ACI News

ACI is excited to partner with CareerSpring to share a powerful, no-cost career resource for first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) students and graduates. CareerSpring empowers students and alumni with career information and skills, professional networks, and employment opportunities through its free-to-you Career Platform and a national community of volunteers and allies. Webinar: Unlock Career Opportunity for ... Read Article

The ACI/BravenX partnership continues to drive meaningful career outcomes for students across Illinois. In Fall 2025, the program supported 64 fellows, with 82% reporting that Braven improved their chances of securing their desired job or graduate school admission after college. Student feedback underscored the program’s emphasis on confidence-building, skill development, and connection. Fellows cited mock ... Read Article

Across ACI member institutions, peer mentoring programs continue to create powerful spaces for connection, growth, and student success through hands-on, relationship-centered experiences. At Illinois College, Peer Mentors wrapped up the semester with four cornerstone events. The Day of Service brought students together with the Yates TRIO program for first-generation students to tour and help care ... Read Article

ACI President April Arnold had the honor of attending the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Presidents’ Institute Conference. This premier annual gathering brings together presidents from independent colleges and universities for networking, problem-solving, and sharing ideas among colleagues leading similar institutions. The Presidents Institute is CIC’s flagship event, regularly attracting over 350 higher education leaders ... Read Article

Thanks to the generosity of fifty-five foundations, companies, organizations, and individuals like you, ACI has successfully raised over $20,000 in new, renewed, or increased cash gifts and grants to meet our Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Scholarship Challenge Match. T The Council of Independent Colleges State Councils Scholarship Challenge Grant offered ACI a unique opportunity: ... Read Article

On November 4, ACI Trustees Emily Bothfeld (Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose, Ltd.), Daniel Kaufman (Michael Best), and Nick Simpson (Jackson Lewis P.C.) led an engaging session for ACI member school leaders on navigating today’s fast-changing civic and policy landscape. They emphasized the importance of proactive preparation, as rapid developments can arise from government action ... Read Article

In early October, ACI had the privilege of hosting its Provosts and Chief Academic Officers at Millikin University, a day dedicated to sharing best practices, collaboration, and innovation among member institutions. The group explored ways to foster meaningful partnerships across campuses and to better align academic programs with the evolving needs of students and the ... Read Article

ACI member schools received their FY26 Fall Scholarship Award Letters in the first week of October 2025. Each member school was awarded the Council of Independent Colleges/UPS Scholarship and McGraw Foundation Student Emergency Assistance Funding. Additionally, some campuses received the Carole Whitcomb Scholarship and/or ACI Challenge Grant Scholarships. Thanks to the Council of Independent Colleges ... Read Article

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Noble Schools, a leading network of 17 open-enrollment public charter high schools that serves more than 12,000 current students and 31,000 alumni across Chicago. Much like Noble’s mission, ACI is rooted in the belief that a college degree is the most reliable path to a ... Read Article

Through ACI’s partnership with Braven, forty students at member institutions will gain access to a nationally recognized program designed to build leadership skills, strengthen career readiness, and expand professional networks. This fall, Braven funding was obtained to support 50 additional students from rural Illinois at no cost to their institutions. The initiative created an immediate ... Read Article