Q3 Meeting: September 13, 2023
The Q3 Policy Committee meeting highlighted two Success Network Leadership Communities —Evanston and River Bend — as exemplars of PaCE framework implementation. We also reviewed the newly relaunched Career Pathways Dictionary. Other highlights include a conversation on supporting dual credit expansion and updates on the Higher Learning Commission policy changes and the transportation workgroup. >> […]
Increasing Opportunities for Underrepresented Students: Lessons Learned in Advising

How can we recruit underrepresented students into pathways leading to high-quality careers? What supports do these students need to feel welcome and be successful in the classroom and the workplace? Join us on Tuesday, October 31, 2–3 p.m., to hear from three communities using innovative approaches for advising students, especially those from underrepresented groups, as they pursue career pathways.
Southern Illinois Region Named Network’s 19th Leadership Community

The Success Network Organizers are thrilled to welcome the Southern Illinois Region as our newest Leadership Community. The regional team, led by SI Now, brings expertise in employer engagement and regional convening, and we look forward to sharing their experiences with communities across the state.
Introducing the New Success Network Dashboard

As we take collective action to equitably increase postsecondary attainment across Illinois, the Success Network is dedicated to helping equip our Leadership Communities with robust tools to help the regions identify goals and make informed decisions. To that end, we are now releasing an updated version of the Success Network Dashboard. Prior to relaunching the […]
SAC, Rock Island HS Alumna Featured Speaker at AVID Summer Institute

Spotted in the Quad-City Times: Student Advisory Council alumna Aline Niyogusenga, a 2023 graduate of Rock Island High School, is one of 24 student applicants nationwide selected to speak at AVID Summer Institute. Congratulations, Aline! >> Read the article
Vandalia CUSD 203 Approved to Issue Endorsements
Vandalia CUSD 203 was thrilled to receive approval from the Illinois State Board of Education to issue College and Career Pathway Endorsements in Human and Public Services (K-12 Education) for the 2022–23 school year to students meeting the requirements of the endorsement. The endorsement simultaneously demonstrates students’ readiness for postsecondary programs and entry-level professional learning […]
1,100+ Rockford Students Participate in Job Shadows

Over 1,100 Rockford Public Schools’ 11th-grade students participated in job shadows during the last school year. This is the largest number of students to experience job shadows since the beginning of the College & Career Academies of Rockford began in 2013. Rather than trying to connect with employers on an ad-hoc basis, the work-based learning […]
NECSS Initial Data Shows Transitional Courses are Preparing Students for Non-remedial Coursework
For the last five years, transitional course development and implementation has been a collaborative effort by the NECSS Power of 15 committee, whose mission is to ensure all students graduate high school with one semester of college credit completed. To date, the NECSS region has had two cohorts of Transitional Math and one cohort of […]
MORE Innovates Initiatives to Better Prepare Students
The MORE collaborative is working on several initiatives designed to ensure that students are well-prepared for life after high school: Certificate of Employability Workshop The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee organizes and implements the Certificate of Employability six-session workshop. This initiative is an example of bridging the gap between students and employers. […]
Peoria Regional Workforce Alliance Hosts Summer Retreat
The Peoria Regional Workforce Alliance hosted its summer retreat on June 12. They had a keynote address from representatives from the Vienna School District, who discussed lessons learned in implementing the Postsecondary and Career Expectations Framework, and a business panel comprised of representatives from the banking/finance, construction, IT, and healthcare sectors addressed key questions about workforce […]