An Illinois House committee has cleared a proposal that would require public universities to admit first-time freshman applicants who finish with a GPA in the top 10 percent of their high school's graduating class.
The News-Gazette reports the House Higher Education Committee passed the bill Wednesday despite opposition from the University of Illinois and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Representative Andre Thapedi of Chicago is sponsoring the legislation and says it's about increasing student diversity at colleges throughout the state.
The Urbana campus has 5.4 percent black enrollment, with higher percentages at the Chicago and Springfield campuses.
University of Illinois director of state relations Jennifer Creasey says the university doesn't believe admission criteria should be in the law. She says there are a lot of disparities on class ranking throughout the state.