(110 ILCS 930/1) (from Ch. 144, par. 2301) Sec. 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Act. (Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2302) Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: "Board" means the Board of Higher Education. "DFI" means the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program of financial assistance to minorities who are traditionally underrepresented as participants in postsecondary education. The program shall assist them in pursuing a graduate or professional degree and shall also assist program graduates to find employment at an Illinois institution of higher education, including a community college, in a faculty or staff position. "Program Board" means the entity created to administer the grant program authorized by this Act. "Qualified institution of higher education" means a qualifying publicly or privately operated educational institution located within Illinois (i) that offers instruction leading toward or prerequisite to an academic or professional degree beyond the baccalaureate degree, excluding theological schools, and (ii) that is authorized to operate in the State of Illinois. "Racial minority" means a person who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States and who is any of the following: (1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person having

origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America, and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).

(2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the

original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam).

(3) Black or African American (a person having

origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa). Terms such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to "Black or African American".

(4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban, Mexican,

Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).

(5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a

person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).

(Source: P.A. 97-396, eff. 1-1-12.)

(110 ILCS 930/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2303) Sec. 3. Composition of the Program Board. The Program Board shall be comprised of 11 members and shall be appointed by the Board of Higher Education. Persons appointed to the Program Board shall include, but need not be limited to, individuals who are in leadership positions in institutions of higher education, including community colleges. Illinois institutions that grant doctoral degrees must have representation on the Program Board. The Board shall assure that racial minorities who are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education programs and activities are members of the Program Board. (Source: P.A. 101-354, eff. 8-9-19.)

(110 ILCS 930/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2304) Sec. 4. Responsibilities of the Program Board. The Program Board shall be responsible for: (a) Establishing policy for administration of the DFI

grant program authorized under this Act, including criteria to promote placement of grant recipients.

(b) Reviewing and approving applications for

participation in the DFI grant program.

(c) Establishing subcommittees or panels as necessary

to review applications and promote student placement.

(d) Reporting annually to the Board on program

outcomes and results, including lists of new and continuing scholarship award recipients by institution, level, and field of study; lists of recipients retained in the program from the previous year; lists of placements of most recent program graduates; a description of institutional efforts to place program graduates; and a description of policy and administrative actions designed to increase placement of grant recipients.

(Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/5) (from Ch. 144, par. 2305) Sec. 5. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 84-785. Repealed by P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2306) Sec. 6. DFI grants. A program of financial assistance is established to implement the policy of encouraging minority students to enroll and complete academic programs at the postbaccalaureate level and to enhance the diversity of faculty and staff of Illinois institutions of higher education. The Board of Higher Education shall provide administrative assistance for the Program Board and shall distribute funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose in accordance with decisions made by the Program Board. (Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 2307) Sec. 7. Eligibility for DFI grants. An individual is eligible for an award under the provisions of this Act when the Program Board finds: (a) That the individual is a resident of this State

and a citizen or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States;

(b) That the individual is a member of a racial

minority as defined under the terms of this Act;

(c) That the individual has earned any educational

diploma at an institution of education located in this State, or is a resident of the State for no less than three years prior to applying for the grant, and the individual must hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher learning;

(d) That the individual's financial resources are

such that, in the absence of a DFI grant, the individual will be prevented from pursuing a graduate or professional degree at a qualified institution of higher education of his or her choice;

(e) That the individual has above average academic

ability to pursue a graduate or professional degree; and

(f) That the individual meets other qualifications

which shall be established by the Program Board.

Grant funds shall be awarded only to those persons pursuing a graduate or professional degree program at a qualified institution of higher education. The Board shall by rule promulgate, pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, precise standards to be used by the Program Board to determine whether a program applicant has above average academic ability to pursue a graduate or professional degree. (Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 2308) Sec. 8. Application. The Program Board shall design the application for the DFI award and determine the timetable for submission of the application. (Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/9) (from Ch. 144, par. 2309) Sec. 9. Terms of award. After a person has been accepted into the DFI, the individual shall be eligible for an annual award which may be renewable for up to an additional 3 years provided that he or she makes satisfactory progress toward completing his or her degree. The Program Board shall determine the award amount annually. (Source: P.A. 92-45, eff. 7-1-02; 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/10) (from Ch. 144, par. 2310) Sec. 10. Conditions of award. Conditions for acceptance of a DFI award are that the recipient shall agree to: (1) accept a teaching or nonteaching full-time appointment at an Illinois institution of higher education; or (2) accept a position as an employee of this State in an administrative, educational-related position for the period equal to the number of years that he or she was a participant in the DFI. (Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/11) (from Ch. 144, par. 2311) Sec. 11. Penalty for failure to fulfill the conditions of a DFI award. If the obligation of the award is not met, repayment of the funds awarded may be required according to procedures developed by the Program Board. (Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)

(110 ILCS 930/11.5) Sec. 11.5. Continuing participants. Program participants admitted under the provisions of the former Illinois Minority Graduate Incentive Program/Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program prior to January 1, 2004 shall be governed by the statutory provisions and rules governing the program at the time of their admission. (Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)