PCC Executive Director Introduces New Higher Ed Policy Quarterly Newsletter
One of the most repeated phrases of the last year is that COVID-19 has laid bare inequities in our society. Those inequities may be news to some but...
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Advocating for bold policies that improve college success and eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities in college access, persistence, and completion.
To realize our state’s degree attainment goals, equitably increase enrollment and completion at our public institutions, and drive economic mobility, state leaders must intentionally and strategically align goals, policies, investments, and actions to improve access to college, decrease the cost of a degree, dismantle barriers to student success, and eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities that exist across these areas. This is where the Partnership for College Completion comes in.
Our policy work follows three principles of action that will spark and accelerate the pace of transformation within Illinois’ higher education system. The policies associated with each can work in concert to not only increase equitable access, affordability, and accountability, but focus Illinois’ higher education system on serving the evolving needs of its students.
In the past year alone, PCC has advanced state policy to reform developmental education and launch an effort to develop an equity-centered funding formula for public universities.
Equitable Access
Students of all races, economic backgrounds, and geographic locations deserve access to high-quality postsecondary education that is aligned with their educational and career aspirations.
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Affordability
Attending Illinois’ colleges and universities should be debt-free for students from low-income families and affordable for all Illinoisans.
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Accountability
Accountability mechanisms must be strengthened to provide Illinois students with affordable and equitable access to high-quality postsecondary degrees and credentials.
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Meet the Team
Emily Goldman
Senior Policy Manager
Emily’s policy work is informed by her time as an admissions officer at DeVry University and her experience as a first generation college student. As a lawyer, she advocated for policies and programs that improve outcomes for students in Illinois. Her diverse background in social justice advocacy will be used to support and catalyze systemic change in Illinois to increase graduation rates for underrepresented college students.
Mike Abrahamson
Policy Manager
Before joining the Partnership, Mike worked as a Mayoral Fellow while completing a master’s degree from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. He focused largely on projects in postsecondary education, working with City Colleges of Chicago and its Star Scholarship. He also recently served as Data Fellow for One Million Degrees.
Sonianne Lozada
Community Engagement Manager
Sonianne most recently worked in policy and advocacy in the areas of food justice and poverty, mobilizing advocates to defend legislation and policies that protect federal nutrition programs and decrease food insecurity and poverty in Illinois. Previously, she spent several years in youth development, working with Chicago Public School youth in the areas of advocacy, leadership development, and post-secondary education.
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Special from the PCC Higher Education Policy Quarterly: Interview with State Sen. Scott Bennett
IL State Sen. Scott Bennett Senator Scott Bennett of Champaign, a longtime advocate for equity in higher education, was appointed this year to the role of chair of...
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Interested in learning more about higher education policy in Illinois? Sign up for our Higher Education Policy Quarterly where we highlight state and national higher education policy, interview Illinois state legislators, and keep you abreast of upcoming events and opportunities for action.
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