early childhood education baccalaureate degree
5
program at Kennedy-King College or Olive-Harvey College.
6

Applied baccalaureate programs that do not meet the
7
duplicative criteria outlined in paragraph (3) of subsection
8
(c) are not subject to the limitations in this subsection (e).
9

A community college district may not offer a baccalaureate
10
degree whose modality is delivered primarily online.
11

The General Assembly may not modify the limitations on
12
community college baccalaureate degree programs that may be
13
approved by the State Board and Board of Higher Education
14
before the completion of the evaluation set forth in
15
subsection (g).
16

(f) A community college district that offers a
17
baccalaureate degree program shall submit an annual report to
18
the State Board, which shall include all of the following:

19

(1) The total number of students pursuing a bachelor's
20

degree in the community college district pursuant to this
21

Section.

22

(2) The total number of bachelor's degrees completed
23

in the community college district.

24

(3) Workforce data showing demand for the
25

baccalaureate degree programs offered in the community
26

college district.

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1

(4) The average cost of tuition per credit hour for
2

the bachelor's degrees offered in the community college
3

district.

4

(5) If applicable, the comparable passage rates for
5

statewide and national licensure exams compared to the
6

State average.

7

(g) The State Board and the Board of Higher Education, in
8
conjunction with a third-party evaluator, shall conduct a
9
statewide evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs
10
established under this Section. The results of the evaluation
11
shall be reported, in writing, on or before 5 years after the
12
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
13
Assembly to all of the following, in addition to being made
14
publicly available online:

15

(1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

16

(2) The Minority Leader of the House of
17

Representatives.

18

(3) The President of the Senate.

19

(4) The Minority Leader of the Senate.

20

(5) The Governor's Office of Management and Budget.

21

The evaluation shall include, but is not limited to, all
22
of the following:

23

(A) All baccalaureate degree programs implemented.

24

(B) Data related to applicants, admissions,
25

enrollment, mode of delivery, demographic characteristics
26

of students, and degree recipients.

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LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

(C) The extent to which each baccalaureate degree
2

program established under this Section fulfills identified
3

workforce demands that require 4-year baccalaureate
4

degrees.

5

(D) Information on the pace of employment of students
6

and the subsequent job placement of graduates.

7

(E) The total cost broken down by major expenditure of
8

each baccalaureate degree program and the funding sources
9

used to finance each program.

10

(F) For each baccalaureate degree program, the costs
11

to students, the amount of financial aid offered, and the
12

student debt levels of graduates.

13

(G) Time-to-degree rates and completion rates for each
14

new baccalaureate degree program established under this
15

Section.

16

(H) The extent to which a baccalaureate degree program
17

established under this Section is in compliance with the
18

requirements of this Section.
19

(I) The extent to which the status of any partnership
20

agreements previously or presently maintained with other
21

State institutions of higher learning, including
22

enrollments and reasons for the dissolution of such
23

agreements if they have been dissolved due to the creation
24

of a new baccalaureate degree program.
25

(J) The extent to which the implementation of
26

community college baccalaureate degrees has had an impact

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LRB104 20527 LNS 34001 b
1

on universities.

2

A community college district shall submit the information
3
necessary to conduct the evaluation required under this
4
subsection (g), as determined by the evaluators, to the State
5
Board and the Board of Higher Education.

6

Section 99.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect upon
7
becoming law.

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