The Partnership for College Completion launched in 2016 to address disparities in college access by race and income, and examine the persistent and widening racial and socioeconomic disparities in college degree completion.
PCC has ushered in a new–and urgent–conversation on higher education equity since our inception. As Illinois’ only policy and advocacy organization focused exclusively on postsecondary and higher education, PCC goes deep on the issues with the greatest potential for transformative impact.
Throughout 2026, PCC will celebrate our accomplishments during the past 10 years, assess the current landscape of challenges and opportunities, and look to debut our new strategic plan later this year. We’re kicking all of this off with the release of our impact report, now available to download below.
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A Message from Executive Director Kyle Southern
PCC’s Impact at a Glance
PCC’s leadership has helped make Illinois a national model for higher education equity. From landmark legislation to campus reform, PCC’s impact can be seen in the policies, partnerships, and outcomes shaping opportunity for students statewide.
Since 2016, PCC has published 13 reports, which collectively included 54 policy and practice recommendations, 20 of which have been adopted by the state.
In 2018, PCC launched the Illinois Equity in Attainment (ILEA) Initiative, the first organized action of its kind. ILEA collaborated with a diverse group of 25 institutions to implement campus commitments to narrow equity disparities and increase student success, spurring dozens of reforms on campuses and at the state agency level.
PCC sponsored the historic Developmental Education Reform Act (DERA) within HB 2170. Signed into law in 2021, the bill maximizes students’ potential for success, and as a result, the share of students taking developmental courses has declined by half over the last eight years.
PCC has led the initial ideation, the proposal design, creation of a coalition to support, and introduction in the state legislature of a first-of-its-kind proposed funding formula for public universities.
For a decade, PCC’s legislative advocacy has been instrumental in reshaping Illinois’ higher education landscape, ensuring that equity is no longer an aspiration—but a measurable, actionable commitment embedded in state policy.