2015 College Changes Everything™ Conference To Highlight College Access And Completion Efforts In Illinois

CHICAGO –College affordability and the rising cost of tuition are in the news almost every day, but helping more students attain a degree or certificate involves more than adjusting college sticker price. Join Illinois educators, government, business and non-profit leaders at the fifth annual College Changes Everything™ Conference in Tinley Park for in depth discussion and workshops on the collaborative efforts underway in Illinois to make college—and a degree or certificate—possible for all Illinoisans. Sponsored by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) in collaboration with several other statewide governmental and non-profit organizations, the annual conference brings together a capacity crowd of committed individuals working together to help make college a reality for families throughout Illinois. 

The conference grew out of the College Changes Everything™ (CCE) college access movement, which is designed in part to help advance the state’s goal of increasing the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60% by the year 2025. 

“To reach our state goal we will need to address all of the factors that contribute to accessibility and completion,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of ISAC.  “One of the reasons this conference is so effective is that it brings together talented individuals from diverse sectors to share effective practices and resources that can move the needle in college preparedness and access, as well as help to improve on time completion with a minimum of debt.”

Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti will provide the conference welcome, and Dr. Elizabeth Purvis, Illinois Secretary of Education, will share remarks with attendees. As part of the “Year of the Volunteer” in Illinois, a special panel discussion will highlight the importance and impact of volunteers in helping to improve college access and student success. Breakout sessions will focus on critical topics such as college readiness, student support services, retention, remediation, career development, after school programs, special supports for undocumented students, student veteran supports and services, and more.

The conference will be held at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park, Illinois on Thursday, July 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The registration fee of $40 includes a light breakfast, lunch, and all conference materials. Space is limited. For more information and to register online, visit CCE 2015 Conference.

The CCE Conference is a collaborative effort of volunteers including ISAC, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois College Access Network, Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, Advance Illinois, Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University, Generations Serving Generations, Voices for Illinois Children, and Women Employed. 

About College Changes Everything™
College Changes Everything™ is a college access movement that recognizes that college can be a life changing experience not only for students, but also for families and communities. In Illinois and across the nation, those who obtain education beyond high school not only see a significant impact on their potential career prospects and future salary, but also change levels of poverty, life expectancy, crime and obesity rates in their communities. Join the conversation and help make college relevant and possible for everyone by sharing your story about how college changed, is changing or can change everything for you. Find out more and share your story at www.collegechangeseverything.org.

About ISAC
The mission of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is to help make college accessible and affordable for students throughout Illinois. ISAC provides comprehensive, objective, and timely information on education and financial aid for students and their families--giving them access to the tools they need to make the educational choices that are right for them. Then, through the state’s flagship Monetary Award Program and other scholarship and grant programs ISAC administers—totaling more than $380 million in academic year 2014-15—ISAC can help students make those choices a reality. www.isac.org