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Illinois College is a small residential liberal arts college offering exceptional education at an affordable cost on a safe and beautiful campus. For over 180 years, Illinois College has prepared young men and women for lives of leadership and service. True to its founding vision in 1829, Illinois College is a community committed to the highest scholarship and integrity standards in the liberal arts. The College develops in its student's qualities of mind and character needed to fulfill leadership and service lives.Illinois College will build an international reputation for inspiring achievement and empowering students to make a difference in the world. Prospective students, current students, and community members are encouraged to review the following information, which provides a comprehensive overview of the College and its practices, including information on financial aid, student privacy, crime statistics, essential college policies, and student outcomes. Do you dream of teaching English in Japan? Passionate about improving community recycling programs? Interested in research that could cure a disease? How about an internship at a professional sporting event? At Illinois College, our students are achieving all of this and more — before graduation. Internships, student-faculty research, service-learning projects, and professional practice in your field will prepare you with the skills to succeed in any 21st-century career. Decades of research have proven active learning experiences to have a strong connection to student learning and retention. These hands-on activities cultivate the traits that today's employers most value: the abilities to read, write, speak, and problem-solve effectively and the power to apply these skills in a professional setting. Employers today are looking for applicants who have a diverse set of skills for 21st-century careers. The Illinois College BLUEprint is your personalized general education plan to help you master the critical skills that will set you apart in the job market and prepare you to land your first job. Today, employers are looking for graduates with strong written and oral communication skills, understanding of diverse cultures, working with people with different beliefs, and, most importantly, the competence to solve problems effectively through inquiry, analysis, synthesis, creative and critical thinking collaboration. From the time of its founding, Illinois College has embraced diversity and inclusion principles, and we will continue to do so. We believe that our joint work is enhanced by people's varied perspectives from a range of ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds. These values guide us in interactions with one another, and fundamental respect for every individual undergirds our work together. Illinois College values the unique experiences all of our students bring to campus and prepares graduates as global citizens ready for fulfilling lives of leadership and service. Sixty-nine international students are attending Illinois College this year, including eight with dual citizenship. They hail from these countries: Bangladesh, China, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zambia. As an international student, you have several options for joining Illinois College's diverse campus. Apply as a first-year student to spend four years on campus, earning an undergraduate degree or apply as a transfer student to finish your degree at Illinois College. Your experiences in and beyond the classroom are all part of the value of your Illinois College education. Having your classmates as neighbors help build friendships and a sense of belonging among students. The goal of the residential life program is to foster openness, respect, honesty, and community. You will find countless ways to get involved outside of class at Illinois College — with over 80 student organizations, from community service, sports, and spirit clubs to historic literary societies. The Center for Student Involvement serves as a resource for student leaders through advising, leadership development programs, and administrative support services. Through your involvement in co-curricular activities, you will round out your academic experience by learning new skills to make your education complete while you create lifelong friendships. Illinois College, the first College in the state to conduct classes and grant a baccalaureate degree, sustains a 180-year heritage of excellence in the liberal arts. The events and characters that tell our story are extraordinary. The Rev. John M. Ellis, a Presbyterian missionary in the East, saw the need for a "seminary of learning" in Illinois's new state. His plans drew the attention of Congregational students at Yale University, and seven of them, in one of the famous "Yale Bands," came westward to help found the College. The first president of Illinois College was Edward Beecher. He left his position at the Park Street Church in Boston and firmly imbued the new College with New England traditions and academic foundations. His sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the influential anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, visited the campus, and his brother, Henry Ward Beecher, preached and lectured here. Beecher Hall, the first college building in Illinois, was built in 1829 and is still used today.

Illinois Wesleyan University, an independent, residential, liberal arts university founded in 1850, strives to attain the ideal of a liberal education while providing unique opportunities with distinctive curricula and programs. Liberal education at Illinois Wesleyan fosters creativity, critical thinking, effective communication, character strength, and a spirit of inquiry. Our curriculum deepens the specialized knowledge of a discipline with a comprehensive world view. The Illinois Wesleyan experience affords the most significant possibilities for realizing individual potential while preparing students for democratic citizenship and life in a global society. As the University pursues this ideal for all of our students, we help students follow a wide range of career and life paths, offering diverse curricula in liberal arts, fine arts, professional programs, and opportunities for interdisciplinary study off-campus learning. Through our policies, programs, and practices, the University is committed to diversity, social justice, and environmental sustainability. A tightly knit, supportive university community, together with various opportunities for close interaction with excellent faculty, both challenges and supports students in their personal and intellectual development. Diversity and Inclusion are intrinsic to the mission of Illinois Wesleyan University. At IWU, we believe that education in the context of diversity creates the wealthiest learning environment and experiences. Here at IWU, we appreciate diversity in many facets, including the diversity of thoughts and perspectives. We strive to develop the most enriching, progressive, vibrant, and welcoming community possible. On our campus, students are encouraged to be themselves in their fullness. They are challenged to embrace what it means to be unique in a closely connected web of exceptional individuals. In fulfilling this purpose, we infuse aspects of culture, identity, Inclusion, and engagement into all facets of the IWU experience from the curricular to the co-curricular. The Illinois Wesleyan experience affords the most significant possibilities for realizing individual potential while preparing students for democratic citizenship and life in a global society. As the University pursues this ideal for all of our students, we help students follow a wide range of career and life paths, offering diverse curricula in liberal arts, fine arts, professional programs, and opportunities for interdisciplinary study off-campus learning. Through our policies, programs, and practices, the University is committed to diversity, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Our study abroad tuition policy allows you to apply your IWU tuition and scholarship or need-based assistance toward the cost of studying abroad for a semester. This means virtually any student who attends Illinois Wesleyan can afford to study abroad. This opportunity is something we encourage students to experience while at Illinois Wesleyan. Undergraduate research is a hallmark of Illinois Wesleyan, and the Eckley program is just one of many sponsored programs that take place during the school year and over the summer. As an exclusively undergraduate university, students have greater access to research opportunities because they do not compete with graduate students. The Action Research Center is a unique experiential-learning center that matches students with a wide array of community, governmental and corporate organizations where students work independently and side-by-side with professionals to conduct research, develop new initiatives, create strategic plans, and more. There are many different ways to learn more about Illinois Wesleyan University. If you are just getting started, you might want to fill out our online request form to send you information about majors, activities, athletics, etc. We can add you to our mailing list. Another great source of information is your personal admissions counselor. You can meet with your counselor at your high school, local college fair, or on campus, or you can contact your counselor via phone or email. The Hart Career Center's primary services to students involve career guidance, internship facilitation, graduate school advising, and job search assistance. A wide variety of career-related events are coordinated throughout the year to assist students in these four areas. Our students have the opportunity to do original research at the undergraduate level, collaborating with faculty who are at the top of their fields. Because Illinois Wesleyan is an entirely undergraduate institution, students are offered research and creative opportunities without competition from graduate students. They develop close relationships with faculty who love to teach and engage students in their research and scholarly work. Check out some of the work that has resulted from faculty mentorship of students in the IWU Digital Commons. Illinois Wesleyan University was founded in 1850 by a diverse group of 30 civic and religious leaders who established "an Institution of learning of Collegiate grade." When a sponsor was needed, the founders gained support from the United Methodist Church, which is how "Wesleyan" was added to the original name, "Illinois University." The University's relationship with the church has evolved over the years. While maintaining its Methodist affiliation, true to its founding roots, Illinois Wesleyan continues to be a diverse and inclusive community, independent in its governance.

Augustana is a selective, private liberal arts and sciences college founded in 1860 by Swedish settlers. The 115-acre wooded campus is in Rock Island, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. It's part of the Quad-Cities (population 400,000) and about 165 miles west of Chicago. Augustana is a residential campus. First-year and sophomore students live in residence halls, juniors may choose transitional living areas (apartment-style housing on campus) seniors live on campus or in the neighborhood. Student activities include music groups, theatre, debate, publications, broadcasting, student government, the local Greek system, and a wide variety of professional, religious, departmental, political, social, and service organizations. Augustana College, rooted in the liberal arts and sciences and a Lutheran expression of the Christian faith, is committed to offering a challenging education that develops qualities of mind, spirit, and body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership and service in a diverse and changing world. The words of Augustana's mission statement reflect both tradition and vision. Founded by Swedish Lutheran settlers in Chicago in 1860, Augustana has grown from a small school educating Swedish immigrants into a selective college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college honors its roots and its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. At the same time, Augustana's rich liberal arts environment is enhanced by diversity. Augustana continues to do what it has always done — challenge and prepare students for leadership and service lives in a complex, ever-changing world. The Learning Commons is the place for all academic support needs. Whether you need help editing your research paper, searching for a Spanish tutor, improving your study skills, or developing English language skills, we're here to help. The Learning Commons includes the Reading/Writing Center and the Office of Student Success Services. It is on the fourth floor of the Gerber Center. Merit-based scholarships and awards are a form of gift aid, awarded without regard for financial need, and do not need to be repaid. Augustana offers merit-based scholarships and awards based on demonstrated academic achievement, talent, a program of interest, and other criteria. Students are automatically considered for many of the awards listed below based on their application for admission. Other awards require auditions or an additional application process. Students are automatically considered for academic merit scholarships based on their application for admission. Students may receive one of the following awards based on their credentials. Notification of any award is included in a student's acceptance letter. Scholarship amounts are based on the year in which a student first enrolls at Augustana. Most students, including transfer students, live on campus for their first three years. As seniors, they're prepared to move into off-campus housing. Augustana offers various residences, from historic House on the Hill to the modern layout of Swanson Commons. Augustana College is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all students. Students with documented disabilities should contact Yen Dao, director of Student Success Services, to determine the most appropriate accommodations. We provide reasonable accommodations by the American with Disabilities Act. Many studio art majors prepare for graduate work in a specific art genre or a career in art administration or education, art therapy, medical illustration, or museum work. Some students double-major or minor in art history, psychology, biology, education, or business. Art-related internships are available to integrate these areas, and faculty advisors work with students to help them apply their talents to future goals. Graphic design majors and minors have launched their careers in museum marketing and design for news and industry. Art education students are employed in public and private schools. Besides choosing theatre as a vocation, studying in theatre arts — combined with a solid liberal arts foundation — promotes skills that apply to many professions, including public relations, arts administration, broadcast journalism, marketing, advertising, law, government, communications, and arts education. Augustana graduates have completed Ph.D. and M.F.A. programs in theatre history, acting, directing, set design, theatre technology, costume design, and lighting design. Recent Augustana theatre alumni have built successful careers as talent agents, regional theatre performers, television and film actors, independent film producers, lighting designers, sound technicians, directors, stage managers, and teachers at the secondary and college levels. Augustana theatre students have more opportunities to be involved than at many undergraduate schools: besides actors, designers, and technicians, students may be stage managers, directors, and playwrights who collaborate on productions with faculty every season. Theatre arts majors also can be dramaturgs, conducting the historical and contextual research for mainstage productions. Music students prepare for their careers through carefully planned coursework in a strong liberal arts curriculum, individual advising, career internships, public performances, and other professional experience. Music education students gain teaching and conducting experience in their coursework and area schools with cooperating teachers. Many students teach at the S.B.C. Music and Arts Academy, a local program offering reduced-price lessons to promising students. Recent music graduates have entered graduate programs at the Boston Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Cincinnati Conservatory, Northwestern, and Michigan and Southern California universities.

Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, technology-focused research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law. One of 21 institutions that comprise the Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU), Illinois Tech, offers exceptional preparation for professions that require technological sophistication, an innovative mindset, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Undergraduates study in six of IIT's eight academic divisions. Students are encouraged—and even required—to take courses from across the various programs to complete their degrees. If you do not have a planned area of study before entering, you can choose an Undecided path among Armour College of Engineering, College of Science, or General Undecided. IIT's eight colleges offer study options that give you maximum flexibility to achieve your goals. IIT offers traditional master's and doctoral programs (thesis required), professional master's programs (no thesis required), dozens of certificate specializations, dual-degree plans, and short-term executive and professional packages. Some or all of your graduate study may be completed online. Illinois Institute of Technology is a community that values and respects its members. We appreciate that our faculty, staff, students, alumni/ae, and trustees come from many backgrounds and parts of the world. We embrace the contributions that differences offer. We are committed to providing a working and learning environment where all students and all faculty members and staff can realize their full potential. We strive to have a diverse culture of unity, inclusivity, equity, and respect at this university. I expect everyone in our community to treat one another with respect and dignity regardless of gender, race, background, country of origin, religious affiliation, immigration status, orientation, or any other such descriptor. As a community, we must be clear that it is intolerable to allow anyone to be bullied or demeaned or shamed because of their ideas, decisions, background, characteristics, or particular circumstances. To expand upon the commitment to diversity in its Statement on Community, Inclusion, and Diversity, Illinois Tech's Community, Inclusion and Diversity Committee has adopted a document entitled Building Community and Fostering Diversity. This document establishes a set of ten principles aimed at building and maintaining a civil, respectful, and inclusive Illinois Tech community. Illinois Tech offers countless research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students—from on-campus work in professors' labs to national and internationally funded research programs. Students at Illinois Tech can take advantage of our small, private university and find unparalleled access to challenging, thought-provoking research opportunities. Our focus on technology means you will be supplementing your education with research experiences in fields where significant innovation is taking place—and in areas with profound societal implications. To explore the current research opportunities for students at Illinois Tech or assistance with a project proposal, contact your college or school, your faculty advisor, or a faculty member whose research interests you. In spring 2008, an exciting new chapter of IIT history was launched as the Board of Trustees enthusiastically endorsed plans for a university-wide planning process to reestablish the university as a significant force in higher education. That plan, Many Voices, One Vision: 2010-2014, helped focus the institution's initiatives and strengthen its infrastructure—and it is now time to move the university forward into a new era of accomplishment and excellence... In 1890, when advanced education was often reserved for society's elite, Chicago minister Frank Wakely Gunsaulus delivered what came to be known as the "Million Dollar Sermon." From the pulpit of his South Side church, near the site Illinois Institute of Technology now occupies, Gunsaulus said that with a million dollars, he could build a school where students of all backgrounds could prepare for meaningful roles in a changing industrial society. Inspired by Gunsaulus' vision, Philip Danforth Armour, Sr. (1832-1901) gave $1 million to found the Armour Institute—and Armour, his wife, Malvina Belle Ogden Armour (1842-1927), and their son J. (Jonathan) Ogden Armour (1863-1927) continued to support the university in its early years. When Armour Institute opened in 1893, it offered professional courses in engineering, chemistry, architecture, and library science. Illinois Tech was created in 1940 by the merger of Armour Institute and Lewis Institute. Located on the west side of Chicago, Lewis Institute, established in 1895 by the estate of hardware merchant and investor Allen C. Lewis, offered liberal arts and science and engineering courses for both men and women. At separate meetings held by their respective boards on October 26, 1939, Armour and Lewis's trustees voted to merge the two colleges. A Cook County circuit court decision on April 23, 1940, solidified the merger. Some of the most famous buildings in the world, designed by legendary architects, are located on the IIT Main Campus in Chicago. S. R. Crown Hall, an elegant steel-and-glass National Historic Landmark, is a marvel of engineering and simplicity by former IIT professor and Architecture dean Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Elevated trains run through the Rem Koolhaas-designed McCormick Tribune Campus Center. And IIT alumnus Helmut Jahn's State Street Village is one of the on-campus places to live. The Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship will be added to Morton Park on Illinois Tech's Main Campus. The Kaplan Institute will house the university's internationally-renowned Institute of Design activities as well as IPRO, Entrepreneurship Academy, Leadership Academy, Jules Knapp Entrepreneurship Center, and Idea Shop.

Eastern Illinois University has a rich tradition of preparing students to accomplish their life goals through a great combination of quality academics and personal relationships. Consistently ranked in the top third of Midwest universities in its class by U.S. News and World Report, Eastern has earned its reputation by offering a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs taught by an experienced and caring faculty. Besides reasonable tuition, fees, and room and board rates, Eastern offers a textbook rental system, saving the average student hundreds of dollars per semester. A variety of excellent on-campus housing opportunities are available on the safe, compact 320-acre campus. Student graduation and retention rates are well above state and national averages. That success continues after students earn their degrees -- year after year, Eastern ranks high in job placement, alumni satisfaction, and employer satisfaction. Eastern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of College and Schools and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Eastern Illinois University is a comprehensive public university that offers superior, accessible undergraduate and graduate education. Students learn the methods and results of free and rigorous inquiry in the arts, humanities, sciences, and professions, guided by a faculty known for its excellence in teaching, research, creative activity, and service. The University community is committed to diversity and inclusion and fosters student-faculty scholarship and applied learning experiences within student-centered campus culture. Throughout their education, students refine their abilities to reason and communicate clearly to become responsible citizens and leaders. Eastern Illinois University will be a premier comprehensive university globally in its reach and impact, where personal connections with faculty and staff support students' academic success. Eastern Illinois University is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages opportunities for its future and current students to engage in dialogue that broadens and informs their worldviews. As such, non-academic disciplinary action resulting from participating in a peaceful protest will not affect a future student's admission decision. The Graduate School is excited to be included in your pursuit of graduate education and is committed to supporting you necessary to ensure a smooth admission process. Graduate admissions is a two-part process at EIU. It involves an application to the Graduate School and application to the graduate program if you are seeking a degree in a particular discipline. If you need to enroll in coursework without applying to a graduate program, please select "non-degree" on the admission application. The International Student Scholarship was established by the Board of Trustees to assist students from other countries attending EIU. Awards are competitive and designed to promote cultural exchange and diversity. Awards may be granted based on one or both of the following factors: financial need and academic excellence. The scholarship pays partial tuition for minimum full-time enrollment in EIU courses. Fees, field trips, continuing education delivery charges, travel, living expenses, and other personal expenses are not covered. If you're currently in high school or have never attended college, applying for undergraduate admission as an incoming freshman is for you. Suppose you've already earned a bachelor's degree and are interested in furthering your education with a graduate degree or second bachelor's degree. In that case, you'll want to apply for admission to The Graduate School. Are you looking to make a move to EIU from a community college or another university? Transfer students make up 35 percent of our undergraduate population, and our Office of Transfer Relations is here to ensure a smooth transition. EIU is proud to be an ideal home for students from outside the United States. If you fit that bill, you can apply for international admission. Not all potential students are high school seniors or community college transfers, which is why our B.A. in General Studies program exists. It is specifically designed to meet mature adults' educational goals in a format and structure compatible with adult responsibilities. Registered nurses (RNs) who are already licensed to practice and newly graduated non-licensed ADN's who are ready to advance to a BSN degree from EIU should apply to our R.N. to B.S. in Nursing program. The Organizational and Professional Development (OPD) bachelor's degree program revolves around a distinct field of academic study focused on understanding the human aspects of professional organizations, aspects such as people, processes, and practices. Did you attend EIU in the past without ever getting a chance to finish up your undergraduate degree? If one or more semesters have passed since you last enrolled, you can apply for readmission to the university and get yourself that diploma. Eastern Illinois University, located in Charleston's east-central Illinois community, provides the best undergraduate and graduate education of any public university in the region.EIU is within three hours from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, and within easy driving distance of Champaign-Urbana. Convenient rail service to downtown Chicago and Champaign-Urbana is available through the Amtrak train station in nearby Mattoon.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign community of students, scholars, and alumni is changing the world. With our land-grant heritage as a foundation, we pioneer innovative research that tackles global problems and expands the human experience. In and out of the classroom, our transformative learning experiences are designed to produce alumni who desire to make a significant societal impact. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is charged by our state to enhance citizens' lives in Illinois, across the nation, and around the world through our leadership in learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development. We will be the pre-eminent* public research university with a land-grant mission and global impact. Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. A talented and highly respected faculty is the University'sUniversity's most significant resource. Many are recognized for an exceptional scholarship with memberships in such organizations as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering. Our faculty have been awarded Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, and the Fields Medal in Mathematics. That of our alumni matches our faculty's success: 11 are Nobel Laureates, and another 18 have won Pulitzer Prizes. Academic resources on campus are among the finest in the world. The University Library is one of the largest public university collections globally, with 13 million volumes in its 37 unit libraries. Annually, 53,000,000 people visit their online catalog. Students have access to thousands of computer terminals in classrooms, residence halls, and campus libraries for classroom instruction, study, and research. Our focus on research shapes our identity at Illinois, permeates our classrooms, and fuels our outreach. Fostering discovery and innovation is our fundamental mission. As a public, land-grant university, we are responsible for creating new knowledge and new ideas and translating these into better ways of working, living, and learning for our state, nation, and world. Entrepreneurship flows from the classrooms to Research Park, a space that houses everything from Fortune 500 companies to student-founded startups. We are consistently ranked among the top five universities for NSF-funded research, and our total annual research funding exceeds $600 million. An important center for the arts, the campus attracts dozens of nationally and internationally renowned artists each year to its widely acclaimed Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The UniversityUniversity also supports two major museums: the Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion and the Spurlock Museum, a museum of world history and culture. Other major facilities include the multipurpose State Farm Center (16,500 seats), Memorial Stadium (70,000 seats), site of Big Ten Conference football games, and the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), one of the most extensive recreational facilities of its kind on a university campus. The fundamental promise at Illinois for nearly 150 years has been to provide our undergraduate students with truly transformative educational experiences. Whether these experiences occur in the classroom, in the surrounding community, or around the globe, our students leave this campus with the skills, knowledge, and drive to become leaders in their fields and lead lives of impact in the world. Each year we welcome more than 32,000 undergraduate students across our nine undergraduate divisions – offering nearly 5,000 courses in more than 150 fields of study and awarding about 7,000 new degrees each spring. Learn to dance from a Broadway veteran, hone your writing skills with a Pulitzer Prize winner, learn about engineering from a MacArthur genius, or learn physics from a Nobel Prize winner. Illinois can help make your dreams a reality. We have 16 colleges and instructional units that provide more than 150 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate and professional programs. At Illinois, our research drives life-changing innovations, permeates our classrooms, and fuels our outreach. Illinois research fuels new ideas, new companies, and even new industries. We are among the nation's research powerhouses – for the last six years running, we have been awarded more NSF funding than any other university. Our faculty have developed many of the technologies that enable modern electronic devices, pioneered agricultural practices that feed the world, and shaped the government policies that protect the vulnerable in our society. Illinois has more than 500 active institutional partnerships representing more than 50 countries. Last year, we had more than 10,000 international students attend Illinois, hailing from more than 110 countries. And, more than 2,000 students study abroad annually. The University of Illinois is a public research university, ultimately responsible for Illinois and the Illinois General Assembly citizens. A board of trustees holds authority over the UniversityUniversity. A president is the chief executive officer for the university system. Each of three campuses is headed by a chancellor, vice-chancellors with campuswide responsibilities, and other administrators whose duties are delegated by the chancellor.

Blackburn's mission is unique in higher education. We feature a student-managed work program that reduces the cost of a quality liberal arts education and links that education to skills that apply long after graduation. We are affordable and set students up for success. Not only do we have excellent academics, athletics, student life, and work programs, we do all of this in the context of community. Blackburn students, faculty, staff, and alumni work together to make sure everyone can achieve their goals. You will not be a number on our campus. Blackburn College is one of 7 work colleges in the United States, and the only one with a student-managed work program. What does this mean? You have a chance to build a strong resume, even get management experience, while attending college and reducing your costs because you are not only a student – you are staff! Blackburn offers more than 30 majors, so there is something for every career goal. Moreover, that is where the Office of Career Services comes in. Career Services can help those students who have not declared a significant focus on their search. Using Internet-based career planning tools and various assessments, the career counselor can help students match their strengths and interests with a college degree and, ultimately, with a career goal. Already have a major selected? Career Services can help those students connect their majors to a variety of career options. Career Services can also help students prepare a professional resume, conduct a career search, research graduate school programs, and find graduate assistantships and internships. Career Services hosts several career conferences to help students explore career fields and create networks of professional contacts. Career Services also hosts graduate school representatives on campus to assist students in selecting graduate school programs. Career Services also offers two career classes to help students with career planning and career placement. The Office of Career Services collaborates with three area universities to provide Blackburn students access to career fairs. The Office provides transportation to and from these career fairs. So make the most of your college experience. Have fun, develop a strong work ethic, gain management experience, build a strong resume, and create a career plan to help you gain a professional lifestyle. Join the Blackburn community and let Blackburn College work for you. The Work Program was first implemented in 1913 by Dr. William Hudson as the "Work Plan." The plan was modeled after a program at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. Several years later, students were given leadership responsibility for the program. That leadership responsibility has evolved into an organization run and managed by more than 500 young adults. The purpose of the Work Program has been to instill learning and development, community contribution, and cost reduction for our team members' continued education. We are more than 500 people who provide essential quality services primarily to Blackburn College but also to local businesses, regional nonprofit organizations, sports clubs, law enforcement departments, and virtually every school in the Macoupin County District and surrounding area. We also attend a college that provides us with a quality education applicable in every aspect of our lives, including the jobs we work. The Work Program offers an experience, unlike any other college. While living and working at Blackburn College, students gain valuable professional and interpersonal skills long before setting foot in the real-world. Blackburn College offers a real-world work experience that sets our graduates apart and oddly prepares them by other institutions. Built-in the mid-1960s by student labor, Blackburn's Lumpkin Library is home to the newly developed Lumpkin Learning Commons. After an extensive renovation project during summer 2014, the Commons now features a refurbished lobby, laptops for checkout, and collaborative workspaces. The Learning Commons is open for student and public use year-round, with phases two and three of the renovation process. The services we provide include administrative resources, athletic support, building maintenance, cleaning services, educational assistance, financial management, business and retail management, safety and security, counseling services, food and catering services, graphic design, marketing and communications resources, and research. There is no other college or university in the United States, quite like Blackburn College. Our unique campus culture is the byproduct of the purposeful melding of our nationally acclaimed student-managed Work Program and rigorous liberal arts academic curriculum. The result is a unique living laboratory for learning where the boundaries between job and classroom are blurred, and mentoring from faculty and staff knows no clock. Since 1913, Blackburn's student-managed Work Program has made the dream of a college education affordable for thousands of first-generation students by keeping the cost of our private liberal arts education within their reach. Over the years, our students have built Blackburn – brick by brick. Blackburn enjoys the distinction of being the only college campus in the United States to have been primarily built by its students. Today our students carry on this tradition by staffing mission-critical jobs as plumbers, carpenters, painters, landscapers, cooks, servers, administrators, computer technicians, janitors, graphic artists, security officers, assistant coaches, tutors, and teaching assistants. At Blackburn, students are fully vested in every aspect of their college experience, whether it is success in the classroom, managing or staffing their campus job, or governing the institution's life.

Western Illinois University will be the leader in educational quality, opportunity, and affordability among regional public universities. Western Illinois University empowers students, faculty, and staff to lead dynamic and diverse communities. We provide student-centered undergraduate and graduate programs characterized by innovative teaching, research, and service, grounded in interdisciplinary, regional, and global perspectives. We engage our students in educational opportunities guided by a professional and diverse faculty and staff in collaboration with alumni and community partners. Recognized as a "Best Midwestern College" by the Princeton Review and as one of 37 public universities ranked a "Best Midwestern University" by U.S.News & World Report, WIU offers an outstanding variety of in-demand bachelor's and master's degree programs, pre-professional programs, two doctoral degrees, and certificate programs. Western offers undergraduate and graduate students with a variety of programs. A degree from Western will give you an edge in the workforce after graduation. Western Illinois University's undergraduate majors are offered through four colleges, including several academic departments. Over 600 faculty members provide excellent instruction and prepare students and graduates to compete in the global community. Western Illinois University offers 38 graduate degrees, two doctoral programs, and 15 post-baccalaureate certificates at our two campus locations. Western Illinois University offers various options for students who want to continue their education through an online learning environment. Whether expanding your current skill set or looking to complete a degree, we are committed to helping students achieve their educational objectives. Our purpose is to offer flexibility by providing online opportunities at WIU. Expanding Western students' opportunities is directly related to the support the University receives through increased philanthropic investment in the Higher Values in Higher Education strategic plan. Scholarships at Western Illinois University have opened many enriching and supportive avenues for students pursuing college degrees. The WIU Foundation's Scholarship Program represents a strong tradition of helping WIU students and is continually growing, with new scholarships established every year. WIU wants to reward you for your high school's academic ability by offering 4-year scholarships towards the cost of attendance. New first-year students who submit all application materials for admission are automatically considered! Western Illinois University is committed to admitting students whose academic records indicate a high potential for success. Leadership Programs provide a wide variety of programs, services, and experiences that assist WIU students in exploring and developing their leadership abilities and their preparation to become active participants in the community. The program offers classes, workshops, resources, and activities that complement the co-curricular experience of WIU students. Involvement in the campus and local community creates an appreciation of service and emphasizes the importance of being interconnected with groups and individuals. Western offers a variety of programs throughout the year that are open to all students. These programs expose students to a wide range of experiences that promote leadership, development, and personal growth. USC advisors are full-time academic support professionals committed to student success. They view themselves as mentors and resource people who recognize that students may experience difficulties adjusting to university life. In addition to assisting with course selection, advisors help students explore major and career options and facilitate their college transition. Study Abroad provides students with countless opportunities to take their studies all around the globe. Students can study in over 60 countries, regardless of their major or minor course of study. Many Study Abroad programs are comparable in cost to studying on WIU's campuses. Financial aid and scholarships are available to qualified students. Providing excellent instruction is the highest priority of the University's 608 faculty members. The faculty is responsible for 96 percent of the total student credit hours earned at the undergraduate level, with graduate teaching assistants contributing the remaining 4 percent. As a group, full professors devote approximately 90 percent of their professional responsibilities to undergraduate instruction. The on-campus ratio of students to faculty is 14:1, and the average undergraduate class size is 19. Although primarily dedicated to teaching, WIU faculty members participate in extensive research and creative activities. New students can attend Western Illinois University for about $25,900 in 2018–2019, including tuition, fees, room, meal plan, books, and personal expenses. Financial assistance is provided for qualified students. More than 78 percent of Western's undergraduate students receive some financial assistance. In 2017–2018, more than $138 million total in financial assistance was distributed. Of that total, over $56 million was in grants/scholarships that do not have to be repaid, and $82 million was through loans and campus employment. Founded in 1899, the Western Illinois State Normal School was established to address teacher preparation in its grammar schools. The faculty and students of Western were eager to meet this need, and the institution soon became known for its well-rounded, deeply committed graduates, a tradition that continues. We are now a leading University with a residential campus in Macomb, a metropolitan, non-residential campus in the Quad Cities, and extension and distance learning programs. With an outstanding, diverse faculty and staff committed to multicultural and international education, Western Illinois University offers undergraduate and graduate programs of study to approximately 9,400 students from Illinois, across the nation, and worldwide.

At Illinois State University, we work as a diverse community of scholars with a commitment to fostering a small-college atmosphere with large-university opportunities. Illinois State students complete their degrees on time. ISU's retention rate remains among the highest in the nation at over 80 percent, and our high graduation rate (68.8 percent) is 23 percent above the national average. Illinois State remains a first-choice institution. We have a healthy enrollment of more than 20,000 students while maintaining academic quality and small class sizes. Illinois State remains an affordable option. We did not raise tuition or fees this year and disbursed $45 million in merit- and need-based aid and tuition waivers. College Factual ranked us as the 22nd Best College for the Money out of 1,200 schools across the country. Diversity is a core value at Illinois State. We foster an inclusive environment characterized by cultural understanding, ethical behavior, and social justice. Graduation rates for our African American and Hispanic students far exceed the national average. Our overall graduation rate is in the Top 10% nationwide. Your grades, achievements, and activities during high school typically determine the scholarships for which you are eligible. Often, the organization or individual donor providing the scholarship wishes to reward or encourage specific characteristics or behaviors such as strong academic credentials, leadership, community service activities, or plans to enter a particular profession. Scholarships come from a variety of sources. Some are available through Illinois State University. Our ScholarshipFinder can also help you find awards within the University. Professional organizations, social clubs, employers, community organizations, and individual donors provide many more. Each scholarship provider determines when and how they will select the recipient, whether or not the award is renewable year after year, when the Money will be awarded, and how it should be used. The more often you are searching and applying for scholarships, the less likely you will miss something you could have qualified. Most scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. Usually, that means applications are accepted in the fall or spring, winners are notified a few weeks to a few months later, and the actual awards are made the next fall. Unfortunately, because of this timing, if you are trying to cover an outstanding bill you have right now, scholarships are unlikely to help. Student Access and Accommodation Services is proud to have the privilege each year to offer scholarships to students with disabilities and medical/mental health conditions at Illinois State University. The scholarships offered are due to donors' generosity who has a passion for encouraging our students with disabilities and medical/mental health conditions and providing the opportunities to realize their personal and professional goals. The realization of these goals will lead our students to become alumni of Illinois State University. They possess the skills to become successful individuals capable of making contributions to every facet of our society. We offer many programs and services to support our diverse campus population. From student organizations and events to scholarships and mentors, you will flourish academically and socially. Civic engagement is a core value at Illinois State. We are one of only 50 U.S. colleges named a Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Leadership Institution. Getting ready to begin your college career starts long before you make your first campus visit. We're here to help you through each step. If you earned college hours while in high school or enrolled at another college during the summer between high school and your attendance at Illinois State in the fall, you will still be classified as a freshman. Our rising graduation rate, high alumni earning power, and overall affordability make Illinois State one of the Midwest's best values. And your tuition is locked in for four years, giving you peace of mind. Our career center prepares you, so you're ready when 500+ employers visit campus each year. Grow your professional network before you graduate. Internship advisors and job fairs help you pave the way. Grad school in your future? Our undergraduate programs set you up for success. We even have an advisor just for pre-professional students. Compete to earn big bucks in the Startup Showcase, or significant in entrepreneurship. Illinois State ranks among the Top 100 best national public universities based on academic quality and student success, according to U.S. News & World Report. We're the only University in Illinois with advisors specially trained to work with first-year students. That's one reason why 81% of our freshmen return for the sophomore year. Our Honors Program focuses on enrichment over acceleration. Access unique learning experiences and scholarships, along with research and travel opportunities. Combine a world language with your principal and unlock study abroad opportunities. Our faculty work with students to discover new knowledge, develop big ideas, and change the world through quality research and exploration. In a complicated part of the world, one Illinois State professor studies how artists pursue provocative works despite political obstacles.

The Illinois College of Optometry is one of the world’s leading optometric institutions. Our size and reputation often precede us, and we think that is a good thing. It means our students are making a real difference in optometry and the world. Located in Chicago, ICO has earned its popularity. We have been perfecting our curriculum and craft since 1872. Thanks to our distinguished faculty, collaborative student community, and unmatched clinical resources, ICO graduates enter the real world best prepared to practice optometry. Practicing doctors often say they “can just tell” when an optometrist comes from ICO. An OD from our school is not just a piece of paper; it means you have seen diverse ocular conditions, can practice with confidence, and are backed by the largest alumni support network anywhere. At the Illinois College of Optometry, we help you answer this question with one word: “Prepared.” We are committed to you, the student of optometry- not just the great doctor you will become but also the whole person you are destined to be. ICO is dedicated solely to optometry- and proud of it. Our top-notch faculty and courses promise to support you from day one. In your first year at ICO, you will get hands-on clinical experience with real patients in the Illinois Eye Institute. Imagine what you can achieve by Commencement. At ICO, we do our best to cultivate lifelong collaborators. Our campus offers a convenient space to live and study in- not to mention proximity to the heart of Chicago. After graduation, the same teammates you explored the city will become your lifelong colleagues. So, WHY, ICO? By the time you graduate, you will have a strong academic, clinical, and cultural foundation. Our students agree. See success from their perspective with our exam scores, testimonials, and student blog. Choose ICO, and you will be prepared- for optometry, for life. The mission of the Illinois College of Optometry is to develop highly qualified clinical optometrists through excellence in optometric education. You have already chosen optometry. Now, it is time to find the perfect place to earn your OD. Students from all over the world seek out ICO for our commitment to future optometrists. Our curriculum, clinical resources, alumni network, and student community all come together to prepare effective doctors. In short, we are ready for you. We hope your next big choice is ICO. If you are interested in the ICO application process, please read through our Course Requirements, Cost of Attendance, and How to Apply. We have plenty of information for International candidates, as well as individuals seeking Financial Aid. Of course, nothing beats a campus visit, so we hope to see you in Chicago soon. ICO welcomes enthusiastic candidates from all over the world. We do our best to make the international application process easy to understand. So, no matter where you are from, you can smoothly transition into a fantastic doctor. To apply, international candidates must fulfill all general admission requirements, including the OAT and recommendation letters. You must have earned a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with at least 90 semester credit hours of undergraduate coursework. If you have completed college-level coursework at schools outside the United States or Canada, or if your transcripts are not in English, the transcripts must be submitted to an official evaluation service. ICO accepts transcript evaluations from World Education Services and Educational Credential Evaluators. The evaluation board must send the official copy of the evaluation directly to ICO’s admissions office. ICO’s Student Financial Services is here to help you find the most affordable ways to finance your education and manage your student loans. Feel free to contact us directly at any time. We look forward to working with you through this important decision. When you apply for admission, your application is automatically reviewed for academic scholarships. You do not need to apply separately. Scholarships are based on academic merit, and recipients are notified at the time of acceptance. Forget the days of undergrad education, where general classes were taken to earn credit hours. Every second of ICO’s 4-year program is optometry-focused. Our students receive an unmatched clinical experience, including hands-on patient care in the IEI beginning in their very first year. Of course, we know that being a doctor extends beyond eye care. ICO offers courses in financial literacy, practice management, and other real-world aspects of optometry. Our top-notch resources expose students to tomorrow’s technologies and modes of practice. In addition to a rich clinical education, ICO gives its students a firm foundation rooted in biomedical science. Introductory biomedical courses are spread across our program's first two years: human anatomy, immunology, and pharmacology. Interactive laboratories complement many of these. From basic human sciences to high-level ophthalmic studies, every ICO course is presented through the lens of primary eye care. Our curriculum visits optics, ocular anatomy, physiology, visual perception, neuroanatomy, sensory aspects of vision, and color vision. Thus, every moment ICO students spend in a classroom is a moment spent preparing for real life. Students gain high-quality experiences in primary eye care, pediatric optometry, binocular vision, low vision rehabilitation, contact lenses, emergency care, and ocular disease in the clinical program. The clinical program is student-centered, beginning in the lecture-laboratory setting and advancing to a one-to-one relationship between students and patients. ICO’s faculty works both in the lecture hall and in the clinic. So, students receive supportive, personalized education in every environment.

The University of Illinois at Springfield provides an intellectually rich, collaborative, and intimate learning environment for students, faculty, and staff while serving local, regional, state, national, and international communities. UIS serves its students by building a faculty whose members have a passion for teaching and create an environment that nurtures learning. Our faculty members engage students in small classes and experiential learning settings. At UIS, the undergraduate and graduate curricula and the professional programs emphasize liberal arts, interdisciplinary approaches, lifelong learning, and engaged citizenship. UIS provides its students with the knowledge, skills, and experience that lead to productive careers in the private and public sectors. UIS serves the pursuit of knowledge by encouraging and valuing excellence in scholarship. Scholarship at UIS is broadly defined. Faculty members are engaged in the scholarship of discovery, integration, application, and teaching. Excellence in teaching and meaningful service depends on a foundation of excellence in scholarship. One vital area in which UIS extends its scholarship, teaching, learning, and expertise beyond the campus is in the broad area of public affairs. From its location in the state capital, UIS shapes and informs public policy, trains tomorrow's leaders, and enriches its learning environment through a wide range of public affairs activities, programs, and organizations. UIS empowers its students, faculty, and staff by being a leader in online education and classroom technology. UIS uses technology to enhance its unique learning environment and extend that environment beyond the campus's boundaries. Online learning at Illinois Springfield offers flexibility and convenience with the same high quality as our on-campus coursework. The Counseling Center provides counseling, outreach, and psychological consultation to UIS students. Counseling services are free of charge to UIS students that have paid the Health and Counseling Fee. UIS embraces diversity as part of our success and excellence. We are committed to having a campus that celebrates diversity, and recruits diverse talent, making every student feel included and welcome. We have many services and academic accommodations offered for students who are registered with us. We value every student and are committed to working together with the University community. The Office of Disability Services is here to ensure students with disabilities receive the academic accommodations needed for their classroom success. We collaborate with the faculty to facilitate the implementation of these academic accommodations. The reasonable accommodations recommended for each student is based upon an interview with the student and the documentation provided to us about their disability. We believe that every individual is capable of learning, and we respect the many different learning styles of our students. We encourage independence and help facilitate a sense of self-worth in our students. Our campus values diversity in that 20% of the students on our campus are from other countries. All students are admitted into the University of Illinois Springfield with the same admission standards. The University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign has a rich history of accommodating individuals with disabilities before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Springfield campus is respectful of this history and is happy to be a part of the University of Illinois. A university is a place where people from different cultures and experiences learn together. We include and value all of the members of our campus community. The Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost oversees academic and budgetary policy and priorities, ensures the faculty and student body's quality, and maintains educational excellence. The VCAA/Provost reports to the Chancellor and serves as the university's chief academic and budget officer. She/he provides leadership for mission-driven academic and co-curricular endeavors and functions, coordinates academic affairs initiatives and programs with other university divisions, directs activities surrounding the implementation and achievement of the academic mission, and coordinates university budget and planning activities. In 1960, a group of central Illinois citizens, united in bringing a four-year university to the capital city, formed the Springfield Committee for Higher Education. Legislation creating Sangamon State University (SSU) was signed in 1969. The first classes were held in 1970, which is considered the founding year of SSU.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, now in its second century, is a major public higher education institution dedicated to quality academic endeavors in teaching and research, to supportive programming for student needs and development, to significant social and economic initiatives in the community, regional, and statewide contexts, and affirmative action and equal opportunity. Enrolling students throughout Illinois and the United States and from a large number of foreign countries, SIUC actively promotes the intellectual and social benefits of cultural pluralism, encourages the participation of non-traditional groups, and intentionally provides a cosmopolitan and general education context which expands student horizons and leads to superior undergraduate education. Seeking to meet the educational, vocational, social, and personal needs of its diverse population of students and fully realize their potential is a central purpose of the University. Emphasis on accessibility and regional service, which creates distinctive instructional, research, and public service programs, also gives SIUC its unique character among the nation's research universities. It underlies other academic developments, such as its extensive doctoral programs and the schools of medicine and law. Committed to the concept that research and creative activity are inherently valuable, the University supports intellectual exploration at advanced levels in traditional disciplines and in numerous specialized research undertakings, some of which are related directly to the southern Illinois region. Research directions are evolved from staff and faculty strengths and mature in keeping with long-term preparation and planning. Even as the University continually strives to perpetuate high quality in both instruction and research, it continues a long tradition of service to its community and region. Its unusual strengths in the creative and performing arts provide wide-ranging educational, entertainment, and cultural opportunities for its students, faculty, staff, and the public. Its public service programs and its involvement in the civic and social development of the region are manifestations of a general commitment to enhancing the quality of life through the exercise of academic skills and application of problem-solving techniques. SIUC seeks to help solve social, economic, educational, scientific, and technological problems, thereby improving the well-being of those whose lives come into contact with it. Siu is where brains and heart intersect. Our beautiful campus is home to significant opportunities in several fields. We welcome students from all walks of life from around the world and pride ourselves on inclusivity. SIU embraces a unique tradition of access and opportunity, inclusive excellence, innovation in research and creativity, and outstanding teaching focused on nurturing student success. As a nationally-ranked public research university and regional economic catalyst, we create and exchange knowledge to shape future leaders, improve our communities, and transform lives. At SIU, we've made it part of our mission to dismantle anything that stands between people and discovery. Whether through scholarships, grants, or loans, we put your college experience within reach. We will guide you through the process and will be available to assist you every step along the way, ensuring that every person has the opportunity to succeed at SIU. University Honors Program (UHP) is a university-wide undergraduate program intended to reward SIU's best students for their high academic achievements. We value community, diversity, leadership, service, lifelong learning, global awareness, and research, and are committed to providing both experience and opportunity to foster those values. The heart of the UHP is its small classes, unique and specially created for UHP students by outstanding UHP faculty to satisfy requirements of the University Core Curriculum and the student's major. We provide a taste of the private college experience at a state university price. Disability Support Services provides the required academic and programmatic support services to students with permanent and temporary disabilities. Disability services are located throughout the University in integrated settings. DSS provides centralized coordination and referral services. In order to utilize DSS services, students must come to the disability office to open cases. The process involves interviews, reviews of student-supplied documentation, and completing Disability Accommodation Agreements. The Center for Learning Support Services (CLSS) assists students of all cultures, abilities, backgrounds, and identities with becoming self-regulated learners who continually work to improve their academic performance through tutoring, academic coaching, and test preparation workshops. The Dean of Students Unit collaborates with students, campus, and the local community to provide a transformational experience that encourages Saluki pride, character, responsibility, initiative, respect, and values of diversity, academic achievement, engagement, service, leadership, and excellence. Founded in 1869 as the state's second teachers college – with a dozen academic departments and an inaugural class of 143 – SIU Carbondale is the Southern Illinois University System's flagship campus. It is a strong, diverse, student-centered research-intensive and comprehensive University that recently earned the prestigious 2015 community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. That designation reflects our longstanding commitment to service and outreach. In 2013 alone, 237,000 central and southern Illinois residents benefited from 578 initiatives with more than 3,000 community partners. Diversity is an integral part of our legacy, dating to the inaugural class of 143 that included two African American students. Today, minority students make up 29 percent of our total enrollment. SIU Carbondale ranks among the nation's top colleges and universities in the number of degrees awarded to students in ethnic and racial minority groups. The physical beauty of the region is a major attraction to students, faculty, and visitors. Sixty miles to the south of Carbondale is the historic confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the two forming the southern tip of Illinois. Situated within 10 miles of the campus are two state parks, the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, and four large recreational lakes. Much of the area is a part of the 240,000-acre Shawnee National Forest.

SIUE is a nationally recognized university that provides students with a high-quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose to shape a changing world. Built on the foundation of broad-based liberal education and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River's rich bottomland's natural beauty and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home a diverse student body of more than 14,000. SIUE awards degrees in undergraduate and graduate programs encompassing the arts, sciences, nursing, education, health, human behavior, business, and engineering. The Schools of Dental Medicine and Pharmacy award first-professional doctoral degrees in dental medicine (DMD) and pharmacy (PharmD). Doctoral programs are available in nursing practice and educational leadership. Cooperative Ph.D. programs in history, environmental resources and policy, engineering science, and computer science are offered with SIU Carbondale. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a student-centered educational community dedicated to communicating, expanding, and integrating knowledge. In a spirit of collaboration enriched by diverse ideas, our comprehensive and unique array of undergraduate and graduate programs develops professionals, scholars, and leaders who shape a changing world. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will achieve greater national and global recognition and academic prominence through innovative and interdisciplinary programs that empower individuals to achieve their full potential. If you are looking for a college experience full of discovery and challenge, SIUE is the place for you. Our innovative academic programs, welcoming campus environment, and supportive faculty and staff will prepare you for the challenges of today's competitive work force and graduate school. SIUE's graduate programs are tailored to meet your individual needs. Graduate education provides students the capacity to understand, create, integrate, and apply discipline-specific knowledge. SIUE is home to more than 430 international students from nearly 51 countries. SIUE is known for its welcoming and friendly environment and offers strong support for international students with admissions, immigration, academic advising, career placement, and cultural integration. Built on the foundation of broad-based liberal education and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the education our students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places in which to live. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is committed to serving the educational needs of individuals in all stages of life. You can complete a degree or participate in professional training programs. We offer a wide range of credentials to help you advance your career. Our flexible options include online, evening, and weekend classes to meet the needs of busy adults. Victory Media named SIUE a Military Friendly School, which places us in the top 20 percent of colleges doing the most to embrace service members, veterans, and spouses to ensure their success on campus. The Office of Veteran Services helps veterans and their families successfully navigate the college transition. SIUE partners with corporations, small businesses, and municipalities to assist with workforce training, research, staffing, and facility rentals. We provide expertise in a variety of fields to help your organization succeed. SIUE provides affordable education and a variety of services to prepare students for life after college. Our friendly staff is here to help you with everything from managing college expenses to crafting the perfect resume. Your SIUE education will prepare you for more than just a successful career. It will prepare you to live a life of purpose. With 46 baccalaureate, two professional, and 54 graduate programs, including two professional doctorates to choose from, SIUE offers the scholar in you the chance to earn a degree in an environment of vibrant learning and discovery. The best part about being a Cougar is that you do not have to navigate your academic journey alone. While you lead the charge toward academic success with careful planning and hard work, we have made available a wealth of resources to support you along the way. Here, you will find everything you need to expand your learning beyond the classroom. Advisors in the Office of Academic Advising help incoming newcomers and transfer students make a smooth transition to the university and assist undergraduate students who have not officially declared a major. Learning Support Services (LSS) provides free peer-to-peer course-specific tutoring. In addition to tutoring, LSS assists with other areas such as note-taking, time management, test-taking skills, etc. LSS is also the home of The Writing Center and the Speech Center. These Centers allow for students to work through papers and speeches to ensure they are maximizing their efforts in SIUE courses. Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR) is an academic program dedicated to helping underrepresented students excel during their educational experiences at SIUE. Upon being admitted to the program, students will receive academic advising from SOAR advisors, free tutoring from knowledgeable and experienced tutors, in addition to other services such as mentoring and professional workshops.

Since its inception, Robert Morris University Illinois has focused heavily on applying and integrating concepts that allow graduates to meet the expectations and demands of employers. As one of the largest, private, not for profit colleges in Illinois, RMU prepares students to be practitioners in their chosen fields, socially responsible to their communities, and a foundation for their families. Robert Morris University offers professional, career-focused education in a collegiate setting to diverse communities. This mission is consistently at the root of our decision-making, our methods of academic delivery and support, and the outcomes we strive to achieve. Experiential learning, a current buzzword in higher education, has been at the center of RMA's educational model for decades. By utilizing the city as an extended classroom and administering a career-focused curriculum, experience-based learning (EBL) is at the core of each student's success. Through the Chicago Experience, students engage in activities that are not traditional to university learning, providing them with new exposure and perspectives that help students engage with course material, understand their role in the community, and civic and social responsibility. At Robert Morris University Illinois, you find the breadth and depth of programs that enable you to create your career path combined with personal attention and Experience-based Learning. Since 1913, the curriculum has focused heavily on applying and integrating concepts that allow graduates to meet the expectations and demands of employers. As one of the largest, private, not-for-profit colleges, RMU offers an extensive list of degree programs from traditional business to graphic design, networking, psychology, nursing, and accounting. No other institution can deliver the level of individual attention that we give to our students each day. Our intensive team approach to education includes professors, career & academic advisors, coaches, and administrators who work together as one team to help you meet all of your educational goals. College should be more than time spent in a classroom. At Robert Morris University, Illinois, there are plenty of opportunities to experience growth beyond the classroom and have fun. The Center for Professional Advancement provides Robert Morris University students and alumni from every discipline enhanced opportunities for academic, personal, and professional growth through industry-leading internships, high-impact integration center projects, and focused career strategy development. The Center for Professional Advancement is the product of our belief that career preparedness can be best achieved through experience-based learning within and beyond the classroom. We have redefined educational expectations based on what employers demand by immersing students into the real world while adding their resume experience.

Northern Illinois University is a place where future generations of leaders are learning today for productive tomorrows. Guided by our Vision 2020 Initiative, a strategic road map toward becoming the most student-centered public research university in the Midwest, we produce creative critical-thinkers and communicators. Students here enjoy unlimited and life-changing opportunities for enriched and engaged learning, bolstered by our strong emphasis on undergraduate research and honors. The vision of Northern Illinois University is to be the premier student-centered, research-focused public university in the Midwest, contributing to the advancement of knowledge to benefit the region, the state, the nation, and the world. With this vision, the mission of the University is to promote excellence and engagement in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, creativity and artistry, and outreach and service. Chartered in 1895, Northern Illinois University first opened its doors in 1899 as the Northern Illinois State Normal School to prepare college-educated teachers. Today, NIU is a world-class university that attracts students worldwide, but we remain deeply committed to providing an excellent and affordable higher education to Illinois families, some of whom have never sent a child to college before. Over the next 120 years, enrollment grew 145-fold as the campus spread to 755 acres and became home to nearly 60 buildings and 25,000 students at its peak. World War II and the wars in Korea and Vietnam accelerated enrollment as returning veterans put their GI Bill benefits to working. The school became Northern Illinois State College on July 1, 1955, and Northern Illinois University on July 1, 1957. The Illinois General Assembly granted NIU its governing board in 1996. Regional education centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Rockford were built to better meet residents' needs throughout the University's vital service region. When you enroll at NIU, you are assigned an academic advisor who will help guide you toward educational achievement. Our advisors do not just help you choose the classes. They provide you with the resources you need to make your NIU experience a success. We are all in this together, but your involvement counts – by meeting with your advisor every semester, you will take charge of your academic progress. If you have declared your major, contact your college advising office to make an appointment with your advisor. If you are undecided or are considering changing your major, an advisor in the Academic Advising Center will help you explore your options. Become a global citizen! Studying abroad makes you highly desirable to employers and transforms the way you see the world. Choose a program that fits your major and schedule. Our study abroad opportunities include 80 countries and range from 10 days to full academic years. Plus, we will make your study abroad experience affordable through financial aid and scholarships. Turn your passion into an exciting and rewarding career. Our Graduate Research Program offers more than traditional education. Through our unique programs, you will explore your field through hands-on research. You will study under a diverse and supportive faculty who make significant contributions in their respective fields. Their guidance and encouragement help you navigate your research successfully. Do fieldwork. Attend international conferences. Collaborate with world-renowned experts in your field. Make connections and networks. This program is precisely what you want it to be. Graduate ready to take the world by storm. NIU only recognizes degrees awarded by regionally accredited institutions or foreign institutions that have equivalent recognition. For example, suppose you are from India. In that case, we consider institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), designated by the UGC as deemed to be a university, or designated as an Institute of National Importance as possessing the equivalent to regional accreditation. Usually, to be considered for admission, a non-U.S. citizen shall have completed a four-year undergraduate degree. NIU strives to create an environment that celebrates diversity to prepare students for a global workforce and to enrich the lives of all who live, study, and work here. The Office of Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are focused on helping NIU's diverse student population succeed in their educational goals, find supportive communities and graduate with the skills and experience needed to coexist with people from all backgrounds. Each floor on campus promotes academic success and offers programs tied to transition students as they move through their college years. Our residential communities go one step further in strengthening connections between you, faculty, and other Huskies. Connect to faculty and engage in hands-on learning experiences through field trips and career-related activities. Each community requires you to be fully committed to participating in programming and learning opportunities throughout the year. Living on campus with our 5,000 other residents allows you to meet people from different cultures, countries, and ethnic backgrounds that may become lifelong friends and forge relationships with staff that are here to support you along your journey. Residence hall communities are where you can live with other students and socialize with others who share your academic and career interests. Partnerships with faculty and student support centers enable you to learn where you live.

A fully accredited public university serves the Chicago metropolitan area, offering programs in the arts, sciences, business, and education. Founded in 1867, Northeastern Illinois University has a rich tradition of educational innovation and prides itself on preparing teachers and administrators who make a difference in Chicago. That tradition continues to this day and has expanded to include an array of academic disciplines, allowing the University to embrace fully the community in which it resides. Northeastern is regarded as the most diverse public comprehensive University in the Midwest and is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Diversity is an essential factor in the character of Northeastern and in the social fabric of its student body. The University has approximately 9,000 students, African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American students represent roughly 60 percent of the student body. With the Main Campus located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago, the University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure, and endorsement programs. As a comprehensive public university with locations throughout Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University provides an exceptional environment for learning, teaching, and scholarship. We prepare a diverse community of students for leadership and service in our region and a dynamic multicultural world. Northeastern Illinois University will be a leader among metropolitan universities, known for its dedication to its urban mission, for the quality of its programs, for the success of its graduates, and the diversity of its learning environment. Northeastern Illinois University is committed to a set of shared values that, taken collectively, guides our actions and interactions as we work together to prepare graduates for the responsible exercise of civic participation. We, the NEIU community, believe our democracy must create a space in which the commitment to these values results in a thriving educational community that transforms all lives. As we take stock of the present and look to the future, these values serve as the touchstone for planning how we will best achieve the educational mission entrusted to us. Together with Northeastern Illinois University President Gloria J. Gibson, the executive team oversees the University's Strategic Plan by providing leadership in specific operational areas. Organized to promote the University's mission, individually and collectively, they support student learning, teaching, research, optimizing and securing financial resources, and engaging the broader community. We believe that money should not be a barrier to your pursuit of an excellent college education. There are many student financial aid resources out there, and we're here to help you take advantage of them. Eighty-one percent of our students receive some form of financial assistance. Our financial aid office is here to help you create a financial plan that works for you. Northeastern offers a rigorous academic experience tailored to your needs. We think the pursuit of excellence happens best in a supportive, individualized environment. The diversity of our faculty and students means that you will benefit from both the understanding that comes from shared cultural backgrounds and the enrichment that comes from various cultures. The educational experience at Northeastern involves hands-on learning, field research, and community engagement. The academic environment includes opportunities for you to participate in research and present at conferences with faculty. We boast a high student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Our faculty are unique scholars who are passionate about teaching. The range of our academic offerings has broadened considerably since our beginnings in 1867 as Chicago's premier teacher's college. Today you can choose from more than 60 undergraduate majors and minors and 37 master's degrees. To ensure that all qualified students have access to higher education, we offer an array of evening and weekend classes and are located at five distinct Chicago locations. We understand that logistic concerns make a difference in balancing university life, work and home life, and community engagement. We pay special attention to the needs of transfer students. We know that a good college education means more than just knowledge acquisition–mentoring relationships and experiential learning are also crucial. Student Leadership Development strives to enhance our students' college experience through student engagement. We nurture students as they emerge on campus. We guide them as they advance through their collegiate career. We support them as they develop transferable skills. We advise them as they evolve into global citizens. We celebrate them as they recognize their potential. Student Leadership Development engages our diverse and often non-traditional students through programming, service projects, experiential learning, and leadership opportunities designed to enhance their college experience. Northeastern Illinois University is committed to graduating students who will be leaders in their professional careers and communities. Student Leadership Development offers a wide range of training opportunities and out-of-classroom experiences that encourage NEIU students to assess and develop the skills needed for effective leadership and multicultural understanding.