Please note that Administrative Rules 1009 (pdf) have been updated, effective December 19, 2017.
The Dual Credit Quality Act was enacted to accomplish the following to:
1. Reduce college costs.
2. Speed time to degree completion.
3. Improve the curriculum for high school students and the alignment of the curriculum with college
and workplace expectations.
4. Facilitate the transition between high school and college.
5. Enhance communication between high school and colleges.
6. Offer opportunities for improving degree attainment for underserved student populations.
(Source: P.A. 96-194, eff. 1-1-10.)
Illinois Community Colleges have a separate process that is administered by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). The Illinois Community College Administrative Rules can be found here. Please contact ICCB for assistance at 217-785-0123.
Submit the Dual Credit Notification of Activity Form (docx) and Dual Credit Site Spreadsheet (xlsx) to the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Click on the document names to access. Both should be submitted at the same time, electronically to IBHE at dualcredit@ibhe.org.
IBHE will review the Summary of Activity Form and Dual Credit Site Spreadsheet to determine the next steps.
After review of the documentation, there are two possible outcomes:
If the institution has operating authority in the higher education region for planned dual credit activity AND adequate evidence of
compliance with the standards is provided,
the institution will be granted institutional approval for dual credit within the State of Illinois.
For approval, an institution must also submit the
IBHE Dual Credit Compliance Form. (pdf)
Click on the document name to access. Submit electronically to IBHE at dualcredit@ibhe.org.
If the institution DOES NOT have operating authority within the particular region requested for dual credit,
then the institution will need to follow IBHE’s procedures for obtaining operating authority within the State of Illinois.
The first step is to attend orientation.
Follow the links below for more information on orientation,
registration, and general FAQs about the approval process:
Independent Institutions
Out-of-State Institutions
Once operating authority and compliance is confirmed, a letter of approval will be sent. Maintenance of Approval will be determined by submission of the Annual Report (see Step #6). For new operating authority applications within the State of Illinois, approval to operate must be approved by board action from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
IBHE has the responsibility and authority to resolve complaints against Illinois institutions. Institutions approved to participate in dual credit activities must provide the online complaint link on the institutional website https://complaints.ibhe.org/
By the last Friday in October, each dual credit institution must submit and pass validation on its dual credit files. The dual credit files consist of the teacher, course, and student dual credit course assignment files. The data dictionary for those files can be found at https://www.ibhe.org/iheis.html. To maintain your dual credit approval all three dual credit course assignment files must pass validation by the aforementioned due date.
Upon receipt of the Annual Report, a desk audit may be conducted to verify evidence of compliance.
Nkechi Onwuameze, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Director for Academic Affairs
Illinois Board of Higher Education
Main: 217.866.1429
Fax: 217.782.8548
Email: dualcredit@ibhe.org
Web: www.ibhe.org
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, IL 62701-1377