NLU partners with Community Links High School
Thursday, May 22, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Media Contacts:
Harvey Henao, PCI
(312) 558-1770
hhenao@pcipr.com
Tracy Kremer, NLU
(312) 261-3847
tkremer@nl.edu
NATIONAL-LOUIS UNIVERSITY PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY LINKS HIGH SCHOOL TO EASE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE
CHICAGO - May 22, 2008 - National-Louis University (NLU) is partnering with Community Links High School (CLHS) in the Little Village neighborhood, which boasts 100 percent graduation rates, to ensure that students entering college will have a seamless transition and the academic and financial support they need to succeed. The partnership was announced today at Community Links High School by NLU President Dr. Richard J. Pappas and CLHS Principal Francisco Borras, who were joined by Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan and Ald. George Cardenas (12th).
This new partnership will use the CPS College Bridge program as a platform to transition students into an undergraduate education at NLU. The College Bridge program gives students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. All CLHS juniors and seniors are required to participate in College Bridge, and 15 students currently participate in the Bridge Program at NLU.
"We hope this partnership will enable graduating seniors at Community Links High School to have the opportunity to pursue higher education knowing that NLU supports them 100 percent," Pappas said. "Strong partnerships between universities and CPS high schools are vital to the future, continued success of our city's high school students."
"The CPS College Bridge program is one of many ways CPS works to connect our students with the college experience," said Duncan. "But this partnership between National-Louis University and Community Links High School takes the next step by committing resources and financially investing in the success of our students."
If CLHS students, most of whom are low-income, meet NLU admissions requirements and are accepted to the university, they will work with guidance counselors at the high school and university level to map out plans for degree completion and overall academic success. Components of the program include:
- NLU's financial aid office will provide aid packages that will meet 100 percent of the students' financial needs through scholarships, government and university grants, student loans and a work/study program.
- A collaborative partnership will be developed with NLU's National College of Education to support such programming as teacher professional development around literacy and opportunities for mutual collaboration and exchange between high school and university faculty.
- Students will contribute to fostering a diverse and positive school climate by actively participating in various student organizations and Student Affairs initiatives at NLU.
- Students will serve as ambassadors of NLU by participating in student shadow days and college student panels at local high schools.
"Currently, 100 percent of our students graduate high school, but many do not qualify for federal and state financial aid, and they are faced with the prospect of not being able to continue with their studies," said Borras. "It is our hope that this partnership will allow students the opportunity to enrich themselves and their community by achieving their higher education goals."
A scholarship fund has been set up through National-Louis University's Proyecto Comunidad, an initiative to recruit and retain Latino college students and teachers, and to place them in Chicago's marketplace as successful professionals. Gifts to the Proyecto Comunidad Scholarship Fund may be designated for CLHS students participating in the NLU/CLHS partnership program.
"We had a vision in this community to achieve 100 percent graduation rates and 100 percent post-secondary retention rates. We've already achieved our goal for graduation, and with this partnership, we're well on our way to achieve our goal of ensuring every CLHS graduate attends and completes college," said Carlos Azcoitia, founding principal of CLHS and assistant professor at NLU.
One of the first students to take advantage of this program is Isamar Martinez, a CLHS graduating senior who has taken classes at NLU as part of the College Bridge program.
"Without this program, I probably would not be going to college," Martinez said. "College is just too expensive for my family, so I am very grateful for this opportunity."
The program is open to all CLHS graduating seniors, who will also be required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average and, if eligible, participate in work-study programs at NLU.
About National-Louis University
National-Louis University has been a force for change in American education since its founding in 1886. Known for nearly a century as the National College of Education, it is still nationally renowned today not only for its programs in teacher preparation and educational leadership, but as one of the first universities to address the unique needs of adult learners. National-Louis pioneered accelerated education for adults, and today offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the National College of Education, the College of Arts and Science and the College of Management and Business. Visit www.nl.edu for more information.
National-Louis has a flagship urban campus at 122 South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago; campuses in Lisle, Skokie, Wheeling and Elgin, Ill.; as well as Beloit and Milwaukee, Wis.; Washington, D.C.; McLean, Va.; Florida and Poland.
About Community Links High School
Founded in 2003 by Dr. Carlos Azcoitia in collaboration with the surrounding community, Community Links High School is housed at John Spry Community School in the Little Village neighborhood. Its mission is 100 percent high school and post-secondary graduation. The school seeks to inspire each student to reach his or her full potential as a productive citizen and active community member by forging a partnership between students, faculty, staff, parents and community members.
MEDIA KIT MATERIALS:
|
