Governor JB Pritzker has declared April 2024 as Illinois Community College Month, in honor of the Illinois Community College System and the 48 community colleges located within the state.
NIU has working relationships with 32 community colleges, including the University Center at Harper College, the University Center at McHenry County College and the University Center of Lake County, where students can take courses taught by NIU faculty members at a location convenient to them. This provides transfer students the opportunity to earn a four-year degree in a state-of-the-art learning environment, while staying close to home. Students with an associate degree or even a few credit hours can seamlessly transition to NIU.
NIU’s most recent partnership with the University Center at McHenry Community College in Woodstock, Illinois is an example NIU is partnering with community colleges to increase student success in the region. Beginning in fall 2024, transfer students will have access to enroll in the following degree completion programs: business administration, computer science, early childhood education, psychology and public health.
NIU is a transfer-friendly institution with roughly half of NIU students having credits from other academic institutions. NIU also offers a robust package of scholarship opportunities for transfer students.
Northern Illinois University recently increased its commitment to partnering with community colleges throughout Illinois and responding to workforce needs by creating the position of executive director of Community College Initiatives, a shared position between the Division of Academic Affairs and the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development.
The creation of this role will enhance collaboration within the university and with external community partners, and this team will oversee the development and maintenance of NIU’s agreements with community colleges while leading the expansion of place-based degree completion programs and closely collaborating with community college stakeholders to develop and pursue other mutually beneficial initiatives.
“We want to give all students the opportunity to succeed,” Rodrigo López, executive director of Community College Initiatives said. “Through community college partnerships, transfer initiatives and other student-focused programs, we are working hard to make that happen.”
