Public Act 0862 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3107 Enrolled LRB093 19113 NHT 46577 b

Public Act 093-0862

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Act is amended by changing the title of the Act and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 and by adding Section 11.5 as follows:

(110 ILCS 930/Act title)

An Act to create the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity.

(110 ILCS 930/1) (from Ch. 144, par. 2301)

Sec. 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Act.

(Source: P.A. 84-785.)

(110 ILCS 930/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2302)

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education.

(b) "Institution of higher education" means a publicly or privately operated educational institution located within Illinois: (1) which offers instruction leading toward or prerequisite to an academic or professional degree beyond the baccalaureate degree, excluding theological schools, and (2) which requires that in order to obtain such degree the student satisfactorily completes appropriate courses of class, laboratory or research study in residence under a faculty whose members hold appropriate academic degrees, and (3) which meets the standards of approval established by the Board of Higher Education.

(c) "Consortium Board" means the representatives of the institutions of higher education participating in the Consortium established under this Act.

"DFI" (d) "ICEOP" means the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity program of financial assistance to minorities who are traditionally underrepresented as participants in postsecondary education. The program shall assist them in pursuing a graduate or professional degree and shall also assist program graduates to find employment at an Illinois institution of higher education, including a community college, in a faculty or staff position.

"Program Board" means the entity created to administer the grant program authorized by this Act.

"Qualified institution of higher education" means a qualifying publicly or privately operated educational institution located within Illinois (i) that offers instruction leading toward or prerequisite to an academic or professional degree beyond the baccalaureate degree, excluding theological schools, and (ii) that is authorized to operate in the State of Illinois.

(e) "Racial minority" means a person who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States and who is:

(1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups in Africa);

(2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);

(3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent or the Pacific Islands); or

(4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America).

(Source: P.A. 84-785.)

(110 ILCS 930/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2303)

Sec. 3. Composition of the Program Consortium Board. The Program Board shall be comprised of 21 members and shall be appointed by the Board of Higher Education. Persons appointed to the Program Board shall include, but need not be limited to, individuals who are in leadership positions in institutions of higher education, including community colleges. Illinois institutions that grant doctoral degrees must have representation on the Program Board. Consortium Board shall include one representative from each of the institutions of higher education participating in the Consortium.

The method of selection shall be determined by each institution of higher education.

The Board shall assure, by additional appointments to the Consortium Board, if necessary, that racial minorities who are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education programs and activities are members of the Program Consortium Board.

(Source: P.A. 84-785.)

(110 ILCS 930/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2304)

Sec. 4. Responsibilities of the Program Consortium Board. The Program Consortium Board shall be responsible for:

(a) Establishing policy for administration of the DFI ICEOP grant program authorized under this Act, including criteria to promote placement of grant recipients.

(b) Reviewing and approving applications for participation in the DFI ICEOP grant program.

(c) Establishing subcommittees or panels as necessary to review applications and promote student placement.

(d) Reporting annually to the Board on program outcomes and results, including lists of new and continuing scholarship award recipients by institution, level, and field of study; lists of recipients retained in the program from the previous year; lists of placements of most recent program graduates; a description of institutional efforts to place program graduates; and a description of policy and administrative actions designed to increase placement of grant recipients.

(Source: P.A. 84-785.)

(110 ILCS 930/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2306)

Sec. 6. DFI ICEOP grants. A program of financial assistance is established to implement the policy of encouraging minority students to enroll and complete academic programs at the postbaccalaureate level and to enhance the diversity of faculty and staff of Illinois institutions of higher education. The Board of Higher Education shall provide administrative assistance for the Program Consortium Board and shall distribute funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose in accordance with decisions made by the Program Consortium Board.

(Source: P.A. 84-785.)

(110 ILCS 930/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 2307)

Sec. 7. Eligibility for DFI ICEOP grants. An individual is eligible for an award under the provisions of this Act when the Program Consortium Board finds:

(a) That the individual is a resident of this State and a citizen or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States;

(b) That the individual is a member of a racial minority as defined under the terms of this Act;

(c) That the individual has earned any educational diploma at an institution of education located in this State, or is a resident of the State for no less than three years prior to applying for the grant, and the individual must hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher learning;

(d) That the individual's financial resources are such that, in the absence of a DFI an ICEOP grant, the individual will be prevented from pursuing a graduate or professional degree at a qualified institution of higher education of his or her choice;

(e) That the individual has above average academic ability to pursue a graduate or professional degree; and

(f) That the individual meets other qualifications which shall be established by the Program Consortium Board.

Grant funds shall be awarded only to those persons pursuing a graduate or professional degree program at a qualified institution of higher education.

The Consortium Board shall by rule promulgate, pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, precise standards to be used by the Program Board to determine whether a program applicant has above average academic ability to pursue a graduate or professional degree.

(Source: P.A. 85-1337.)

(110 ILCS 930/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 2308)

Sec. 8. Application. The Program Consortium Board shall design the application for the DFI ICEOP award and determine the timetable for submission of the application.

(Source: P.A. 84-785.)

(110 ILCS 930/9) (from Ch. 144, par. 2309)

Sec. 9. Terms of award. After a person has been accepted into the DFI ICEOP, the individual shall be eligible for an annual award which may shall be renewable for up to an additional 3 years provided that he or she makes satisfactory progress toward completing his or her degree. The Program Consortium Board shall determine the award amount annually.

(Source: P.A. 92-45, eff. 7-1-02.)

(110 ILCS 930/10) (from Ch. 144, par. 2310)

Sec. 10. Conditions of award. Conditions for acceptance of a DFI an ICEOP award are that the recipient shall agree to: (1) accept a teaching or nonteaching full-time appointment at an Illinois institution of higher education; or (2) accept a position at one of the higher education governing boards for the period equal to the number of years that he or she was a participant in the ICEOP; or (3) accept a position as an employee of this State in an administrative, educational-related education related position for the period equal to the number of years that he or she was a participant in the DFI ICEOP.

(Source: P.A. 85-727.)

(110 ILCS 930/11) (from Ch. 144, par. 2311)

Sec. 11. Penalty for failure to fulfill the conditions of a DFI an ICEOP award. If the obligation of the award is not met, repayment of the funds awarded may be required according to procedures rules developed by the Program Consortium Board.

(Source: P.A. 84-785.)

(110 ILCS 930/11.5 new)

Sec. 11.5. Continuing participants. Program participants admitted under the provisions of the former Illinois Minority Graduate Incentive Program/Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program prior to January 1, 2004 shall be governed by the statutory provisions and rules governing the program at the time of their admission.

(110 ILCS 930/5 rep.)

Section 10. The Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Act is amended by repealing Section 5.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2004.