CHICAGO—The Illinois Board of Higher Education Tuesday unanimously voted to make stricter admission requirements to Illinois universities mandatory.

The new 15-unit course requirements will take effect in fall 1990, which was the IBHE’s original 1985 decision.

The IBHE staff recommended that the board make the 15-unit requirements advisory in response to opposition by students, secondary school districts and Illinois legislators.

As a result of Tuesday’s IBHE actions, students applying for admission to Illinois public colleges in fall 1990 must have completed four years of English, three years each of social studies, mathematics and science and two years of electives in a foreign language, music or art while in high school.

The IBHE was expected to vote on a resolution to make the requirements advisory; however, IBHE Chairman William Browder motioned for the board to vote on maintaining its earlier position.

NIU President John LaTourette said, “It would appear to be a step backwards if the Board of Higher Education did not continue with the mandatory requirements.”

Board of Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves said, “There is certainly a role for mandatory requirements and uniform requirements. But that doesn’t say exactly what set of requirements or the total number of such requirements.”

Browder said the requirements should be mandatory. “A large number of students who desire to enter higher education are not prepared to do so” because they have not taken the necessary courses while in secondary schools, he said.

The issue of admission requirements has not been settled with the board’s decision, Browder said. “Much remains to be done.”

Groves said he is “encouraged” that IBHE members displayed a willingness to discuss the linkage between the required courses and preparation for college.

David Bardack, IBHE faculty advisory committee chairman, said the committee has a “strong support for current policy.”

Bardack said the committee understands that some school districts have economic problems. He suggested that secondary schools and colleges discuss innovative ways to overcome the problem. One solution to the problem would be to have collegiate faculty teach some classes at secondary schools, he said.

Abdul-Rasheed Akbar, IBHE student advisory committee chairman, said the committee supported the staff’s recommendation to make the requirements advisory.

Representatives from Illinois community colleges and secondary schools also oppose the mandatory requirements. One argument presented was that the stricter requirements would limit high school students to taking less than one elective per year. As a result, enrollment in music and art classes would decrease.

David Pierce, who attended the meeting as a representative of community colleges, suggested that the board make 11 or 12 of the requirements mandatory and three or four of them advisory. He said this would open up flexibility and would make it easier to deal with the diverse population of community colleges.