Register Now: 2025 Legal Update for Illinois Higher Education Institutions

Registration is now open for our 2025 Legal Update for Illinois Higher Education Institutions.

Where: Zoom

Topics of discussion include:

The Big Shift: Legal Impacts on Federal Reform Initiatives

Since February 2025, higher education institutions have experienced seismic shifts in federal education policy. Through executive orders, new federal guidance, OCR investigations, Supreme Court decisions, and the recent passage of The Big Beautiful Bill, the legal and policy changes seem to occur almost daily, leaving higher education institutions scrambling to remain in compliance with the current application of applicable law. This presentation will explore the legal ramifications of the recent shifts in federal education policy and provide practical tips for colleges to remain in compliance with federal law. The presentation will also address potential flashpoints where the changed application of federal law may clash with current Illinois law. 

From Capitol to Campus: New Illinois Laws Impacting Higher Education

This presentation will cover state legislation affecting community colleges, focusing on bills passed and signed this year. Attendees will learn about new requirements related to a range of topics from medication access for students, to using AI in the classroom, to dual credit and direct admission programs.

Responding Right: Effective Strategies for Student Harassment and Discrimination Complaints Amid the Current Legal Climate

Recent shifts in the enforcement of civil rights laws in higher education have educational institutions wrestling with how to navigate harassment and discrimination complaints. This presentation will provide practical guidance on aligning institutional policies and procedures with current federal and state legal standards, including Title IX, Title VI, and related anti-discrimination statutes. Presenters will also discuss recent changes to the federal legal framework and its intersection with state law, trends in OCR and other agency enforcement, and strategies for risk management that promote a safe and equitable campus environment.

The New Wave: Emerging Trends in Collective Bargaining

This presentation will explore how shifting economic landscapes, technological advancements, and evolving worker expectations are reshaping labor negotiations. We will also review bargaining strategies and dynamics at the table.

Construction Case Study Part 1: Laying the Foundation – Strategic Planning, Risk Management, and Legal Readiness Before Breaking Ground

Our Commercial, Construction, and Real Estate Practice Group will present the first part of a case study on effective planning, risk management, and compliance with respect to major college construction projects. The first part of the case study will focus on the initial phases of construction—from selecting your construction team and construction delivery system to best practices in competitive bidding, risk management, and other pre-construction responsibilities. The first part of the case study will conclude with ensuring that the most important legal considerations for a shovel ready project have been addressed.

Construction Case Study Part 2: Building Beyond the Blueprint – Oversight, Dispute Management, and Legal Remedies Through Project Completion

Our Commercial, Construction, and Real Estate Practice Group will conclude their case study by addressing issues that arise after construction starts. This includes the college’s role in construction administration, how to handle disputes during construction, and when to issue warnings and takeover projects. The case study will conclude with an overview of how to leverage formal dispute resolution to successfully pursue remedies for construction defaults and defects.

Balancing Support and Liability: Navigating Student Mental Health on Campus

Higher education institutions nationwide are seeing a rise in college students experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. In turn, institutions are faced with a multitude of challenges including allocating sufficient mental health resources, adopting procedures that adequately protect student safety, and ensuring faculty and staff are trained to respond to students in crisis. This presentation will explore the legal and practical complexities faced by higher education institutions in addressing student mental health on campus, by providing an overview of the legal landscape, analysis of relevant case law, and practical tips for supporting student safety on campus.

Your Litigation Playbook: Key Steps & Expectations Uncovered

This presentation will walk you through the key phases of a lawsuit from start to finish. Attendees will learn the distinctions between a civil lawsuit and an administrative charge, understand the critical steps to take after a complaint is received, and become familiar with the phases of litigation including discovery, settlement discussions, dispositive motions, and trial.