SB2234 Summary

• Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish a uniform online "Common App" admission process for all public universities, with rejected applicants automatically referred to matching institutions or community colleges.

• Guarantees admission to a public university for any Illinois high school student with a 3.0 or higher GPA (on 4.0 scale), with high schools required to provide time and guidance for students to complete applications.

• Directs the Board to conduct a comprehensive study ranking academic programs at each university campus, identifying duplications and inefficiencies, and designate "Higher Education Strategic Centers of Excellence" within 18 months.

• Requires the Board to approve all new academic programs and expansions based on unmet regional needs, market demand analysis, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with designated centers of excellence.

• Mandates studies on merit-based financial aid programs (report by January 1, 2019) and multi-year budgeting concepts (report by January 1, 2019) to improve planning and fiscal stability.