2013 College Changes Everything Conference July 11, 2013

Deerfield, IL – The third annual statewide College Changes Everything conference takes place July 11 at the Tinley Park Convention Center. The event draws participants from throughout the state and across the country in support of Illinois’s efforts to reach Goal 2025, increasing the proportion of adults in Illinois with high quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025.
 
Mr. Greg Darnieder will deliver the morning keynote and co-present an interest session entitled "Increasing Awareness, Access, & Success for College Readiness & Retention” with Evanston Township High School counselors. Other interest sessions occur throughout the day and provide attendees in-depth information, practical ideas and specific strategies to address important issues such as:

• Student Support Services
• Retention
• Remediation
• Dual Degree/Dual Credit
• College Readiness
• Career Development
• Civic and Municipal Engagement
• Students with Special Needs

In addition to Mr. Darnieder, speakers include Lt. Governor Shelia Simon, P-20 Council Chair and ISAC Vice Chair Sen. Miguel Del Valle and a panel session featuring leaders from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities. The complete agenda for the conference is available at CollegeChangesEverything.org. 

Those who attended the 2012 conference have already been expressing anticipation for this year’s event.  “I look forward to the conference.  I attended last year and was inspired,” says Lorretta Kucharczyk, Coordinator of Intentional Advising at Prairie State College.

Past College Changes Everything Conferences have featured remarks from Dr. Martha Kanter, Under Secretary of Education, Lumina Foundation President Jamie Merisotis, Executive Director of the National College Access Network Kim Cook, and Stan Jones, President of Complete College America.
 
The College Changes Everything Conference is made possible by a grant from Lumina Foundation and is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.