(a) All courses approved for Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education codes must be transferable as a part of the General Education Core Curriculum package, consistent with the specific requirements of the package. Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education courses taken during the public health emergency declared by proclamation of the Governor due to the COVID-19 pandemic during calendar year 2020 must be transferable for students receiving a grade of “pass”, “credit”, or “satisfactory” and shall fulfill the prerequisite requirements for advanced courses.
     (a-5) All public institutions’ Illinois Articulation Initiative major courses must be transferable as direct course equivalents toward the requirements of the major. If the receiving institution does not offer the course or does not offer it at the lower-division level, the student shall receive elective lower-division major credit toward the requirements of the major for the course and may be required to take the course at the upper-division level.
     (b) Students receiving the full General Education Core Curriculum package must not be required to take additional lower-division general education courses.