Gov. Pritzker Signs Bills Tackling College Access and Affordability

Introduction to the New Laws

Students in Illinois with high enough grades will be able to automatically qualify for admission into state universities under a new law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker. The governor Monday signed four bills aimed at increasing college access and affordability. Among them was HB 3522, which creates a public university direct admissions program. Under the program, public universities and community colleges will offer admission directly to Illinois students based on their grade point average.

Details of the Direct Admissions Program

“In order to ensure that every student of every background in every corner of our state gets the education they deserve, we need to leave no stone unturned and no barrier unbroken,” Pritzker said at a Chicago bill signing. “These bills streamline the application process for college-bound seniors in Illinois, enhance support for applicants, and open up new horizons for prospective students.” The program will begin in the 2027-28 school year. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission will gather information from students who opt-in during their junior year and determine which universities they qualify for admission. Students will receive one message with all their school offers.

Participating Schools

The following schools are participating in the direct admission program: the University of Illinois Springfield, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University. “This new statewide direct admissions program will make a college degree more accessible for students and will motivate them to continue in their life-changing college journey by ensuring them a spot at their community college or at one of the state’s public universities,” said Ginger Ostro, Illinois Board of Higher Education executive director.

Addressing Skepticism and Other Barriers

But there are skeptics of direct admissions policies who say they are not a silver bullet to increase college access and enrollment. A large research study co-authored by former University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Professor Jennifer Delaney found that, while direct admissions increased students’ application rates, it did not increase their likelihood of going to college. The researchers said the increasing cost of attending remains a huge barrier to many students and that direct admissions is not a replacement for financial aid. Students still need to separately apply for financial aid.

Additional Measures for Financial Aid and Dual Credit Courses

One of the other bills signed by Pritzker requires every high school in Illinois to designate at least one member of its staff as a financial aid point of contact for students. The other requires high schools to provide time during the school day for students to get help with or to complete financial aid forms. “For students who know they want to go to college, the process of choosing a college, applying for admission and getting access to financial aid can be both confusing and intimidating,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of the student assistance commission. “We want to help students overcome barriers, and we don’t want a lack of information to be a reason that a student chooses not to go to college.” Another bill signed by the governor amends the Dual Credit Equality Act to require Illinois high schools to work with local community colleges to ensure that the classes they offer in high schools for college credit meet state standards. The bill also “clarifies the academic credentials” required to teach dual credit courses.

Commitment to College Affordability

The governor — who announced last week that he was running for a third term — has singled out college affordability as one of his top policy priorities. It was among the agenda items he mentioned in his second-term inaugural address in 2023. In Illinois, state funding for higher education dropped by nearly 40% since 2000 according to the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, while public university tuition has increased 121% in the same time period.

Conclusion

The signing of these bills marks a significant step towards making college more accessible and affordable for students in Illinois. By streamlining the application process, providing more support for financial aid, and ensuring the quality of dual credit courses, the state aims to remove barriers that might prevent students from pursuing higher education. While there are still challenges to address, particularly regarding the cost of attending college, these measures are designed to motivate students to continue their educational journey.

FAQs

• Q: What is the direct admissions program, and how does it work?
  • A: The direct admissions program allows students with high enough grades to automatically qualify for admission into participating state universities. Students opt-in during their junior year, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission determines which universities they qualify for based on their GPA.
• Q: Which schools are participating in the direct admissions program?
  • A: Participating schools include the University of Illinois Springfield, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.
• Q: What other measures are being taken to support students?
  • A: In addition to the direct admissions program, measures include requiring high schools to have a financial aid point of contact and to provide time for students to complete financial aid forms, as well as ensuring dual credit courses meet state standards.
• Q: Why is college affordability a priority?
  • A: College affordability is a priority because state funding for higher education has significantly decreased, while tuition costs have substantially increased, making it harder for students to afford college without accumulating significant debt.