CHICAGO, IL – Chicago State University (CSU) and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) are partnering to better support students and increase access to higher learning by offering guaranteed admissions to transfer students from City Colleges of Chicago to CSU. Together, City Colleges and CSU ceremonially signed the transfer agreement on Monday, May 6, 2024 at Kennedy-King College in the U building. Chicago State University is Illinois’ only four-year Predominantly Black Institution.

“At Chicago State, we are pleased to deepen our partnership with City Colleges of Chicago. Our transfer pathway agreement is an intentional effort to remove barriers and improve access to a bachelor’s degree,” said Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, JD, President of Chicago State University. “To support equity in education, it is critical for higher education institutions in a post-affirmative action would to increase support and encourage students to achieve the educational goals they set for themselves, and we feel this program does just that.”

“This transfer agreement will fulfill the needs of our students who want to plan now to attend CSU and fulfill their career goals,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “This agreement ensures our students’ credits will be accepted which will save our students both money and time, and for this and so much more, we are grateful to CSU for being our partner.”

To quality for guaranteed admission, City Colleges of Chicago students must complete an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science and students must also complete the Illinois *GECC requirements before transferring. When meeting the criteria, students will be guaranteed admission to CSU and receive a Junior Standing. Students must also maintain a 2.5 GPA to enter the program and remain eligible. The CCC-CSU transfer partnership will support students with the following:

• Early advising and offer orientation programs designed exclusively for transfer students

• Offer the Honors program to all transfer students who meet the criteria

• Offer mentoring, career exposure, speaker engagement events, and more

• CCC and CSU will work with employer partners to create a workforce pipeline for students for agreed upon degree pathways.

CSU will also help students financially by offering CCC students, who are part of the Chicago Star Scholars program and have a 3.0 or higher GPA, a $1,000 scholarship for up to two years. In addition, City Colleges and CSU will also participate in Reverse Transfer – an opportunity for students who have enrolled at CSU as transfer students from City Colleges to transfer their earned CSU credits back to CCC to complete their associate degree.

Chicago State University transforms students’ lives by innovative teaching, research, and community partnerships through excellence in ethical leadership, cultural enhancement, economic development, and justice.

City College of Chicago’s vision is to be recognized as the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity – empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city. Learn more about City Colleges of Chicago at www.ccc.edu, and to learn more about City Colleges of Chicago 2021-2025 Strategic Plan Framework, visit here.

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