2024 CCE Conference – Community Health

We invite you to join us for the 14th annual College Changes Everything^® (CCE) Conference on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, Illinois. The annual conference is the state’s foremost college access and success and career readiness event. Diverse stakeholders come together and learn from each other to help Illinois reach its Goal 2025 – to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025. Conference registration is $40.00, and only credit card payments via Eventbrite are accepted. Space is limited and fills quickly. Please make your RSVP by registering now!

Equity continues to be at the heart of the CCE conference as we strive to ensure all students have opportunities for college access and success and they are career ready. At last year’s conference, our collective question was: How do we advance educational equity for Illinois students and parents? This year we consider the role of community health on educational equity. As we champion CCE to highlight how education is an essential component of other policy areas, we need to highlight the role community health plays in advancing educational equity for Illinois students and families. So this year, let’s explore these questions: Can you have educational equity without community health? Can you have community health without educational equity?

Community health encompasses various aspects contributing to the well-being of a particular population. Community is a multifaceted concept allowing partners to define it based on who their work serves and how they do their work (e.g., geographic, social, cultural, virtual, professional, intentional/specific purpose, economic, interfaith, neighborhood, supportive, and more). Communities can be dynamic, evolving entities shaped by its members’ interactions and shared experiences. Partners should approach defining health as it relates to their work in a holistic way that includes: mental, physical, and environmental. We know from other initiatives supporting educational equity, collective efforts maximize impact and partnerships enhance sustainable solutions. Informed planning leads to effective policies, resource allocation, and tailored programs.

Who Should Attend

As the conference draws a broad group of professionals and stakeholders, our agenda covers a wide range of topics related to college access and completion and career readiness. Such topics include but are not limited to: college and career readiness; student retention, persistence, and completion; programs and services for underrepresented students; educational equity; student wellness and emotional support; career and technical education; partnerships; career development experiences; education, business, and the economy; college costs, financial aid, and affordability; and community stakeholder engagement. The full agenda will be provided later this spring.

Cancellation and Change of Attendee

Registration Cancellation/Change of Attendee Form

Cancellation Policy – If you need to cancel your registration, complete the Registration Cancellation/Change of Attendee Form and return it to ISAC via email to isac.collegechangeseverything@illinois.gov. Refund requests will be honored if they are received by ISAC no later than 5 pm Central Time, Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Change of Attendee – If someone will be attending the conference in your place, please print and complete the Registration Cancellation/Change of Attendee Form and email to isac.collegechangeseverything@illinois.gov by 5 pm Central Time, Wednesday July 3, 2024. After July 3rd, your replacement will need to bring the completed form to the conference.

Questions about the conference can be directed to isac.collegechangeseverything@illinois.gov

Tinley Park Convention Center

The Tinley Park Convention Center is located just 30 miles from downtown Chicago at 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477.

We have secured a conference hotel rate of $159.00 before tax and fee charges. You can book a reservation by phone at 708-444-1100 and mention "ISAC/College Changes Everything Conference" to get the rate, or you can book online here. The conference rate is available for reservations made by June 26, 2024.

Please share information about the conference with colleagues in your organization and other partners.

2024 College Changes Everything Conference Planning Committee

• Illinois Student Assistance Commission
• Illinois Board of Higher Education
• Illinois Community College Board
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Illinois Department of Employment Security
• Illinois State Board of Education
• Illinois College Access Network
• Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
• Advance Illinois
• Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
• ACT Now
• Women Employed
• iCan Dream Center

The College Changes Everything^® Conference is sponsored
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Helping Illinois reach its Goal 2025: to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality college degrees and postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2025