City Colleges of Chicago Celebrates Five Years of Impact and the Culmination of Our Path Forward: Strategic Plan 2021-2025

City Colleges leadership, faculty, staff, and students gathered with partners, supporters, and funders to celebrate all that has been achieved together over the past five years with City Colleges’ strategic plan. The City Colleges of Chicago Foundation was also on hand to share the Impact Report, which details how philanthropy has helped to support and scale many of these successes.

City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado and Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Veronica Herrero were joined by Chicago Public Schools Chief of College and Career Success Megan Hougard, Chicago State University President Z Scott, Amazon Web Services Head of AI/ML Generative AI Milan McGraw. Two City Colleges students also shared how City Colleges supported them both in and out of the classroom as they worked toward their goals.

The celebration highlighted how City Colleges of Chicago has become Chicago’s most accessible higher education engine of racial and socioeconomic mobility, achieving:

A post-pandemic enrollment recovery that surpasses state and national averages
An increase in four-year student outcomes, especially for Black and Latine students, on track to 55%
The Chicago Roadmap, an unprecedented systems-level, nationally-recognized partnership with the Chicago Public Schools that is moving the needle on college readiness
Nearly $100 million invested in free college, including expanding the Star Scholarship and Early College programs, and launching Future Ready and Fresh Start
Partnered with One Million Degrees to scale their evidence-based student support model at Olive-Harvey, Malcolm X, Harold Washington, and this coming fall to Kennedy-King College.
A key partner in the growth of the Chicagoland Apprenticeship Network (3,000+ work-based learning experiences a year)
Selected as a key workforce partner in Illinois’ development of the quantum and advanced manufacturing industries
The return of nursing programs to the South Side with a new nursing pathway launching at Kennedy-King College and a new Malcolm X College South Campus to be located in Washington Park
Launched the City Colleges School of Engineering, expanding our nationally-recognized engineering program and deepening partnerships with university partnerships, including a guaranteed admissions program with the UIUC Grainger College of Engineering
Elimination of a legacy structural deficit and restoration of operating surpluses leading to credit rating increases
Historic investments in student supports, including mental health, housing, food, technology, among other efforts

City Colleges of Chicago’s next strategic plan will launch in the spring of 2026, building on the progress of the last five years and setting even more ambitious goals.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Veronica Herrero (L) and guests

Olive-Harvey College President Kimberly Hollingsworth (C) and Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs (R)

Executive Vice Chancellor Veronica Herrero (L), Vice Chancellor, Legislative and Community Affairs (C), Truman College President Shawn Jackson (R)

Chancellor Juan Salgado (second from left) and guests

City Colleges of Chicago community gathered with partners and supporters to celebrate the culmination of the five-year strategic plan.

Harold Washington College President Daniel Lopez and Chief Financial Officer Maribel Rodriguez

Chicago Public Schools Chief of College and Career Success Megan Hougard (L), City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees Chair Katya Nuques (C), City Colleges Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Veronica Herrero (R)

City Colleges of Chicago community gathered with partners and supporters to celebrate the culmination of the five-year strategic plan.

Student Mo'hogney talks about the support she receives at City Colleges and her plans for the future.

Chancellor Juan Salgado talks about the key achievements City Colleges has made over the past five years.

City Colleges of Chicago community gathered with partners and supporters to celebrate the culmination of the five-year strategic plan.

City Colleges alumnus Antoine talks about his journey from student to apprentice at City Colleges employer partner Power Construction.

Chicago Public Schools Chief of College and Career Success Megan Hougard speaks about the power of the Chicago Roadmap - the partnership between City Colleges of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools.

Amazon Web Services Head of AI/ML Generative AI Milan McGraw talks about preparing City Colleges students for the future of tech.

Chicago State University President Z Scott speaks about the importance of creating pathways for City Colleges students to earn bachelor's degrees.

City Colleges Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Veronica Herrero talks about the impact that corporate funders and individual donors have on the success of the City Colleges strategic plan.