HB2663 Summary

• Amends the Private College Act and Academic Degree Act to allow religious institutions to file annual applications with the Board of Higher Education for exemption from educational requirements, standards, and administrative rules.

• Defines "religious institution" as Illinois tax-exempt, post-secondary institutions dedicated to religious education and exclusively engaged in providing religious instruction or preparation for religious vocations.

• Requires exempt institutions to pay a $1,000 application fee and comply with specific conditions including: use only "college" (not "university") in name, grant only religiously-titled degrees, use no federal or state funds, and include prominent disclaimers that they are not Board-authorized and not regionally accredited.

• Mandates that exempt institutions include specific warning statements in all promotional and enrollment materials disclosing their exempt status and that credentials are unlikely to be recognized by employers, accredited institutions, or licensing bodies.

• Requires students to sign affidavits confirming they are not using federal or state educational loan funds and to sign Board-provided enrollment agreements outlining student complaint procedures.