To authorize application to the State Board for the approval of new units of instruction, research, or public service as defined in this Section and to establish such new units following approval in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Board of Higher Education Act.
     The term “new unit of instruction, research, or public service” includes the establishment of a college, school, division, institute, department, or other unit including majors and curricula in any field of instruction, research, or public service not theretofore included in the program of the community college, and includes the establishment of any new branch or campus of the institution. The term shall not include reasonable and moderate extensions of existing curricula, research, or public service programs which have a direct relationship to existing programs; and the State Board may, under its rulemaking power, define the character of reasonable and moderate extensions.