The Council of Independent Colleges convened national leaders for the Alliance for Strategic Innovation Career Services Design Workshop, held March 5–7, 2026, in Chicago and supported by the Lumina Foundation. Selected from a highly competitive pool, 29 teams came together to begin building a framework for a National Center for Careers and the Liberal Arts in an effort to strengthen how colleges connect education to career outcomes.
Representing Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) was President April Arnold, who shared the organization’s career-connected learning solutions for member schools. The workshop focused on developing scalable strategies that help institutions align academic experiences with workforce needs, ensuring students graduate with both a degree and a clear path forward.
ACI’s participation highlighted the impact of its partnerships with Braven, CareerSpring, and Parker Dewey, along with its own peer mentoring program to work with its member schools; these initiatives provide students with coaching, networks, and real-world experience. By participating in this national effort, ACI continues to expand opportunity and strengthen the bridge from college to career for students across its member institutions.