Measure Would Give Students Automatic University Admission

High-performing Illinois high school students could gain automatic acceptance to the Illinois university of their choice - as long as they plan for a certain field of study. 

Under legislation proposed by State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), students would have to be going into mathematics, science, or technology. Rose said nearly 20,000 Illinois high school students go out-of-state for college each year. He says that has a negative effect on Illinois' economy.

“If a student stays here in Illinois to go to college, they're more likely to complete their working career here as well,” Rose said. “The minute we lose them to Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, they're not going to come back.”

To qualify, students would need at least a 28 on their ACT, and finish high school with at least a 3.5 GPA.

Rose is keeping the plan on hold for now, though.

Some, like Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), are concerned those aren't fair requirements.

“There are also other things to consider in the best and the brightest other than just GPA. There are times where people don't test well,” Bush said.

Concerns like Bush's led Rose to hold his proposal in a Senate committee. But he said he is still committed to the concept, and he may try to put together a task force to further study the idea.