Higher Education

SB 3632 repeals the Surgical Institute for Children Act, removing a specific law from Illinois state code (325 ILCS 60). This bill directly affects the legal framework governing the Surgical Institute for Children by eliminating its statutory basis. As a procedural repeal, it does not create new policy or impact current services, but formally removes the referenced law from the books. The bill is currently progressing through Illinois legislative committee and floor processes.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile and make available to the public a report that contains the following information for all institutions of higher learning: (1) the number of credit hours taught by full-time faculty, organized by institution, tenure status, degree, and certificate program; and (2) the number of credit hours taught by part-time faculty, organized by institution, degree, and certificate program.

Amends the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall develop a policy to foster the reverse transfer of credit for any student who has accumulated at least 30 (rather than 15) hours of academic credit at a community college and a sufficient number of hours of academic credit at a State university in the prescribed courses necessary to meet a community college's requirements to be awarded an associate degree. Provides that each State university shall automatically notify any transfer student accepted to the State university with at least 30 hours of academic credit at a community college of the option for the reverse transfer of credit within the student's first term of enrollment. Provides that a community college shall provide notification to a student wishing to reverse transfer earned academic credit with instructions on application for conferral of an associate degree. Provides that a community college or State university may not charge an application, transfer evaluation, or graduation fee or any other fee associated with conferral of an associate degree through reverse transfer. Provides that a community college shall include each student awarded an associate degree through reverse transfer within its student information system. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois to make changes concerning in-state tuition to remove a condition concerning attending high school or a community college while residing in this State and not having established residency outside of this State before enrolling in the public university. Amends the Public Community College Act to change specified conditions under which the board of trustees of a community college district is required to deem an individual an Illinois resident. Effective immediately.

Declares May 29, 2026 as 529 College Savings Day in the State of Illinois to help raise awareness about the escalating costs of higher education and the importance of saving for college with the help of Illinois 529 College Savings Plans.