HIGHER ED CENTERS EXCELLENCE

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish a uniform admission process online, which must be used at all public institutions of higher education; sets forth what components this admission process must include. Requires the Board (i) to ensure that any high school student in this State with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent on a 5.0 scale) receives access to the opportunity of higher education and (ii) to guarantee admission to a public university; requires cooperation by the State Board of Education, high schools, and public universities. Requires the Board to conduct a study of the academic programs offered at each public university campus. Sets forth the Board's duties concerning the study. Requires the Board to use the results of the study and other specified factors to determine which academic programs should be prioritized at campuses of public universities and to create and designate Higher Education Strategic Centers of Excellence. Requires the Board to work with the Illinois Community College Board to develop recommendations to integrate community colleges into this plan. Sets forth additional Board of Higher Education duties concerning evaluating programmatic expansions and new programs and studying student financial aid and multi-year budgeting. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities to make conforming changes.