Illinois Board of Higher Education Information

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is responsible for planning and coordinating the state’s system of higher education. The Board analyzes the aims, needs, and requirements of Illinois higher education and modifies the policies that guide the state’s system of public and private colleges and universities. Through its master planning responsibility, the Board approved the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success as the ten-year blueprint for higher education. The IBHE approves all new units of instruction, research, and public service, as well as new academic administrative units, for public colleges and universities in the state. IBHE has also statutory responsibility to approve operating authority and degree-granting authority for certain independent and out-of-state institutions operating within the state of Illinois. In 2012, the Board’s responsibilities were expanded to oversee the private institutions that offer courses of instruction for which tuition is charged to prepare students to follow a trade, pursue training for an occupation, and to improve skills and abilities relative to a career or occupation.