Academic Affairs

The ICCB Announces the FY 2020 Transitional English Instruction Pilot Grant Award Recipients

The Academic Affairs division of ICCB provides support and guidance to the colleges in developing and maintaining high demand, high quality and cost-effective academic programs. This division is responsible for the review and approval of instructional programs/courses, distribution and monitoring of federal/state grant funding that supports instructional programming, and providing leadership and technical assistance related to instructional programs and services to the colleges.

Academic Affairs includes the areas of Baccalaureate/Transfer Education, Career & Technical Education, International Education, Remedial Education, and Postsecondary Perkins. Staff in this division represents the Board through involvement in a variety of statewide initiatives and projects such as the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), P-16, College & Career Readiness, Partnership for College & Career Success (PCCS), and the Gender Equity Advisory Committee, as well as working closely with other state agencies whenever possible to provide the community college system with a consistent and coordinated state-level approach to program development and funding.

ICCB Academic Affairs staff are charged with providing state-level leadership and technical assistance related to program/course approval and revision, program review, Perkins & PCCS grant plan development, programs of study development, dual credit, Recognition, and the ICCB Administrative Rules.

Fiscal Year 2023 Status of Developmental Education and College-Level Coursework Placement Policy and Outcomes in the Illinois Community College System (June 30, 2023) – this report provides an overview of each community college’s developmental education and college-level coursework placement policy and the policy’s outcomes. The data is consistent with the Illinois Community College Board’s requirements for data collection and is disaggregated by developmental education course model, by gender, race and ethnicity, and federal Pell Grant status.

The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), as the state coordinating board for community colleges, administers the Public Community College Act in a manner that maximizes the ability of the community colleges to serve their communities. As an integral part of the state’s system of higher education, community colleges are committed to providing high-quality, accessible, cost-effective educational opportunities for the individuals and communities they serve. The ICCB Academic Affairs staff provide guidance and guidance to the colleges in developing and maintaining high demand, high quality and cost-effective academic programs. This division is responsible for the review and approval of instructional programs/courses, distribution and monitoring of federal/state grant funding that supports instructional programming, and providing leadership and technical assistance related to instructional programs and services to the colleges.

Staff are responsible for:

Review and approval of programs, such as AAS and AA degrees and career certificates
Distributing and monitoring federal and state grant funding
Planning and coordinating professional development for colleges through relevant statewide workshops and conferences
Monitoring colleges’ compliance with ICCB Administrative Rules
Providing technical assistance to the colleges on state-level issues and the development of local programs and services
Manage Illinois Articulation Initiative and provide assistance to the college on all transfer related issues and question

Our Partners:

Illinois Board of Higher Education
Illinois State Board of Education
Illinois Community College System Foundation
Illinois Community College Trustees Association
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Office of Community College Research & Leadership

Academic Affairs and Student Success Staff

Marcus Brown
Deputy Director for Academic Affairs and Student Success
217-524-5503
Marcus.Brown@illinois.gov

Mackenzie Montgomery
Director for Student Support
217-557-7119
Mackenzie.Montgomery@illinois.gov

Melvin Harrison
Director for Academic Affairs
217-785-5003
Melvin.Harrsion@illinois.gov

Tricia Broughton
Associate Director for Academic Affairs
217-785-0082
Tricia.Broughton@illinois.gov

Dual Credit

Dual credit is a process, dual credit is a tool, and dual credit is a solution. Dual credit amplifies the usefulness and applicability of the 11th and 12th grades, maximizes state and local educational resources, and provides a platform that fosters secondary and postsecondary collaboration and interdependence. By aligning program content and reducing curricular duplication, dual credit impacts the way educators, students and institutions connect. It builds on the cooperation developed through previous articulation structures and raises interaction to a higher level. Secondary-to-postsecondary program linkages are strengthened and what develops is a truly seamless program that engages faculty at both levels in the structuring, planning, and teaching of a truly integrated program of study.

Dual Credit – An instructional arrangement where an academically qualified student currently enrolled in high school enrolls in a college-level course and, upon successful course completion, concurrently earns both college credit and high school credit (see ICCB Rule 1501.507(b)(11)-Credit Hour Claims).

Dual Credit Administrative Rules

Dual Credit Quality Act

Dual Credit Endorsement for High School Teachers – A Dual Credit Endorsement, as designated in 110 ILCS 27/Dual Credit Quality Act, is an endorsement valid for grades 11-12 to be placed on the Professional Educator License (PEL) at the request of an instructor who meets the appropriate credential standards.

Dual Enrollment – An academically qualified student who is still enrolled in high school also enrolls in a college level course at the community college. Upon successful course completion the student exclusively earns college credit. No high school credits are earned.

Model Partnership Agreement (default agreement)
Based upon mandates in Section 16 of the Dual Credit Quality Act (DCQA), the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois State Board of Education was charged to establish a committee to develop a Model Partnership Agreement (MPA) to serve as a default agreement for local high schools and community colleges as they negotiate dual credit arrangements for students. These MPA provisions are made available in the event that local agreement between a school district and community college cannot be reached. Furthermore, the agreement may be modified / utilized to help formulate existing agreements, and specific portions of the agreement may be used in the event of issue-specific impasses. Community Colleges are still encouraged to continue to develop their own local agreements with their local districts to develop partnerships that benefit the students served by dual credit. The MPA is required only in instances where a local agreement cannot be reached.

The following documents are available below and under “Resources” (to the right) to assist partnerships when a local arrangement cannot be agreed upon.
1. Model Partnership Agreement Form with signed letter
2. Associated Exhibits of the Model Partnership Agreement
3. MPA FAQ document
4. Model Partnership Agreement and Associated Exhibits

For more information, visit the CTE Website.

Recognition

Illinois Articulation Initiative

Statement from Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), & Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) regarding concerns about online labs & speech:

The Coronavirus has created an unprecedented situation which has forced all Illinois public and private colleges and universities to shift to alternative methods of teaching, primarily via 100% online courses, for all or a portion of the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. It has come to our attention that there is concern by IAI participating institutions that online science labs as well as the online version of the oral communications courses (e.g., Speech, Public Speaking, etc.) will not comply with the IAI General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) Communications, GECC Life Sciences, and GECC Physical Sciences panels’ expected course outcomes as reflected in their course descriptors and course approval criteria thus creating a situation in which these courses may be deemed not transferable.

The Illinois Articulation Initiative’s Policies & Procedures Manual does not currently include any language regarding emergency caveats, particularly as it may be applicable to the current health pandemic. Therefore, it is the position of the IBHE, ICCB, and IAI that students’ courses which are completed under these crisis-driven alternative course delivery methods shall be deemed transferable and earn credit as they were originally intended during the Spring 2020 semester. This policy demonstrates the state’s commitment of supporting institutional efforts to reasonably modify learning options as needed in order to provide a mechanism for students to complete their courses this semester.

In 1993 the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Transfer Coordinators of Illinois Colleges and Universities brought together faculty from public and independent, associate and baccalaureate degree-granting institutions across the state to develop the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI). The goal of IAI is to facilitate transfer from one participating college or university to another in order to complete a baccalaureate degree. Three key concepts provided the underlying foundation for IAI:

(1) that “associate and baccalaureate degree-granting institutions are equal partners” in educating college freshmen and sophomores,
(2) that “faculties should take primary responsibility for developing and maintaining program and course articulation,” and
(3) that “institutions are expected to work together to assure that lower-division baccalaureate programs are comparable in scope, quality, and academic rigor.”

The IAI includes a statewide general education package, the IAI General Education Core Curriculum (GECC). Completion of this package fulfills the lower-division general education requirements for any participating institution. In addition, the IAI includes recommendations for students wanting to study in a particular field but are unsure as to where they might complete a baccalaureate degree.

Related Links:

Resources

Postseconday and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act

Public Act 9-674 (previously HB 5729) passed the Illinois House and Senate unanimously in May 2016, and Governor Rauner signed it on July 29, 2016. The bill was presented to the ICCB at the March 18, 2016 board meeting. It creates the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act that sets forth provisions concerning postsecondary career expectations; a competency-based, high school graduation requirements pilot program; transitional mathematics courses; reading and communication transitional competencies; College and Career Pathway Endorsements and State Distinction programs. The bill calls for the development and establishment of a uniform, cooperative system to prepare high school students for college and career readiness and requires intensive and consistent partnership and cooperation between ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE, as well as community colleges, high schools, and local school districts. In particular, the bill requires the development, implementation and support of transitional mathematics courses. Partnerships between school districts, community colleges and universities will promote articulation and transfer agreements of these courses.

The act is made up of 4 components:

It is important to note that the integration of these strategies is the focus, and the PWR Act places learners at the center of the effort. It supports preparation for college and career readiness and requires coordination among school districts, postsecondary education providers, employers, and other private and public organizations.

Manuals

Program Approval | Program Review | Recognition Manual