HOPE CHICAGO PRESS RELEASE: JUNE 6, 2022
Hope Chicago formalizes partnerships with 23 Illinois institutions to offer debt-free higher education.
Hope Chicago’s partnerships with its network of 23 Illinois colleges and universities opens the door for the first Hope Scholar cohort to pursue their higher education goals debt-free.
CHICAGO, IL, June 6, 2022 / -- Hope Chicago, the innovative two-generation scholarship program providing college and vocational scholarships to Chicago Public School students and their parents, has announced formal partnerships with 23 Illinois-based colleges and universities to support its inaugural Fall 2022 Hope Scholar cohort.
The 23 in-network institutions include all public 4-year colleges and universities in Illinois, all City Colleges of Chicago, as well as 4 private institutions. Together, these options offer Hope Scholars a broad range of educational programs, career opportunities, and geographic choices across Illinois for their postsecondary experience.
The partnerships between Hope Chicago and in-network institutions formalize the suite of comprehensive support that Hope Scholars will receive throughout their higher education journey. Hope Chicago’s scholarships, alongside additional financial assistance that partners have committed toward Hope Scholars, will provide the funding to pursue postsecondary education, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, a laptop or other academic materials, and an annual stipend.
In addition, Hope Scholars at in-network institutions will receive non-financial support to help them complete their studies. These supports include programming to help graduating seniors prepare for and adjust to postsecondary life, with academic, social emotional, and career exploration. Each partner will also designate a single point of contact for Hope Scholars to help them navigate the collegiate environment, encourage placement in campus programs, and connect them to academic, financial and career advising. Taken together, this support will increase Hope Scholars’ likelihood of staying on track to graduate.
“The transition for any scholar into a new postsecondary setting is a critical moment in time. That’s why we have developed such deep relationships with our partner colleges and universities that ensures a bridge of support ahead of high school graduation for our first cohort of Hope Scholars enrolling this fall,” shares Hope Chicago’s Chief Program Officer, Michele Howard.
“We’re not satisfied merely providing access to higher education; instead, we are focused on ensuring students complete their degree or vocational program. That critical work requires collaboration and partnership with higher education institutions,” adds Hope Chicago’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Janice Jackson. “A college degree is the most powerful tool our students can use to maximize their career opportunities, and we’re thrilled at the energy and enthusiasm from both our in-network partners and our Hope families.”
Hope Chicago Inaugural In-Network Partners:
Arrupe College
Chicago State University
Eastern Illinois University
Governors State University
Harold Washington College
Harry S. Truman College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois State University
Kennedy-King College
Loyola University Chicago
Malcom X College
National Louis University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Olive-Harvey College
Richard J. Daley College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Springfield
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Western Illinois University
Wilbur Wright College
Hope Scholars who attend out-of-network colleges are still eligible to receive up to $1,000 per semester toward their tuition.
Hope Chicago also provides scholarships to Hope Scholars interested in pursuing vocational education or training, and partnerships with qualifying programs are currently being established, as well.
About Hope Chicago
Hope Chicago’s mission is to create pathways to success for multiple generations of Chicagoans through equitable access to higher education. In February 2022, Hope Chicago announced its first cohort of five partner CPS high schools spread across the city’s South, Southwest, and West Sides where every 9-12th grade student enrolled would have the opportunity to attend select higher education institutions or vocational programs debt-free. This first promise accounts for 4,000 students, and one parent/guardian of each student, the opportunity to pursue a postsecondary education debt-free. Hope Chicago’s first cohort of partner high schools included Al Raby School for Community and Environment, Benito Juárez Community Academy, Farragut Career Academy, Morgan Park High School and Noble Johnson College Prep. Moving forward, Hope Chicago’s goal is to expand their partnerships to more CPS high schools and bring on more in-network postsecondary institutions as they work towards their goal to provide debt-free higher education to 30,000 CPS students and their parents over the next decade.
For more on Hope Chicago, visit hopechicago.org or contact press@hopechicago.org or 312-477-3170.
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