Friday Memo

              March 14, 2008
Public Agenda Task Force to convene first meeting
The Task Force to develop a Public Agenda for Illinois Higher Education: Planning for College and Career Success will hold its first meeting on Thursday, March 20, at DePaul University. The principal business for Task Force members to consider will be a draft Public Needs Report prepared by consultants to the public agenda process. The Task Force also will be briefed on the next phase of the process – an audit and analysis of existing policies that help or hinder efforts to meet the educational needs of the state.
Indiana Commissioner presents briefing on successful college readiness effort
Stan Jones, Commissioner of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, visited Chicago March 7 to brief business leaders, Chicago Public Schools officials, educators, and state agencies on Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program, which links college readiness and financial aid incentives for low-income students. 21st Century Scholars, are more likely
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to graduate high school than their peers,
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to take a college prep curriculum,
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to go to college, and
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to graduate from college than low-income peers.
HB 5109, sponsored by Rep. David Miller, seeks to set up a similar pilot program in Illinois.
Students need help knowing how-to-go-to-college, to go to college
There are many potholes that derail college aspirations for students who get little guidance on how to navigate the college admissions process, according to a new study by the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago. Only 3 in 5 Chicago Public Schools students who wanted to go to college actually applied, and only 2 in 5 ultimately enrolled.
Adult ed officials lobby on Capitol Hill
Last week, the National Council of State Directors of Adult
UPCOMING
14 Illinois Community College Presidents Council, Oak Brook
14-15 Illinois Community College Trustees’ Association, Oak Brook
20 Task Force on A Public Agenda for Illinois Higher Education, 9 a.m., DePaul University, Loop Campus, Chicago
28 Regional AAT meeting, Kaskaskia Community College
31 ICCB meeting, Sugar Grove
April
1 IBHE meeting, Bloomington-Normal
1-3 ICCB campus security conference, Bloomington
2 Private College Student Lobby Day, Springfield
4 ISAC meeting, Springfield
15 Community College Student Lobby Day