110 ILCS 670/ Governors State University Law.

(110 ILCS 670/Art. 15 heading) ARTICLE 15

(110 ILCS 670/15-1)

Sec. 15-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Governors State University Law.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-5)

Sec. 15-5. Object. The object of Governors State University is to offer such courses of instruction, conduct such research and offer such public services as are prescribed by the Board of Trustees of Governors State University or its successor, subject to the provisions of Section 7 of the Board of Higher Education Act.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-10)

Sec. 15-10. There is hereby created a body politic and corporate which shall be styled the Board of Trustees of Governors State University (hereinafter called the Board), and which shall operate, manage, control, and maintain Governors State University in accordance with the rights, powers and duties now or hereafter vested by law in that Board.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-15)

Sec. 15-15. Membership; terms; vacancies. The Board shall consist of 7 voting members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and one voting member who is a student at Governors State University. The student member shall be chosen by a campus-wide student election. The student member shall serve a term of one year beginning on July 1 of each year, except that the student member initially selected shall serve a term beginning on the date of his or her selection and expiring on the next succeeding June 30. To be eligible for selection as a student member and to be eligible to remain as a student member of the Board, the student member must be a resident of this State, must have and maintain a grade point average that is equivalent to at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and must be a student enrolled at all times during his or her term of office except for that part of the term which follows the completion of the last full regular semester of an academic year and precedes the first full regular semester of the succeeding academic year at the university (sometimes commonly referred to as the spring/summer semester). If a student member serving on the Board fails to continue to meet or maintain the residency, minimum grade point average, or enrollment requirement established by this Section, his or her membership on the Board shall be deemed to have terminated by operation of law. Of the members first appointed by the Governor, 4 shall be appointed for terms to expire on the third Monday in January, 1999, and 3 shall be appointed for terms to expire on the third Monday in January, 2001. If the Senate is not in session on the effective date of this Article, or if a vacancy in an appointive membership occurs at a time when the Senate is not in session, the Governor shall make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Senate when he shall nominate persons to fill such memberships for the remainder of their respective terms. No more than 4 of the members appointed by the Governor shall be affiliated with the same political party. Each member appointed by the Governor must be a resident of this State. A failure to meet or maintain this residency requirement constitutes a resignation from and creates a vacancy in the Board. Upon the expiration of the terms of members appointed by the Governor, their respective successors shall be appointed for terms of 6 years from the third Monday in January of each odd-numbered year. Any members appointed to the Board shall continue to serve in such capacity until their successors are appointed and qualified.

(Source: P.A. 91-778, eff. 1-1-01; 91-798, eff. 7-9-00; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-20)

Sec. 15-20. Reimbursement; employment limitations. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reasonable amounts for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. Such expenses incurred by the student member may, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board, be provided for by advance payment to the student member, who shall account therefor to the Board immediately after each meeting.

No member of the Board shall hold or be employed in or appointed to any office or place under the authority of the Board, nor shall any member of the Board be directly or indirectly interested in any contract made by the Board, nor shall he be an employee of the State Government; provided that nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the student member of the Board from maintaining normal and official status as an enrolled student or normal student employment at Governors State University.

(Source: P.A. 93-1096, eff. 1-1-06.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-25)

Sec. 15-25. Officers; meetings. Members of the Board shall elect annually by secret ballot from their own number a chairman who shall preside over meetings of the Board and a secretary.

Meetings of the Board shall be held at least once each quarter on the campus of Governors State University at University Park, Illinois. At all regular meetings of the Board, a majority of its members shall constitute a quorum. The student member shall have all of the privileges of membership, including the right to make and second motions, to attend executive sessions, and to vote on all Board matters except those involving faculty tenure, faculty promotion or any issue on which the student member has a direct conflict of interest. For the purposes of this Section, a student member shall not be deemed to have a direct conflict of interest in and may vote on any item involving the employment or compensation of the President of the University or the election of officers. Unless the student member is entitled to vote on a measure at a meeting of the Board or any of its committees, he or she shall not be considered a member for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the time that measure is voted upon. No action of the Board shall be invalidated by reason of any vacancies on the Board or by reason of any failure to select a student member.

Special meetings of the Board may be called by the chairman of the Board or by any 3 members of the Board.

At each regular and special meeting that is open to the public, members of the public and employees of the University shall be afforded time, subject to reasonable constraints, to make comments to or ask questions of the Board.

(Source: P.A. 99-734, eff. 8-5-16.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-30)

Sec. 15-30. Ex-officio treasurer. The Board shall designate a member of the staff of Governors State University as treasurer to serve the Board, but not as a member, and shall furnish a bond in such amount and with such security as is satisfactory to the Board.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-35)

Sec. 15-35. Transfer of powers, duties, assets; outstanding contracts, agreements and bonds. All the rights, powers and duties vested by law in the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities and relating to the operation, management, control and maintenance of Governors State University are hereby transferred to and vested in the Board of Trustees of Governors State University.

All books, records, papers, documents and pending business in any way pertaining to Governors State University and held by the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities are hereby transferred from the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities to the Board of Trustees of Governors State University.

The employment of the president and all other academic and nonacademic personnel of Governors State University is hereby transferred from the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities to the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, but the status and rights of all personnel whose employment is so transferred under the State Universities Civil Service System, under the State Universities Retirement System and under any other contract or benefit plan shall be unaffected thereby.

No rule or regulation promulgated by the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities prior to the effective date of this Article pursuant to an exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities to the Board of Trustees of Governors State University under the provisions of this Article shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Board of Trustees of Governors State University.

All items of income heretofore received by Governors State University and paid into the State Treasury and covered into the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities Income Fund and not heretofore appropriated by the General Assembly for the support and improvement of Governors State University under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Section 6a of the State Finance Act shall be transferred by the State Treasurer and covered into the Governors State University Income Fund for appropriations from time to time to be made by the General Assembly payable from such fund for the support and improvement of Governors State University as provided in paragraph (1) of Section 6a-1e of that Act; provided that within 10 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996, all moneys then remaining in the Governors State University Income Fund heretofore established as a special fund in the State Treasury shall be repaid to the University to be deposited and credited to the University Income Fund established by Governors State University in its own treasury as provided in paragraph (1) of Section 6a-1e of the State Finance Act.

The right of custody, possession and control over all items of income, funds or deposits in any way pertaining to Governors State University, which on the effective date of this Article are held or retained by, or under the jurisdiction of the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities under the authority of paragraph (2) of Section 6a of the State Finance Act, is hereby transferred to and vested in the Board of Trustees of Governors State University to be retained by the University in its own treasury, or deposited with a bank or savings and loan association, all in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (6) of Section 6a-1e of that Act.

There is hereby transferred from the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities to the Board of Trustees of Governors State University the power of order and direction over the disbursement of those funds which immediately prior to the effective date of this Article were retained by Governors State University in its own treasury under the authority of Section 6a-2 of the State Finance Act; provided that such funds shall be disbursed from time to time pursuant to the order and direction of the Board of Trustees in accordance with any contracts, pledges, trusts or agreements heretofore made with respect to the use or application of such funds by the Teachers College Board or the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities.

Governors State University shall succeed to, assume and exercise all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities formerly exercised by the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities on behalf of Governors State University prior to the effective date of this Article. All contracts and agreements entered into by the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities on behalf of Governors State University prior to the effective date of this Article shall be valid and shall subsist notwithstanding the abolition of the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities and the repeal of the Board of Governors Act and notwithstanding the transfer or the functions of the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities with respect to Governors State University to the Board of Trustees of Governors State University. All bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness outstanding on the effective date of this Article issued by the Teachers College Board or the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities on behalf of Governors State University shall become the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of Governors State University and shall be otherwise unaffected by the transfer of functions to Governors State University. Any action, including without limitation, approvals of applications for bonds and resolutions constituting official action under the Internal Revenue Code by the Teachers College Board or Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities prior to the effective date of this Article shall remain effective to the same extent as if that action had been taken by Governors State University and shall be deemed to be action taken by Governors State University.

The title to all other property, whether real, personal or mixed, belonging to or under the jurisdiction of the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities for Governors State University is hereby transferred to and vested in the Board of Trustees of Governors State University to be held for the People of the State of Illinois for such University.

(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96; 89-602, eff. 8-2-96.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-40)

Sec. 15-40. Contracts, conveyances, expenditures. The Board shall have power to enter into contracts and to sue and be sued, provided that any suit against the Board based upon a claim sounding in tort must be filed in the Court of Claims; to acquire by purchase, eminent domain or otherwise, and to hold and convey title to real property as it shall deem appropriate and personal property in accordance with the State Property Control Act; and to expend the funds appropriated to or lawfully belonging to the Governors State University, provided that the Board in the exercise of the powers conferred by this Article shall not create any liability or indebtedness of funds from the State Treasury in excess of the funds appropriated to Governors State University.

All real property acquired by the Board shall be held for the People of the State of Illinois, for the use of Governors State University.

Any lease to the Board of lands, buildings or facilities which will support scientific research and development in such areas as high technology, super computing, microelectronics, biotechnology, robotics, physics and engineering shall be for a term not to exceed 18 years, and may grant to the Board the option to purchase the lands, buildings or facilities. The lease shall recite that it is subject to termination and cancellation in any year for which the General Assembly fails to make an appropriation to pay the rent payable under the terms of the lease.

Leases for the purposes described herein exceeding 5 years shall have the approval of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

The Board's power to enter into contracts includes but is not limited to the power to enter into contracts with municipalities within which the University or any branch thereof is located, in whole or in part, for such municipality to provide fire protection or other essential municipal services upon properties leased to for-profit entities the title to which properties is held by the Board. The Board shall pay to the municipality concerned such equitable portion of the cost of providing such fire protection or other essential municipal service as shall be agreed to by the Board, and as part of the compensation for such fire protection the Board may provide land and buildings, or either, for fire stations to be used by the municipality.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-42)

Sec. 15-42. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Law, any power granted under this Law to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-45)

Sec. 15-45. Powers and duties. The Board also shall have power and it shall be its duty:

(1) To make rules, regulations and bylaws, not inconsistent with law, for the government and management of Governors State University and its branches;

(2) To employ, and, for good cause, to remove a President of Governors State University, and all necessary deans, professors, associate professors, assistant professors, instructors, other educational and administrative assistants, and all other necessary employees, and to prescribe their duties and contract with them upon matters relating to tenure, salaries and retirement benefits in accordance with the State Universities Civil Service Act. Whenever the Board establishes a search committee to fill the position of President of Governors State University, there shall be minority representation, including women, on that search committee. The Board shall, upon the written request of an employee of Governors State University, withhold from the compensation of that employee any dues, payments or contributions payable by such employee to any labor organization as defined in the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Under such arrangement, an amount shall be withheld from each regular payroll period which is equal to the pro rata share of the annual dues plus any payments or contributions, and the Board shall transmit such withholdings to the specified labor organization within 10 working days from the time of the withholding;

(3) To prescribe the courses of study to be followed, and textbooks and apparatus to be used at Governors State University;

(4) To issue upon the recommendation of the faculty, diplomas to such persons as have satisfactorily completed the required studies of Governors State University, and confer such professional and literary degrees as are usually conferred by other institutions of like character for similar or equivalent courses of study, or such as the Board may deem appropriate;

(5) To examine into the conditions, management, and administration of Governors State University, to provide the requisite buildings, apparatus, equipment and auxiliary enterprises, and to fix and collect matriculation fees; tuition fees; fees for student activities; fees for student facilities such as student union buildings or field houses or stadia or other recreational facilities; student welfare fees; laboratory fees; and similar fees for supplies and materials. The expense of the building, improving, repairing and supplying fuel and furniture and the necessary appliances and apparatus for conducting Governors State University, the reimbursed expenses of members of the Board, and the salaries or compensation of the President, assistants, agents and other employees of Governors State University, shall be a charge upon the State Treasury. All other expenses shall be chargeable against students, and the Board shall regulate the charges accordingly;

(6) To succeed to and to administer all trusts, trust property, and gifts now or hereafter belonging or pertaining to Governors State University;

(7) To accept endowments of professorships or departments in Governors State University from any person who may proffer them and, at regular meetings, to prescribe rules and regulations in relation to endowments and declare on what general principles they may be accepted;

(8) To enter into contracts with the Federal government for providing courses of instruction and other services at Governors State University for persons serving in or with the military or naval forces of the United States, and to provide such courses of instruction and other services;

(9) To operate, maintain, and contract with respect to the Cooperative Computer Center for its own purposes and to provide services related to electronic data processing to other public and private colleges and universities, to governmental agencies, and to public or private not-for-profit agencies; and to examine the conditions, management, and administration of the Cooperative Computer Center;

(10) To provide for the receipt and expenditures of Federal funds paid to Governors State University by the Federal government for instruction and other services for persons serving in or with the military or naval forces of the United States, and to provide for audits of such funds;

(11) To appoint, subject to the applicable civil service law, persons to be members of the Governors State University Police Department. Members of the Police Department shall be conservators of the peace and as such have all powers possessed by policemen in cities, and sheriffs, including the power to make arrests on view or warrants of violations of State statutes, University rules and regulations and city or county ordinances, except that they may exercise such powers only within counties wherein Governors State University and any of its branches or properties are located when such is required for the protection of University properties and interests, and its students and personnel, and otherwise, within such counties, when requested by appropriate State or local law enforcement officials. However, such officers shall have no power to serve and execute civil processes.

The Board must authorize to each member of the Governors State University Police Department and to any other employee of Governors State University exercising the powers of a peace officer a distinct badge that, on its face, (i) clearly states that the badge is authorized by Governors State University and (ii) contains a unique identifying number. No other badge shall be authorized by Governors State University;

(12) The Board may, directly or in cooperation with other institutions of higher education, acquire by purchase or lease or otherwise, and construct, enlarge, improve, equip, complete, operate, control and manage research and high technology parks, together with the necessary lands, buildings, facilities, equipment, and personal property therefor, to encourage and facilitate (i) the location and development of business and industry in the State of Illinois, and (ii) the increased application and development of technology, and (iii) the improvement and development of the State's economy. The Board may lease to nonprofit corporations all or any part of the land, buildings, facilities, equipment or other property included in a research and high technology park upon such terms and conditions as the Board may deem advisable and enter into any contract or agreement with such nonprofit corporations as may be necessary or suitable for the construction, financing, operation and maintenance and management of any such park; and may lease to any person, firm, partnership or corporation, either public or private, any part or all of the land, building, facilities, equipment or other property of such park for such purposes and upon such rentals, terms and conditions as the Board may deem advisable; and may finance all or part of the cost of any such park, including the purchase, lease, construction, reconstruction, improvement, remodeling, addition to, and extension and maintenance of all or part of such high technology park, and all equipment and furnishings, by legislative appropriations, government grants, contracts, private gifts, loans, receipts from the operation of such high technology park, rentals and similar receipts; and may make its other facilities and services available to tenants or other occupants of any such park at rates which are reasonable and appropriate;

(13) To borrow money, as necessary, from time to time in anticipation of receiving tuition, payments from the State of Illinois, or other revenues or receipts of the University, also known as anticipated moneys. The borrowing limit shall be capped at 100% of the total amount of payroll and other expense vouchers submitted and payable to the University for fiscal year 2010 expenses, but unpaid by the State Comptroller's office. Prior to borrowing any funds, the University shall request from the Comptroller's office a verification of the borrowing limit and shall include the estimated date on which such borrowing shall occur. The borrowing limit cap shall be verified by the State Comptroller's office not prior to 45 days before any estimated date for executing any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13). The principal amount borrowed under a promissory note or line of credit shall not exceed 75% of the borrowing limit. Within 15 days after borrowing funds under any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13), the University shall submit to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate an Emergency Short Term Cash Management Plan. The Emergency Short Term Cash Management Plan shall outline the amount borrowed, the terms for repayment, the amount of outstanding State vouchers as verified by the State Comptroller's office, and the University's plan for expenditure of any borrowed funds, including, but not limited to, a detailed plan to meet payroll obligations for all collective bargaining employees, civil service employees, and academic, research, and health care personnel. The establishment of any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13) must be finalized within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. The borrowed moneys shall be applied to the purposes of paying salaries and other expenses lawfully authorized in the University's State appropriation and unpaid by the State Comptroller. Any line of credit established under this item (13) shall be paid in full one year after creation or on such date as the University receives reimbursement from the State for all submitted fiscal year 2010 vouchers, whichever is earlier. Any promissory note established under this item (13) shall be repaid within one year after issuance of the note. The Chairman, Comptroller, or Treasurer of the Board shall execute a promissory note or similar debt instrument to evidence the indebtedness incurred by the borrowing. In connection with a borrowing, the Board may establish a line of credit with a financial institution, investment bank, or broker/dealer. The obligation to make the payments due under any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13) shall be a lawful obligation of the University payable from the anticipated moneys. Any borrowing under this item (13) shall not constitute a debt, legal or moral, of the State and shall not be enforceable against the State. The line of credit shall be authorized by a resolution passed by the Board and shall be valid whether or not a budgeted item with respect to that resolution is included in any annual or supplemental budget adopted by the Board. The resolution shall set forth facts demonstrating the need for the borrowing, state an amount that the amount to be borrowed will not exceed, and establish a maximum interest rate limit not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act or 9%, whichever is less. The resolution may direct the Comptroller or Treasurer of the Board to make arrangements to set apart and hold the portion of the anticipated moneys, as received, that shall be used to repay the borrowing, subject to any prior pledges or restrictions with respect to the anticipated moneys. The resolution may also authorize the Treasurer of the Board to make partial repayments of the borrowing as the anticipated moneys become available and may contain any other terms, restrictions, or limitations not inconsistent with the powers of the Board.

For the purposes of this item (13), "financial institution" means any bank subject to the Illinois Banking Act, any savings and loan association subject to the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, and any federally chartered commercial bank or savings and loan association or government-sponsored enterprise organized and operated in this State pursuant to the laws of the United States.

(Source: P.A. 96-909, eff. 6-8-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-50)

Sec. 15-50. Illinois coal. The Board shall comply with the provisions of the Illinois Mined Coal Act.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-55)

Sec. 15-55. Smoke detection. The Board shall, by January 1, 1997, submit to the office of the State Fire Marshal the plans for its smoke detection system in all University dormitory corridors and the connection of that system to a monitor panel and to a central fire alarm system.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-60)

Sec. 15-60. Police Department; liability insurance.

(a) The Board shall provide each member of the Governors State University Police Department without cost to him or her public liability insurance covering him or her for any liability which arises out of his or her employment to the extent of the insurance policy limits which shall be not less than $50,000.

(b) The Board shall have power to insure the Board, Governors State University and its branches under Board jurisdiction, Board members, paid and unpaid employees of the Board, and any students, volunteer workers, visiting faculty and professionals who are agents of the Board in the performance or delivery of its programs or services against claims, damages, losses, expenses and civil suits arising out of statements, acts or omissions in the discharge of their duties, which statements, acts or omissions do not involve intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons; and to insure against losses to real and personal property owned by the Board or in the actual or constructive custody of the Board and for loss of income from such real and personal property. The Board shall have power to defend, hold harmless and indemnify, in whole or in part, all persons as to whom any such insurance is provided. Pursuant to its power to insure, the Board may establish and accumulate reserves for payment of such claims, damages, losses, expenses and civil suit awards or obtain insurance affording coverage for such matters. Reserves established by the Board for the foregoing purpose shall be subject to the following conditions:

(1) The amount of such reserves shall not exceed the amount necessary and proper, based on past experience or independent actuarial determinations;

(2) All earnings derived from such reserves shall be considered part of the reserves and may be used only for the same purposes for which the reserves may be used;

(3) Reserves may be used only for the purposes of making payments for civil suits, claims, damages, losses and expenses, including attorneys fees, claims investigation costs and actuarial studies associated with liabilities arising out of statements, acts or omissions of individuals in the discharge of their duties, which statements, acts or omissions do not involve intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such individuals, for payment of insurance premiums, and for the purposes of making payments for losses resulting from any insured peril;

(4) All funds collected for the purposes specified in paragraph (3) or earmarked for such purposes must be placed in the reserves;

(5) Whenever the reserves have a balance in excess of what is necessary and proper, then contributions, charges, assessments or other forms of funding for the reserves shall be appropriately decreased.

(c) As to all claims, damages, losses, expenses and civil suits covered by insurance provided by the Board or as to which the Board has not provided insurance, to the extent permitted by law, sovereign immunity shall apply and recourse shall be limited to the Court of Claims.

(d) When permitted by law to enter into an agreement with any unit of government, institution of higher education, person, or corporation for the use of property or the performance of any function, service or act, the Board may agree to the sharing or allocation of liabilities and damages resulting from such use of property or performance of any function, service or act. Such agreement may provide for contribution or indemnification by any or all of the parties to the agreement upon any liability arising out of the performance of the agreement.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-65)

Sec. 15-65. Recruiting access.

(a) If the Board has provided access to any campus under its jurisdiction to persons or groups whose purpose is to make students aware of educational or occupational options, the Board shall provide, on an equal basis, access to the official recruiting representatives of the armed forces of Illinois and the United States for the purpose of informing students of educational and career opportunities available to them in the military. The Board is not required to give greater notice regarding the right of access to recruiting representatives than is given to other persons and groups.

(b) The Board shall not bar or exclude from the curriculum, campus, or school facilities of Governors State University any armed forces training program or organization operated under the authority of the United States government because the program or organization complies with rules, regulations, or policies of the United States government or any agency, branch, or department thereof.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-70)

Sec. 15-70. English language proficiency. The Board shall at all times maintain in effect a program to assess the oral English language proficiency of all persons providing classroom instruction to students at each campus under the jurisdiction, governance or supervision of the Board, and shall ensure that each person who is not orally proficient in the English language attain such proficiency prior to providing any classroom instruction to students. The program required by this Section shall be fully implemented to ensure the oral English language proficiency of all classroom instructors at each campus under the jurisdiction, governance or supervision of the Board. Any other provisions of this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, nothing in this Section shall be deemed or construed to apply to, or to require such oral English language proficiency of any person who provides classroom instruction to students in foreign language courses only.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-75)

Sec. 15-75. Engineering facilities. The Board is authorized to construct engineering facilities with funds appropriated for that purpose from the Build Illinois Bond Fund.

(Source: P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-80)

Sec. 15-80. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96. Repealed by P.A. 98-742, eff. 7-16-14.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-85)

Sec. 15-85. Admissions.

(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the Governors State University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or agricultural sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which may be deemed to include American Sign Language), music, career and technical education, agricultural education, or art;

(2) except that Governors State University may admit individual applicants if it determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and technical education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Governors State University shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (a).

(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as a prerequisite to admission.

(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an application for admission to the University as a freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The University may request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.

(e) Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the University shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the University's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the University's transfer admissions process. The University is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. The University shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the University's Internet website.

(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22; 103-936, eff. 8-9-24.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-88)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-876)

Sec. 15-88. In-state tuition charge.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for tuition purposes, the Board shall deem an individual an Illinois resident, until the individual establishes a residence outside of this State, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The individual resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State.

(2) The individual graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State.

(3) The individual attended school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date the individual graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.

(4) The individual registers as an entering student in the University not earlier than the 2003 fall semester.

(5) In the case of an individual who is not a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, the individual provides the University with an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so.

This subsection (a) applies only to tuition for a term or semester that begins on or after May 20, 2003 (the effective date of Public Act 93-7). Any revenue lost by the University in implementing this subsection (a) shall be absorbed by the University Income Fund.

(b) If a person is on active military duty and stationed in Illinois, then the Board shall deem that person and any of his or her dependents Illinois residents for tuition purposes. Beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year, if a person is on active military duty and is stationed out of State, but he or she was stationed in this State for at least 3 years immediately prior to being reassigned out of State, then the Board shall deem that person and any of his or her dependents Illinois residents for tuition purposes, as long as that person or his or her dependent (i) applies for admission to the University within 18 months of the person on active military duty being reassigned or (ii) remains continuously enrolled at the University. Beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year, if a person is utilizing benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or any subsequent variation of that Act, then the Board shall deem that person an Illinois resident for tuition purposes. Beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year, if a person is utilizing benefits under the federal All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program, then the Board shall deem that person an Illinois resident for tuition purposes. Beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, per the federal requirements for maintaining approval for veterans' education benefits under 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), if a person is on active military duty or is receiving veterans' education benefits, then the Board of Trustees shall deem that person an Illinois resident for tuition purposes for any academic quarter, semester, or term, as applicable.

(Source: P.A. 101-424, eff. 8-16-19.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-876)

Sec. 15-88. In-state tuition charge.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for tuition purposes until July 1, 2026, the Board shall deem an individual an Illinois resident, until the individual establishes a residence outside of this State, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The individual resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State.

(2) The individual graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State.

(3) The individual attended school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date the individual graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.

(4) The individual registers as an entering student in the University not earlier than the 2003 fall semester.

(5) In the case of an individual who is not a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, the individual provides the University with an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so.

This subsection (a) applies only to tuition for a term or semester that begins on or after May 20, 2003 (the effective date of Public Act 93-7) but before July 1, 2026. Any revenue lost by the University in implementing this subsection (a) shall be absorbed by the University Income Fund.

(a-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning July 1, 2026, an individual, other than an individual who has a non-immigrant alien status that precludes an intent to permanently reside in the United States under subsection (a) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, shall be charged tuition by the Board at the same rate as an Illinois resident if the individual meets all of the requirements of either paragraph (1) or (2):

(1) The individual:

(A) attended a public or private high school in this State for at least 2 years before enrolling at the University;

(B) graduated from a public or private high school in this State or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State;

(C) attended high school while residing in this State and has not established residency outside of this State before enrolling at the University; and

(D) agrees to swear and affirm to the University that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity if the individual is eligible to do so and is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

(2) The individual:

(A) attended any of the following for at least 2 years and attended for a cumulative total of at least 3 years before enrolling at the University:

(i) a public or private high school in this State;

(ii) a public community college in a community college district organized under the Public Community College Act; or

(iii) a combination of those educational institutions set forth in subdivisions (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph (A);

(B) has at the time of enrollment:

(i) graduated from a public or private high school in this State or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State; and

(ii) earned an associate degree from or completed at least 60 credit hours of graded, transferable coursework at a public community college in a community college district organized under the Public Community College Act;

(C) attended an educational institution set forth in subdivision (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (2) while residing in this State and has not established residency outside of this State before enrolling at the University; and

(D) agrees to swear and affirm to the University that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity if the individual is eligible to do so and is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

(b) If a person is on active military duty and stationed in Illinois, then the Board shall deem that person and any of his or her dependents Illinois residents for tuition purposes. Beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year, if a person is on active military duty and is stationed out of State, but he or she was stationed in this State for at least 3 years immediately prior to being reassigned out of State, then the Board shall deem that person and any of his or her dependents Illinois residents for tuition purposes, as long as that person or his or her dependent (i) applies for admission to the University within 18 months of the person on active military duty being reassigned or (ii) remains continuously enrolled at the University. Beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year, if a person is utilizing benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or any subsequent variation of that Act, then the Board shall deem that person an Illinois resident for tuition purposes. Beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year, if a person is utilizing benefits under the federal All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program, then the Board shall deem that person an Illinois resident for tuition purposes. Beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, per the federal requirements for maintaining approval for veterans' education benefits under 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), if a person is on active military duty or is receiving veterans' education benefits, then the Board of Trustees shall deem that person an Illinois resident for tuition purposes for any academic quarter, semester, or term, as applicable.

(c) The Board may adopt a policy to implement and administer this Section and may adopt a policy for the classification of in-state residents, for tuition purposes, based on residency in this State.

(d) The General Assembly finds and declares that this Section is a State law within the meaning of subsection (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

(Source: P.A. 103-876, eff. 1-1-25.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-90)

Sec. 15-90. Partial tuition waivers.

(a) As used in this Section, "Illinois college or university" means any of the following: the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.

(b) Each year the Board of Governors State University shall offer 50% tuition waivers for undergraduate education at any campus under its governance to the children of employees of an Illinois college or university who have been employed by any one or by more than one Illinois college or university for an aggregate period of at least 7 years. To be eligible to receive a partial tuition waiver, the child of an employee of an Illinois college or university (i) must be under the age of 25 at the commencement of the academic year during which the partial tuition waiver is to be effective, and (ii) must qualify for admission to Governors State University under the same admissions requirements, standards and policies which Governors State University applies to applicants for admission generally to its respective undergraduate colleges and programs.

(c) Subject to the provisions and limitations of subsection (b), an eligible applicant who has continued to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation may have his or her partial tuition waiver renewed until the time as he or she has expended 4 years of undergraduate partial tuition waiver benefits under this Section.

(d) (Blank).

(e) The Board shall prescribe rules and regulations as are necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-824, eff. 8-13-18.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-91)

Sec. 15-91. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-307, eff. 1-1-96. Repealed by P.A. 100-824, eff. 8-13-18.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-93)

Sec. 15-93. Tuition and fee waiver report. The Board shall report to the Board of Higher Education by September 15 of each year the tuition and fee waivers the University has granted in the previous fiscal year as well as the following information for each tuition and fee waiver program in which the University participates:

(1) Justification of the need for the program.

(2) The program's intended purposes and goals.

(3) The program's eligibility and selection criteria.

(4) The program's cost.

(5) Any benefits resulting from the program.

(Source: P.A. 92-51, eff. 1-1-02.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-95)

Sec. 15-95. Child care services.

(a) For the purposes of this Section, "child care services" means day care home or center services as defined by the Child Care Act of 1969.

(b) The Board may contract for the provision of child care services for its employees. The Board may, in accordance with established rules, allow day care centers to operate in State-owned or leased facilities. Such day care centers shall be primarily for use by State employees of Governors State University but use by non-employees may be allowed.

Where the Board enters into a contract to construct, acquire or lease all or a substantial portion of a building, in which more than 50 persons shall be employed, other than a renewal of an existing lease, and where a need has been demonstrated, according to subsection (c), on-site child care services shall be provided for employees of Governors State University.

The Board shall implement this Section and shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary for this purpose. By September 1, 1996, the Board shall propose rules setting forth the standards and criteria, including need and feasibility, for determining if September child care services shall be provided. The Board shall consult with the Department of Children and Family Services in defining standards for child care service centers established pursuant to this Section to ensure compliance with the Child Care Act of 1969. The Board shall establish a schedule of fees that shall be charged for child care services under this Section. The schedule shall be established so that charges for service are based on the actual cost of care. Except as otherwise provided by law for employees who may qualify for public assistance or social services due to indigency or family circumstance, each employee obtaining child care services under this Section shall be responsible for full payment of all charges. The Board shall report, on or before December 31, 1996, to the Governor and the members of the General Assembly, on the feasibility and implementation of a plan for the provision of comprehensive child care services.

(c) Prior to contracting for child care services, the Board shall determine a need for child care services. Proof of need may include a survey of University employees as well as a determination of the availability of child care services through other State agencies, or in the community. The Board may also require submission of a feasibility, design and implementation plan that takes into consideration similar needs and services of other State universities.

The Board shall have the sole responsibility for choosing the successful bidder and overseeing the operation of its child care service program within the guidelines established by the Board. The Board shall promulgate rules under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act that detail the specific standards to be used in the selection of a vendor of child care services.

The contract shall provide for the establishment of or arrangement for the use of a licensed day care center or a licensed day care agency, as defined in the Child Care Act of 1969.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-100)

Sec. 15-100. Flexible hours positions. The Board is authorized to use flexible hours positions. A flexible hours position is one that does not require an ordinary work schedule and includes but is not limited to: (i) a part-time job of 20 hours or more per week, (ii) a job which is shared by 2 employees, or (iii) a job with a compressed work week consisting of an ordinary number of working hours performed on fewer than the number of days ordinarily required to perform that job. The Board may define flexible hours positions to include other types of jobs than are defined above.

The Board shall establish goals for flexible hours positions to be available at each campus under its governance. The Board shall give technical assistance to each such campuses in achieving its goals, and shall report to the Governor and General Assembly prior to May 1, 1997, on the progress of each institution in achieving its goals.

When a goal of 20% of the positions on a campus being available on a flexible hours basis has been reached, the Board shall evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the program and determine whether to expand the number of positions available for flexible hours.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-105)

Sec. 15-105. Fiscal year. The fiscal year of Governors State University shall terminate on the 30th day of June, and all reports of Governors State University, except catalogs and circulars, shall be addressed to the Governor. Annual reports shall contain a full account of the financial and other transactions of Governors State University at the close of the fiscal year, together with a full statement of the then condition of the endowment fund, and shall be presented to the Governor on or before the 15th day of November.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-110)

Sec. 15-110. Limitation. The powers of the Board as designated in this Article are subject to the Board of Higher Education Act.

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

(110 ILCS 670/15-115)

Sec. 15-115. Meningitis vaccine; information. At the beginning of each academic year, the University shall inform each of its incoming freshmen and transfer students about meningitis and its transmission. Any University facility that delivers health services to University students must offer the meningitis vaccine, subject to availability of the vaccine from the manufacturer. Nothing in this Section may be construed to require the University to pay for the cost of vaccination.

(Source: P.A. 92-89, eff. 1-1-02.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-120)

Sec. 15-120. Limitation on tuition increase. This Section applies only to those students who first enroll after the 2003-2004 academic year. For 4 continuous academic years following initial enrollment (or for undergraduate programs that require more than 4 years to complete, for the normal time to complete the program, as determined by the University), the tuition charged an undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident shall not exceed the amount that the student was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University. However, if the student changes majors during this time period, the tuition charged the student shall equal the amount the student would have been charged had he or she been admitted to the changed major when he or she first enrolled. An undergraduate student who is an Illinois resident and who has for 4 continuous academic years been charged no more than the tuition amount that he or she was charged at the time he or she first enrolled in the University shall be charged tuition not to exceed the amount the University charged students who first enrolled in the University for the academic year following the academic year the student first enrolled in the University for a maximum of 2 additional continuous academic years.

(Source: P.A. 96-1293, eff. 7-26-10.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-125)

Sec. 15-125. Provision of student and social security information prohibited.

(a) The University, including its agents, employees, student or alumni organizations, or any affiliates, may not provide a student's name, address, telephone number, social security number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information to a business organization or financial institution that issues credit or debit cards, unless the student is 21 years of age or older. This prohibition does not apply to service providers of the University that (i) assist the University in the electronic disbursement of refunds, including, but not limited to, financial aid refunds, and (ii) do not provide loan or credit services.

(b) The University may not print an individual's social security number on any card or other document required for the individual to access products or services provided by the University.

(Source: P.A. 96-261, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1391, eff. 7-29-10.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-130)

Sec. 15-130. Students called to active military service. The University shall allow a currently enrolled student who is called to active military service to complete any unfinished courses at a later date at no additional charge, unless course credit has already been given or the student received a full refund upon withdrawing from the course (in which case the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service). The student must be given priority over other students in reenrolling in the course or courses. The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-587, eff. 8-15-05.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-135)

Sec. 15-135. Sexual assault awareness education. The University shall provide some form of sexual assault awareness education to all incoming students, whether through a seminar, online training, or some other way of informing students.

(Source: P.A. 95-764, eff. 1-1-09.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-140)

Sec. 15-140. Buildings available for emergency purposes. The Board shall make mutually agreed buildings of the university available for emergency purposes, upon the request of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the State-accredited emergency management agency with jurisdiction, or the American Red Cross, and cooperate in all matters with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, local emergency management agencies, State-certified, local public health departments, the American Red Cross, and federal agencies concerned with emergency preparedness and response.

(Source: P.A. 96-57, eff. 7-23-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-145)

Sec. 15-145. Veterans' Day; moment of silence. If the University holds any type of event at the University on November 11, Veterans' Day, the Board shall require a moment of silence at that event to recognize Veterans' Day.

(Source: P.A. 96-84, eff. 7-27-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-150)

Sec. 15-150. Faculty and staff contact with public officials. All faculty and staff members of the University are free to communicate their views on any matter of private or public concern to any member of the legislative, executive, or judicial branch of government, State or federal, without notice to or prior approval of the University, so long as they do not represent that they are speaking for or on behalf of the University.

(Source: P.A. 96-147, eff. 8-7-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-155)

Sec. 15-155. Faculty and staff political displays. The University may not prohibit any faculty or staff member from (i) displaying political buttons, stickers, or patches while on University property, provided that such display by any member of the faculty in an instructional setting is for a purpose relevant to the subject of instruction; (ii) attending a partisan political rally, provided that the employee is not on duty; or (iii) displaying a partisan bumper sticker on his or her motor vehicle.

(Source: P.A. 96-148, eff. 8-7-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-160)

Sec. 15-160. Disability history and awareness. The University may conduct and promote activities that provide education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement.

(Source: P.A. 96-191, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-165)

Sec. 15-165. Administrator and faculty salary and benefits; report. The Board of Trustees shall report to the Board of Higher Education, on or before August 1 of each year, the base salary and benefits of the president of the university and all administrators, faculty members, and instructors employed by the university from the prior fiscal year. For the purposes of this Section, "benefits" includes without limitation vacation days, sick days, bonuses, annuities, and retirement enhancements.

(Source: P.A. 103-616, eff. 7-1-24.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-170)

Sec. 15-170. American Sign Language courses. The University may award academic credit for the successful completion of any American Sign Language course offered or approved by the University, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the University, except for those requirements related to the content of a student's academic major.

(Source: P.A. 96-843, eff. 6-1-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-175)

Sec. 15-175. Search firm prohibition. Charges for the services of an external hiring search firm may not be paid from any source of funds, except (i) in the hiring of the President of the University or (ii) in the case of when the President of the University and the Board demonstrate a justifiable need for guidance from an individual or firm with specific expertise in the field of the hiring. The University shall implement a policy under this Section, including qualifying criteria, within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 97-814, eff. 1-1-13.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-180)

Sec. 15-180. Priority enrollment; service member or veteran.

(a) For the purposes of this Section:

"Service member" means a resident of this State who is a member of any component of the U.S. Armed Forces, including any reserve component, or the National Guard of any state, the District of Columbia, a commonwealth, or a territory of the United States and who is eligible to receive military educational benefits.

"Veteran" means a resident of this State who was a service member and who has received an honorable discharge, a general discharge, or an other than honorable discharge.

(b) The Board shall give the earliest possible enrollment opportunity that the University offers to a service member or veteran.

(c) The priority enrollment provided pursuant to this Section shall apply to enrollment for all degree and certificate programs offered by the University after the student's eligibility to receive benefits has been verified by the University.

(Source: P.A. 98-316, eff. 1-1-14.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-185)

Sec. 15-185. Employment contract limitations. This Section applies to the employment contracts of the president or all chancellors of the University entered into, amended, renewed, or extended after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly. This Section does not apply to collective bargaining agreements. With respect to employment contracts entered into with the president or all chancellors of the University:

(1) Severance under the contract may not exceed one year salary and applicable benefits.

(2) A contract with a determinate start and end date may not exceed 4 years.

(3) The contract may not include any automatic rollover clauses.

(4) Severance payments or contract buyouts may be placed in an escrow account if there are pending criminal charges against the president or all chancellors of the University related to their employment.

(5) Final action on the formation, renewal, extension, or termination of the employment contracts of the president or all chancellors of the University must be made during an open meeting of the Board.

(6) Public notice, compliant with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, must be given prior to final action on the formation, renewal, extension, or termination of the employment contracts of the president or all chancellors of the University and must include a copy of the Board item or other documentation providing, at a minimum, a description of the proposed principal financial components of the president's or all chancellors' appointments.

(7) Any performance-based bonus or incentive-based compensation to the president or all chancellors of the University must be approved by the Board in an open meeting. The performance upon which the bonus is based must be made available to the public no less than 48 hours before Board approval of the performance-based bonus or incentive-based compensation.

(8) Board minutes, board packets, and annual performance reviews concerning the president or all chancellors of the University must be made available to the public on the University's Internet website.

(Source: P.A. 99-694, eff. 1-1-17.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-190)

Sec. 15-190. Executive accountability. The Board must complete an annual performance review of the president and any chancellors of the University. Such annual performance review must be considered when the Board contemplates a bonus, incentive-based compensation, raise, or severance agreement for the president or all chancellors of the University.

(Source: P.A. 99-694, eff. 1-1-17.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-195)

Sec. 15-195. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a course studying the events of Black History, including the history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include not only the contributions made by individual African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities, and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political development of the United States and Africa, but also the socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.

The University may meet the requirements of this Section by offering an online course.

(Source: P.A. 100-634, eff. 1-1-19.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-200)

Sec. 15-200. Mental health resources. For the 2020-2021 academic year and for each academic year thereafter, the University must make available to its students information on all mental health and suicide prevention resources available at the University.

(Source: P.A. 101-217, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-205)

Sec. 15-205. Competency-based learning program; notice. If the University offers a competency-based learning program, it must notify a student if he or she becomes eligible for the program.

(Source: P.A. 101-271, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-210)

Sec. 15-210. Modification of athletic or team uniform permitted.

(a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion or his or her cultural values or modesty preferences. The modification of the athletic or team uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is responsible for all costs associated with the modification of the uniform and the student shall not be required to receive prior approval from the Board for such modification. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the University from providing the modification to the student.

(b) At a minimum, any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:

(1) is black, white, the predominant color of the uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;

(2) does not cover any part of the face;

(3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other players;

(4) has no opening or closing elements around the face and neck; and

(5) has no parts extruding from its surface.

(Source: P.A. 102-51, eff. 7-9-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-212)

Sec. 15-212. Academic major report. The Board shall provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student declares or changes his or her academic major or program of study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and accurate data related to the student's major or program of study and to the current occupational outlook associated with that major or program of study. The report shall provide the student with all of the following information:

(1) The estimated cost of his or her education associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program of study.

(2) The average monthly student loan payment over a period of 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or her education under paragraph (1).

(3) The average job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of study.

(4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an occupation related to that major or program of study.

(5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry into an occupation under paragraph (4).

(Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-220)

Sec. 15-220. Availability of menstrual hygiene products.

(a) In this Section, "menstrual hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.

(b) The Board shall make menstrual hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in the bathrooms of facilities or portions of facilities that (i) are owned or leased by the Board or over which the Board has care, custody, and control and (ii) are used for student instruction or administrative purposes.

(Source: P.A. 102-250, eff. 8-5-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-225)

Sec. 15-225. Adjunct professor; status of class.

(a) At least 30 days before the beginning of a term and again at 14 days before the beginning of the term, the Board must notify an adjunct professor about the status of enrollment of the class the adjunct professor was hired to teach.

(b) This Section does not apply if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency or a natural disaster pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(c) Collective bargaining agreements that are in effect on January 1, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-260) are exempt from the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-260, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-230)

Sec. 15-230. Family and medical leave coverage. A University employee who has been employed by the University for at least 12 months and who has worked at least 1,000 hours in the previous 12-month period shall be eligible for family and medical leave under the same terms and conditions as leave provided to eligible employees under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

(Source: P.A. 102-335, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-235)

Sec. 15-235. Undocumented Student Liaison; Undocumented Student Resource Center.

(a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, the Board shall designate an employee as an Undocumented Student Resource Liaison to be available on campus to provide assistance to undocumented students and mixed status students within the United States in streamlining access to financial aid and academic support to successfully matriculate to degree completion. The Undocumented Student Liaison shall provide assistance to vocational students, undergraduate students, graduate students, and professional-track students. An employee who is designated as an Undocumented Student Liaison must be knowledgeable about current legislation and policy changes through professional development with the Illinois Dream Fund Commission to provide the wrap-around services to such students. The Illinois Dream Fund Commission shall conduct professional development under this Section. The Illinois Dream Fund Commission's task force on immigration issues and the Undocumented Student Liaison shall ensure that undocumented immigrants and students from mixed status households receive equitable and inclusive access to the University's retention and matriculation programs.

The Board shall ensure that an Undocumented Student Liaison is available at each campus of the University. The Undocumented Student Liaison must be placed in a location that provides direct access for students in collaboration with the retention and matriculation programs of the University. The Undocumented Student Liaison shall report directly to senior leadership and shall assist leadership with the review of policies and procedures that directly affect undocumented and mixed status students.

An Undocumented Student Liaison may work on outreach efforts to provide access to resources and support within the grade P-20 education pipeline by supporting summer enrichment programs and pipeline options for students in any of grades 9 through 12.

(b) The Board is encouraged to establish an Undocumented Student Resource Center on each of its campuses. An Undocumented Student Resource Center may offer support services, including, but not limited to, State and private financial assistance, academic and career counseling, and retention and matriculation support services, as well as mental health counseling options because the changing immigration climate impacts a student's overall well-being and success.

An Undocumented Student Resource Center may be housed within an existing student service center or academic center, and the new construction of an Undocumented Student Resource Center is not required under this Section.

The Board may seek and accept any financial support through institutional advancement, private gifts, or donations to aid in the creation and operation of and the services provided by an Undocumented Student Resource Center.

(Source: P.A. 102-475, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-240)

Sec. 15-240. Personal support worker's attendance in class permitted. If a student of the University has a personal support worker through the Home-Based Support Services Program for Adults with Mental Disabilities under the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act, the Board must permit the personal support worker to attend class with the student but is not responsible for providing or paying for the personal support worker. If the personal support worker's attendance in class is solely to provide personal support services to the student, the Board may not charge the personal support worker tuition and fees for such attendance.

(Source: P.A. 102-568, eff. 8-23-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-245)

Sec. 15-245. Benefits navigator.

(a) In this Section:

"Benefits navigator" means an individual who is designated by the University for the purpose of helping students at the University determine eligibility for benefit programs and identify campuswide and community resource support.

"Benefit program" means any federal, State, or local program that provides assistance or benefits to individuals on the basis of need.

(b) The University shall:

(1) designate a benefits navigator who has a detailed understanding of eligibility requirements for benefit programs and campuswide and community resource support;

(2) provide training for the benefits navigator; and

(3) participate in a statewide consortium with other public institutions of higher education, facilitated by the Board of Higher Education, for the purpose of facilitating communication between benefits navigators at different institutions and developing best practices for benefits navigators.

(c) The benefits navigator designated under this Section shall:

(1) assist students at the University in determining eligibility for benefit programs and identifying campuswide and community resource support;

(2) use the consortium under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of this Section to coordinate with benefits navigators at other public institutions of higher education for the purpose of collecting data and developing best practices for helping students apply for and receive assistance from benefit programs; and

(3) coordinate and provide culturally specific resources, including resources for non-English speakers, to support students at the University.

(d) The University, in consultation with the benefits navigator designated under this Section, shall develop an internal process to enable students at the University to provide feedback and recommendations on how the University can better assist students in determining eligibility for benefit programs and applying for assistance under benefit programs.

(Source: P.A. 102-1045, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-255)

Sec. 15-255. COVID-19 sick leave. For purposes of this Section, "employee" means a person employed by the University on or after April 5, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-697).

Any sick leave used by an employee of the University during the 2021-2022 academic year shall be returned to an employee of the University who receives all doses required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined in Section 15-260 of this Law, if:

(1) the sick leave was taken because the employee was restricted from being on University property because the employee:

(A) had a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19;

(B) had a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test;

(C) was in close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 and was required to be excluded from the University; or

(D) was required by the University to be excluded from University property due to COVID-19 symptoms; or

(2) the sick leave was taken to care for a child of the employee who was unable to attend elementary or secondary school because the child:

(A) had a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19;

(B) had a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test;

(C) was in close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 and was required to be excluded from school; or

(D) was required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms.

Leave shall be returned to an employee pursuant to this Section provided that the employee has received all required doses to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under Section 15-260 of this Law no later than 5 weeks after April 5, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-697).

The University may not rescind any sick leave returned to an employee of the University on the basis of a revision to the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Public Health, provided that the employee received all doses required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined in Section 15-260 of this Law, at the time the sick leave was returned to the employee.

(Source: P.A. 102-697, eff. 4-5-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-260)

Sec. 15-260. COVID-19 paid administrative leave.

(a) In this Section:

"Employee" means a person employed by the University on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

"Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" means:

(1) 2 weeks after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; or

(2) 2 weeks after receiving a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

"Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" also includes any recommended booster doses for which the individual is eligible upon the adoption by the Department of Public Health of any changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" to include any such booster doses. For purposes of this Section, individuals who are eligible for a booster dose but have not received a booster dose by 5 weeks after the Department of Public Health adopts a revised definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" are not considered fully vaccinated for determining eligibility for future paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section.

(b) During any time when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and the University, the State or any of its agencies, or a local public health department has issued guidance, mandates, or rules related to COVID-19 that restrict an employee of the University from being on University property because the employee (i) has a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19, (ii) has a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test, (iii) has been in close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from the University, or (iv) is required by University policy to be excluded from University property due to COVID-19 symptoms, the employee of the University shall receive as many days of administrative leave as required to abide by the public health guidance, mandates, and requirements issued by the Department of Public Health, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any. Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days for which the employee was required to be excluded from University property prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, provided that the employee receives all doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(c) An employee of the University shall receive paid administrative leave pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any, to care for a child of the employee if the child is unable to attend elementary or secondary school because the child:

(1) has a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19;

(2) has probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test;

(3) was in close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from school; or

(4) was required by school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms.

Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days needed to care for a child of the employee prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, provided that the employee receives the doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(d) An employee of the University who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section must provide all documentation requested by the University.

(e) An employee of the University who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section shall receive the employee's regular rate of pay. The use of a paid administrative leave day or days by an employee pursuant to this Section may not diminish any other leave or benefits of the employee.

(f) An employee of the University may not accrue paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section.

(g) For an employee of the University to be eligible to receive paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section, the employee must:

(1) have received all doses required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19; and

(2) participate in the COVID-19 testing program adopted by the University to the extent such a testing program requires participation by individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

(h) Nothing in this Section is intended to affect any right or remedy under federal law.

(i) No paid administrative leave awarded to or used by a fully vaccinated employee prior to the Department of Public Health's adoption of a revised definition of the term "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" may be rescinded on the basis that the employee no longer meets the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" based on the revised definition.

(Source: P.A. 102-697, eff. 4-5-22.)

(110 ILCS 670/15-265)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-749)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 15-265. Winter weather emergency closure; educational support services pay. If a campus is closed due to a city, county, or State declaration of a winter weather emergency, the Board shall pay to its employees who provide educational support services to the campus, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, building maintenance employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, or administrative staff, their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits rendered for the campus closure if the closure precludes them from performing their regularly scheduled duties and the employee would have reported for work but for the closure; however, this requirement does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid the employee's daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.

(Source: P.A. 103-749, eff. 1-1-25.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 103-1020)

Sec. 15-265. Enrollment reporting.

(a) The Board shall report to the Board of Higher Education by the 15th business day after the start of the academic year all of the following student enrollment data:

(1) The number of students enrolled at the start of the previous academic year.

(2) The number of students enrolled full time at the start of the previous academic year.

(3) The number of students enrolled at the start of the current academic year.

(4) The number of students enrolled full time at the start of the current academic year.

(5) The number of students enrolled in online learning at the start of the previous academic year.

(6) The number of students enrolled in in-person learning at the start of the previous academic year.

(7) The number of students enrolled in online learning at the start of the current academic year.

(8) The number of students enrolled in in-person learning at the start of the current academic year.

(9) The rolling average number of students enrolled over the previous 5 academic years.

(b) The Board of Higher Education shall post the student enrollment data reported under subsection (a) on its Internet website.

(Source: P.A. 103-1020, eff. 8-9-24.)

(110 ILCS 670/Art. 99 heading) ARTICLE 99

(110 ILCS 670/99-1)

Sec. 99-1. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 1995, except that Articles 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26, 30, 31, 35, and 36, Sections 50-5 through 50-60 of Article 50, Section 50-65 except Sec. 6a-4 of Article 50, Section 50-70 through 50-190 of Article 50, Sections 50-200 through 50-215 of Article 50, Section 50-220 except Sec. 12 of Article 50, Section 50-225 except Sec. 14 of Article 50, Sections 50-230 through 50-240 of Article 50, Section 50-245 of Article 50, Sections 60-5 through 60-40 of Article 60, and Sections 60-50 through 60-70 of Article 60 take effect January 1, 1996.

(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 7-1-95; 89-24, eff. 7-1-95.)