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Chicago Public Schools (CPS), City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) have announced the expansion of their higher education partnership with the introduction of "Chicago Roadmap 2.0." This initiative aims to ease the transition for students from high school to college, ensuring that credits are retained and aiding in the completion of bachelor's degrees.
"Chicago Roadmap 2.0 is a game-changer for our students, ensuring that the credits they earn in high school and City Colleges transfer seamlessly and count fully toward a bachelor’s degree," remarked CPS Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez. The initiative seeks to make higher education more accessible and affordable for students.
Since its inception in 2020, the Chicago Roadmap has increased Early College enrollment by 62%, reflecting an additional 4,000 students. It has also expanded career pathway access and career exploration for middle and high school students, while significantly increasing career guidance through an increased number of postsecondary navigators.
Chicago Roadmap 2.0 will introduce pathways to degrees at UIC starting with education, healthcare, business, and computer science fields. UIC has been instrumental in eliminating barriers to credit transfer and ensuring students stay on track for degree completion through proactive advising and support services.
According to UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda, the initiative represents a commitment to expanding higher education access, creating effective transfer pathways, and developing an AI-powered portal for personalized degree planning. The degree planning tool aims to help families navigate college and career pathways.
"The launch of 2.0 will strengthen student persistence and completion rates by offering early college coursework, advising, and academic alignment across institutions," stated Juan Salgado, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago. The AI tool aims to clarify students' educational paths, saving them time and money.
Financial contributions from several philanthropic organizations have made the Chicago Roadmap partnership possible, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation, and others. According to Mara Botman, executive director at Vivo Foundation, the Chicago Roadmap sets a national example of how educational partnerships can enhance postsecondary degree attainment and economic mobility.
