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HB 5319

COMM COLLEGE-BA DEGREE PROGRAM

104th Regular Session Introduced by Dee Avelar and 55 co-sponsors

Illinois HB 5319 permits community colleges to offer bachelor's degree programs, expanding affordable four-year education access but potentially straining university funding and raising quality concerns.

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Rick Ryan
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Bill Summary · HB 5319

Legislative bill overview

HB 5319 authorizes Illinois community colleges to offer Bachelor's degree programs in addition to their traditional associate degree offerings. This represents a significant expansion of the educational mission for community colleges, allowing them to compete more directly with four-year institutions in certain fields of study.

Why is this important

Community colleges serve a critical role in making higher education accessible and affordable to working-class and first-generation students. Enabling them to offer bachelor's degrees could reduce costs for students seeking four-year degrees, increase degree completion rates by eliminating transfer barriers, and allow institutions to respond to local workforce needs more directly. However, this also represents a structural shift in Illinois higher education that affects universities, workforce development, and state funding priorities.

Potential points of contention

  • Impact on four-year universities: Universities may view this as direct competition for enrollment and state funding, potentially threatening their viability and degree program diversity
  • Quality and accreditation concerns: Questions about whether community colleges have adequate faculty credentials, facilities, and resources to deliver bachelor's-level education consistently
  • Scope limitations: Disagreement over which degree programs should be allowed (workforce-focused vs. liberal arts) and whether this should be unlimited or restricted to specific fields
  • Funding implications: Unclear whether this expands state education budgets or requires reallocation from existing higher education funding streams

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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