Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles

ACI Board of Trustees Appoints April Arnold as ACI Executive Director

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Board of Trustees of Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) (https://acifund.org) appointed April Arnold, CFRE, as ACI executive director, succeeding Mick Weltman, who will retire after leading the organization for nearly eight years. Arnold brings substantial experience as a leader and fundraiser in higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. She begins her leadership role with ACI July 5.

Currently, Arnold is an independent consultant who has worked with organizations such as Kidsmatter, Naperville, Illinois, and Futures Fundamentals, Chicago.

Arnold, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, said she is honored to be selected as ACI's next executive director. "My passion has always been to support youth," she said. "As a first-generation college student, I understand what degree completion means not only for student success, but also for the success of the family. My own experience would have been quite different without encouragement and guidance from others. To me, the secret sauce of ACI is in what we can do to augment resources, provide connections, and foster opportunities to support the colleges and universities served."

Arnold's experience as a fundraiser was key in her selection as executive director, said Lyn Bulman, chair of the ACI Board of Trustees. "The breadth of her not-for-profit experience, and particularly her time in higher education, was also an attraction," she commented. "In addition to her previous roles, everyone who met April as part of the selection process felt that she would be a good fit with ACI's culture. I am confident that April Arnold will be a worthy successor and a strong ambassador for ACI's mission."

Arnold's previous work experience includes serving as operations director for Sounds Good Choir, NFP, Downers Grove, Illinois, from 2019 to 2022. In that role, she established procedures and operations for the startup organization that serves hundreds of older adults in the Chicago area through community-based choirs. Her success included annual fundraising campaigns that increased at least 9 percent each year.

In higher education roles, she was director of corporate and foundation relations at Northern Illinois University (NIU) from 2014 to 2018. At NIU, she developed new giving policies, raised $2.5 million towards scholarship and program support, and secured one of the largest seven-figure gifts to the foundation. From 2007 to 2013, Arnold worked at Elmhurst University, Elmhurst, Illinois, an ACI member, where she was director of institutional giving and served in other senior development roles. Among her achievements were generating more than $1 million in new gifts to support capital, endowed and annual initiatives, raising $1.7 million toward a department goal of $3 million, organizing a signature fundraising event that netted more than $300,000 annually and establishing corporate alumni gatherings to build engagement.

In addition, Arnold held senior-level development and marketing roles with several nonprofit organizations, including Elmhurst Art Museum; Museum Explorer, Inc., North Riverside, Illinois, where she was also co-founder; DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville; plus Arts Alliance Illinois, Classic Digital, Inc., and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, all in Chicago.

Arnold became a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) in March 2020. She is also active in community service activities. In 2019, she was named Outstanding Volunteer for West Suburban Philanthropic Network, Wheaton. Since 2019, she has served on the DuPage Board of Directors for Metropolitan Family Services, Wheaton, and is development and stewardship chair. She previously served on the board for Family Shelter Service, Wheaton, and served on strategic planning committees for DuPage Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and DuPage Arts for All.

Arnold and her family reside in suburban Chicago.

About Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI):

ACI is a collaboration of 26 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, careers and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, emergency financial aid and peer mentoring, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences, college-to-career seminars and other events.

Learn more: https://acifund.org/

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles

Associated Colleges of Illinois Prepares for 70th Anniversary Celebration April 22

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) will mark its 70th year of service to Illinois colleges and universities, and their students, in a special fundraising event in Chicago April 22. ACI's 70th Anniversary Celebration (https://acifund.org/2022-celebration/), to be held at the University Club of Chicago, will bring together a variety of supporters in business and higher education, along with students from the organization's 26 member colleges and universities (https://acifund.org/member-college-directory/).

The purpose of the event is to celebrate ACI's 70 years' service to the state's higher education system, focusing on the liberal arts and sciences, and to raise funds for scholarships and programs that support students attending member institutions. Many of the students ACI supports today are first-generation college students.

"In 1952, 22 Illinois private colleges formed ACI with the purpose of working with industry to ensure diversified funding which would help them remain independent," said Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. "We're proud to say that after 70 years, 11 charter-member colleges and universities are still with ACI, and the funding purpose still remains." In its 70-year history, ACI has provided more than $70 million in scholarship support to member institutions, he added.

"Another purpose in forming ACI was that industry supporters would benefit from the flow of graduates from member schools entering the workforce," Weltman said. "We have continued that purpose by working schools and industry on multiple workforce development initiatives."

The 70th Anniversary Celebration will include a reception and dinner, followed by a program, featuring Tracie Morris, U.S. chief human resources officer and chief inclusion officer, BMO Financial Group. Students who benefitted from ACI scholarships will speak, including Carlos Robles, recently graduated from Saint Xavier University, Chicago, and Mia Pitts-Hope, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. The North Park University Jazz Ambassadors will provide live music, while other members have provided recorded music presentations. Former Chicago television anchor Rob Johnson, president, Rob Johnson Communications, and ACI board member, is master of ceremonies.

Earlier in the day, presidents from member colleges and universities will attend the ACI Presidents Forum, where they will discuss current legal issues in higher education, plus workforce recruitment and retention, and related challenges. The ACI Board of Trustees will meet in the organization's annual meeting, which includes presentation of the organization's annual business plan, budget for the upcoming fiscal year and other business items.

The number of 70th Anniversary Celebration sponsors this year reached a new high for the organization in recent years. They are Husch Blackwell, a Patron-level sponsor, and several Partner-level sponsors: Baker Tilly, Environmental Design International, Fiducient Advisors, Gallagher, Hogan Marren Babbo Rose, Ltd., Jackson Lewis, KRD Accountants, Consultants, Advisors, Robbins Schwartz, Sikich and TTX.

A limited number of tickets for the 70th Anniversary Celebration are still available through the event webpage: https://acifund.org/2022-celebration/.

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 26 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, careers and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events.

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Funding and Investment

Associated Colleges of Illinois Awarded Grant to Help Improve Four-Year Degree Completion Rates for Community College Transfer Students

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) (https://acifund.org), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) were awarded a $25,000 planning grant to conduct research and develop an implementation plan to help more community college transfer students earn bachelor's degrees at ACI-affiliated colleges and universities.

The Teagle Foundation (https://www.teaglefoundation.org/Home), New York City, and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (https://www.avdf.org/), Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, awarded the planning grant, called "Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts." Collaborative research and planning work is expected to begin July 1 and be completed at the end of the 2021 calendar year.

"We're excited about the grant award and this initial phase to build enrollment and financial support for community college transfer students," said Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. "We're also pleased to collaborate with statewide team members such as ICCB and IBHE in this initial planning effort."

The grant proposal quotes research that states that 65 percent of jobs in today's economy require at least some postsecondary education, and yet, significant numbers of Illinois residents have no post-secondary degrees or credentials. Illinois established a goal of increasing the proportion of residents who hold high-quality degrees or credentials to 60 percent by 2025. In addition, more than 7 of 10 students who earned associate's degrees, then transferred to four-year institutions, earned four-year degrees in two years, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.

To meet the terms of the planning grant, ACI, the ICCB and the IBHE will form the Illinois Project Leadership Team. Team members will conduct academic and financial research, aimed at improving academic transferability and development of a campaign and fundraising plan to assist community college transfer students and Illinois higher-education institutions, according to the grant proposal.

The academic component, led by a project investigator, will involve collaborative research to help the project leadership team determine "effective strategies that can streamline and strengthen existing pathways," the grant proposal said. The team will also study a statewide community college transfer agreement among ACI-affiliated colleges and universities.

The financial research component will include resource development opportunities to fund community college students transferring to ACI-member institutions, and how best to obtain financial support.

A project investigator and ACI will use the research results to development a case for supporting more scholarships for community college transfer students and the expected effect on transfer degree-completion rates. The team will also develop a fundraising plan.

The project team will include ACI Executive Director Mick Weltman (mweltman@acifund.org), ACI staff, faculty and provost from ACI-member Judson University (https://www.judsonu.edu/), provost from Lincoln Land Community College, IBHE, ICCB leaders and an independent financial consultant.

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 267 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, careers and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events.

Visit ACI's website (https://acifund.org) for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:
John Brooks
Associated Colleges of Illinois
jbrooks@acifund.org
Phone 312-263-2391

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Education and Schools, Free News Articles

Associated Colleges of Illinois to Host March 9 Virtual Event Focused on Solutions to Illinois’ Economic Challenges

CHICAGO, Ill. -- College presidents, corporate leaders and students will lead an Associated Colleges of Illinois' (https://acifund.org) virtual event March 9, at 11 a.m., focused on how educators and the business community are working together to offer solutions to economic challenges faced by Illinois' companies, schools and students.

Registration (ow.ly/NzAm50DNZCo) for the virtual event is open through March 9. The video program can be viewed on ACI's website (https://acifund.org/march-9-virtual-event/).

Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2q_DTK-PnKPDVx42kIlZUvzEnnlUeOxNXRw9kprHVG76-xw/viewform

The event, "A Smarter Solution: How the Liberal Arts and Business Community Together are Solving Illinois Challenges," includes discussion of ACI's extensive alumni employment data (https://acifund.org/member-employment-data/). Presidents of four ACI-affiliated colleges and universities, a Fortune 500 company CEO and two corporate members of ACI's Board of Trustees, including a student, will be presenters.

The virtual event is planned for 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. CST. President Jamel Santa Cruze Wright, Eureka College, will introduce the program and offer concluding remarks. Wright is also ACI president.

Other topics and speakers are:

* What are the challenges? - President Philip G. Ryken, Wheaton College

* How can we meet these challenges? - Kunal Kapoor, CEO, Morningstar, Inc., and graduate of ACI-member Monmouth College

* What do ACI-member schools offer as one solution? - President Teresa L. Amott, Knox College

* What have been the results shown by the employment data? - President Troy D. Hammond, North Central College

* How can you get involved? - Chloe Overstreet, ACI board member and student at ACI-member Eureka College, and Mark A. Vargas, ACI board member and president, Licentiam. Vargas is also a graduate ACI-member Judson University.

After the virtual event, a recording will be available on ACI's YouTube channel.

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 26 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events. Visit ACI's website https://acifund.org for more information.

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Alliances and Partnerships, Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, NonProfit and Charities

St. Louis Firm Mentoring Complete, Associated Colleges of Illinois Partner, Offer Career Mentoring Program for College Seniors

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- A St. Louis firm, Mentoring Complete (https://www.mentoringcomplete.com/), has partnered with Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) (https://acifund.org), a Chicago nonprofit, to offer a Career Mentoring Program to match Illinois college seniors with business mentors. The mentors help guide the seniors as they launch careers.

Funded in part through a National Venture Fund grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (https://www.cic.edu), Washington, D.C., the new mentoring program will be available through career services offices at ACI's 27 member colleges and universities (https://acifund.org/member-college-directory/).

ACI provides scholarships and emergency financial aid to first-generation, low-income students attending private colleges and universities in Illinois, plus career services and peer mentoring for students. Mentoring Complete has considerable experience in successful business and corporate mentoring programs. Clients include Enterprise Holdings, New York Power Authority, OhioHealth and Reach International.

"The design of the program creates consistent interactions, so the mentor and mentee have opportunities to assess how things are progressing, and make adjustments along the way," said Aaron Adams, partner and mentoring expert with Mentoring Complete. The students and their career mentors can also discuss areas of development most important to the student, and the seniors develop a better understanding of how to translate what they have learned in the classroom into the workplace, he added. In some cases, mentors can help mentees find future career opportunities.

"The Career Mentoring Program helps get college seniors engaged at a high level with mentors in their chosen career fields, and helps them begin successful careers and be productive citizens," said Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. Career mentoring complements other components of ACI's College-to-Career program offerings, he said. They include Work and Life Skills Boot Camps, and ACI's Career Development Conference and Career Expo, which help students prepare for careers; micro-internships through Parker Dewey, which help students get valuable work experience while in college; and ACI's job-postings page (https://acifund.org/jobs-and-internships/), which announces positions available for alumni of ACI-affiliated schools.

For the fall term, career mentoring dates are Sept. 15, 2020 to Dec. 15, 2020. Spring program dates are Jan. 15, 2021 to April 30, 2021. ACI will work with career services teams at member colleges and universities to publicize the new program and recruit mentees, who will be placed with potential mentors as available.

ACI will also reach out to corporate sponsors and strategic partners to recruit experienced mentors. People interested in becoming mentors should apply though the career mentoring website (https://www.get.mentoringcomplete.com/aci-business-mentor). Mentors will be paired with mentees for one semester based on availability.

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 27 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events. Visit ACI's website (https://acifund.org) for more information.

Media Contact:
John R. Brooks, APR
Director of Communication
312-263-2391, ext. 3
jbrooks@acifund.org

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Alliances and Partnerships, Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, Product Launches

Associated Colleges of Illinois Initiates Career Mentoring Program for College Seniors

CHICAGO, Ill. -- This fall, Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) (https://acifund.org) is expanding its College-to-Career (https://bit.ly/2ZnBbUx) offerings to include a Career Mentoring Program which matches college seniors with business mentors who will help guide the students as they launch careers. The new mentoring program will be available through career services offices at ACI's 27 member colleges and universities (https://acifund.org/member-college-directory/).

ACI's Career Mentoring Program is funded in part through a National Venture Fund grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (https://www.cic.edu), Washington, D.C.

ACI's Career Mentoring Program is a partnership with Mentoring Complete (https://www.mentoringcomplete.com/), a St. Louis-based firm with considerable experience in successful business and corporate mentoring programs. Among its clients are Enterprise Holdings, New York Power Authority, OhioHealth and Reach International.

"We're designing the Career Mentoring Program to help get college seniors engaged at a high level with mentors in their chosen career fields, and to help them begin successful careers and be productive citizens," said Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. Career mentoring complements other components of ACI's College-to-Career programs, he said.

The programs include Work and Life Skills Boot Camps, and ACI's Career Development Conference and Career Expo, which help students prepare for careers; micro-internships through Parker Dewey, which help students get valuable work experience while in college; and ACI's job-postings page (https://acifund.org/jobs-and-internships/), which announces positions available for alumni of ACI-affiliated schools.

Students and their career mentors can have honest conversations about the areas of development most important to the student, says Aaron Adams, partner and mentoring expert with Mentoring Complete. "The design of the program creates consistent interactions, so the mentor and mentee have opportunities to assess how things are progressing, and make adjustments along the way," he said. "Mentees (students) develop a better understanding of how to translate what they've learned in the classroom into the workplace." In some cases, mentors can help mentees find future career opportunities.

Career Mentoring Program dates for the fall term are Sept. 15, 2020 to Dec. 15, 2020. Spring program dates are Jan. 15, 2021 to April 30, 2021. ACI will work with career services teams at member colleges and universities to publicize the new program and recruit mentees, who will be placed with potential mentors as available.

Meanwhile, ACI will reach out to corporate sponsors and strategic partners to recruit experienced mentors. People interested in becoming mentors should apply though the career mentoring website (https://www.get.mentoringcomplete.com/aci-business-mentor). Mentors will be paired with mentees for one semester based on availability.

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 27 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events. Visit ACI's website (https://acifund.org) for more information.

Contact:
John R. Brooks, APR
Director of Communication
312-263-2391, ext. 3
jbrooks@acifund.org

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles

Associated Colleges of Illinois Board Elects New Leadership for 2020-2021

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) Board of Trustees (https://acifund.org/board-of-trustees/) elected Lyn Bulman, retired executive vice president of global human resources, Fellowes Brands, to a two-year term as board chair. Bulman succeeded Frank D. Cella, managing director, Marsh USA, Inc., who served as ACI's board chair since 2017.

Bulman, Oak Park, Illinois, who previously served as the board's Program Committee Chair, began her new duties this month. "I am delighted to be taking this role," Bulman told the trustees. "I think ACI is a great organization. I'm very proud of the work that we do, and I think there's a lot of great progress going on that we can continue."

The board also elected Angela T. Allen, Mitchell Titus, Chicago, as treasurer and Finance Committee chair. She succeeded Clifton C. Fenton, who served several years in both roles. The board's other officer, Dr. Jamel Wright, president of Eureka College, remained in her role as ACI president.

First-ever student board representative elected

The Board of Trustees elected Chloe Overstreet, a student at Eureka College (https://www.eureka.edu/), Eureka, Illinois, as the board's first student representative in ACI's 68-year history. Overstreet, from Stillman Valley, Illinois, will begin her junior year at Eureka College this fall, majoring in history and political science, and business administration.

Overstreet was nominated by the board's Trusteeship Committee, which began discussions earlier this year about adding a student to further diversify the board. Currently, the board has 37 corporate members, plus the presidents of ACI's 27 member colleges and universities.

Overstreet is a first-generation college student, who started her college career at Eureka shortly after her father died in a work-related accident. Once at Eureka, she joined ACI's Peer Mentoring Program, aimed at helping first-generation college students through their critical first year. She began as a mentee and is now a mentor to incoming first-generation students.

"The program offered both guidance and financial relief as I was beginning college," Overstreet wrote in a letter to the board. "Access to emergency funds provided the relief that I needed to start college." Serving as an ACI board member will provide a student perspective and help other students access opportunities that ACI provides, Overstreet added.

In May, Overstreet recorded a video about her experience at Eureka College and the Peer Mentoring Program for ACI's annual fundraising event, a virtual event this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her video can be viewed at https://acifund.org/2020-aci-virtual-benefit-reception/

New committee chairs, vice chairs elected

The board also elected chairs and vice chairs of its five standing committees. Each was elected to a two-year term:
* Advancement: Anthony LoBello, Chicago, chair, and Donald A. Campbell, Jr., retired from Campbell & Co., vice chair
* Communications: Angie Winschel, Almanac, Inc., St. Louis, chair, and Holly Bartecki, Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications, Chicago, vice chair
* Finance: Angela T. Allen, chair; Bradley Summers, Wells Fargo, Chicago, vice chair
* Program: Debora L. Osgood, Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose, Ltd., Chicago, chair; Justin Lee Allen, BDJ Trucking Co., Schaumburg, vice chair
* Trusteeship: Jerry Murphy, retired from DeVry Education Group, chair; and Barry C. Mastin, Jr., Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Chicago, vice chair

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 27 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, careers and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events.

Visit ACI's website (https://acifund.org) for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:
John Brooks
Associated Colleges of Illinois
jbrooks@acifund.org
Phone 312-263-2391

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles

Associated Colleges of Illinois Employment Data Updated, Shows Nearly 24,000 Illinois College Alumni Working for Top Companies

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Updated research (https://acifund.org/member-employment-data/) shows nearly 24,000 Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) member college and university alumni are employed by 148 top employers throughout the state. The figures were compiled by ACI this spring, updating the organization's original 2019 Member Employment Data research project.

Companies and organizations with the most ACI college and university alumni employees are Advocate Aurora Health, 1,900 employees; Blue Cross/Blue Shield, 1,105 employees; State Farm, 964 employees; J.P. Morgan & Chase Co., 692 employees; and Caterpillar, 689 employees.

Compiled from LinkedIn profiles, the data show how many students (https://bit.ly/3cJ8c0O) from ACI's 27 member institutions (https://acifund.org/member-college-directory/) are employed at the top 148 Illinois companies. There is also additional, detailed employment information for each company and each ACI member.

"These data show that there are thousands of ACI member college and university alumni who have found great careers with hundreds of employers throughout the state," Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. "The data also suggests there are many opportunities at Illinois companies waiting for students preparing for careers right now at ACI colleges and universities. These students gain useful skills and knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences. They also learn to communicate well, solve problems, think critically and adapt to change. There's no question ACI college alumni are an integral part of the state's economy and will be for decades to come."

He added, "Compiled by a student in ACI's micro-internship program, the updated data are displayed on the ACI website in charts, plus new, visual depictions (https://acifund.org/alumni-to-industry/) of the data in a pie charts and bar graphs.

"For nearly 70 years, ACI has focused on independent Illinois colleges and universities, providing scholarships, emergency funds, peer mentoring and more recently, college-to-career education for underserved students."

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 27 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 70,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events.

Visit ACI's website (https://acifund.org) for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:
John Brooks
Associated Colleges of Illinois
jbrooks@acifund.org
Phone 312-263-2391

Related link: https://acifund.org

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles

Associated Colleges of Illinois’ Colleges and Universities Contribute More than $3.5 Billion to Illinois Economy, Updated Figures Show

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Associated Colleges of Illinois' (ACI) 26 member colleges and universities contributed an economic value of more than $3.5 billion to the Illinois economy, according to updated, publicly available information compiled by ACI. In addition, the member schools employed more than 34,000 people, enrolled nearly 70,000 students and provided $900 million in financial aid.

The updated 2019 information is available on the ACI website on the Member School Data web page: https://acifund.org/member-school-data/

Comparative data also shows that ACI member colleges graduate significantly more education and nursing majors than larger, nonmember colleges and universities in Illinois.

"Members, donors, employers and other ACI partners have expressed a significant interest in this information on our website," said Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. "The data shows ACI member colleges and universities have small faculty-student classroom ratios, a wide range of academic programs and majors, and strong employment rates for their students within two years after graduation."

The updated data is available in aggregated form, as well as individual data per member school. ACI's compilation includes several data points about its members:
* Demographic information
* Academic programs
* Employment statistics after graduation
* State economic impact and jobs
* Financial aid provided by each institution

"We want to encourage sharing this information with individuals, families, school personnel, human resources professionals, business contacts and others," Weltman said.

The data were updated by Quinn Leach, intern and graduate of ACI member North Park University, Chicago, and Eli O'Sullivan Kurtz, ACI manager of operations and research, using publicly available sources. Sources included member schools' own websites, plus data from the Federation of Independent Colleges and Universities' Economic Input Calculator and the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

Member School Data: https://acifund.org/member-school-data/

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 26 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 67,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events.

Visit https://acifund.org to learn more about ACI and its member colleges and universities.

Related link:

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, NonProfit and Charities, Reports and Studies

ACI employment data shows at least 23,000 Illinois college alumni working for top companies

CHICAGO, Ill. -- At least 23,000 alumni of Illinois independent colleges and universities are working for 145 top employers throughout the state, according to findings from a three-month research project conducted by Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI). ACI is a Chicago-based nonprofit that serves 27 independent higher education institutions.

The statistics were compiled from LinkedIn profiles by students working in ACI's micro-internship program. The data include how many students from each member institution are employed at each of the 145 companies.

"Much has been written about Illinois students leaving the state to attend college," said Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. "We focused on students who stay in Illinois and attend ACI-affiliated colleges and universities. We found that tens of thousands of students, most of whom study the arts and sciences, are getting great jobs with great companies right here in Illinois. We think this is a story worth telling."

Employers consistently say they are looking for students who can communicate well, solve problems, think critically, can lead project-based teams and adapt well to workplace changes. "These are the skills ACI members teach every day, and it is why their students move into successful careers," Weltman said. "The data shows there is a mutually beneficial relationship between ACI member colleges and universities who provide employees ready to work, and top employers in Illinois who are always looking for great talent to fill their employment needs."

Earlier this year, ACI research established that its members provide a $3.5 billion impact to the Illinois economy. "These 27 schools serve Illinois citizens through education and service, and they provide significant economic value to their communities," Weltman said.

ACI works with companies, foundations and individuals to raise funds for scholarships and peer mentoring for first-generation, low-income students to attend member schools and complete degrees.

Recently, ACI initiated college-to-career programs, such as boot camps to teach workplace skills to college students, career mentoring for senior students, micro-internships and an annual Career Development Conference and Employer Expo, set for Oct. 4 at North Central College, Naperville.

ACI's overall purpose is to help students earn degrees and develop successful careers and lives, Weltman said. "We also want our work to help improve the Illinois economy by maintaining helpful relationships with employers, showing them the value students from ACI colleges and universities bring to the workplace," he added.

Member Employment Data research: https://acifund.org/member-employment-data/

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 27 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 67,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events.

Visit https://acifund.org to learn more about ACI and its member colleges and universities.

For more information, contact:
John R. Brooks
Director of Communication
Office: 312-263-2391, ext. 3
Mobile: 847-894-4529
jbrooks@acifund.org

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