IL HB0656

Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 512 (Harper College) may establish a pilot program to offer bachelor's degrees in 2 fields of study, specifically Bachelor of Applied Science Degree programs.

Public universities have right of first refusal to offer the programs on the community college campus or extension site; a 5-person panel (2 local employers, 2 university officials, 1 community college official) determines if disputes over local workforce needs are resolved in the university's favor.

Community college may only proceed with pilot program if panel majority rules that the university's proposed program does not reasonably meet local workforce needs.

Degree programs must have Board of Higher Education approval, require no additional funding from local taxes/state/other community college students, and cannot compete with nearby public universities.

Pilot program expires 4 years after initial offering unless extended by law; community college is prohibited from becoming primarily a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.