In a landmark move aimed at enhancing Chicago’s educational landscape, Chicago State University and the City Colleges of Chicago have joined forces to forge a new pathway for student success. The ceremonial signing took place on May 6 at Kennedy-King College, marking the official start of a guaranteed admissions program for CCC transfer students to CSU.
This groundbreaking initiative is designed to streamline the transition from community college to university, ensuring a smoother and more efficient path to obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
“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, president of CSU. Scott emphasized the importance of supporting equity in education — particularly in a post-affirmative action era — encouraging students to realize their educational ambitions.
Chancellor Juan Salgado of City Colleges of Chicago highlighted the practical benefits of the agreement.
“This transfer agreement will fulfill the needs of our students who want to plan now to attend CSU and fulfill their career goals. This agreement ensures our students’ credits will be accepted, which will save our students both money and time. For this and so much more, we are grateful to CSU for being our partner,” Salgado said.
To be eligible for guaranteed admission, CCC students must successfully complete an associate of arts or an associate of science degree and fulfill the Illinois GECC requirements before transferring. Eligible students will be granted junior standing at CSU and must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA to stay in the program. The partnership is tailored to provide extensive support through early advising, orientation programs specifically designed for transfer students, access to the honors program for qualifying students and additional mentoring and career-oriented opportunities.
Moreover, the collaboration extends into creating a workforce pipeline with employer partners aligned with agreed-upon degree pathways, thereby enhancing job prospects for students post-graduation.
Financial barriers are also addressed through this partnership. CSU will offer a $1,000 scholarship for up to two years to CCC students who are part of the Chicago Star Scholars program and maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA. Additionally, the institutions will participate in reverse transfer, allowing students who have moved to CSU as transfer students from City Colleges to transfer their earned CSU credits back to CCC to complete their associate degree.
This partnership marks a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and accessible higher education system in Chicago, promising a brighter future for many students aiming to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through collaborative efforts like these, CSU and CCC demonstrate a shared commitment to fostering educational advancement and equity, ensuring that higher education remains a reachable milestone for all students in the region.
