Record #: R2016-550   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 7/20/2016 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Education and Child Development
Final action: 9/14/2016
Title: Call for City Colleges of Chicago to expand Chicago STAR Scholarship program to all Chicago high school students
Sponsors: Thompson, Patrick D., Napolitano, Anthony V., Smith, Michele, Sawyer, Roderick T., Tunney, Thomas, O'Connor, Patrick, Laurino, Margaret, Pawar, Ameya, Reilly, Brendan, Burke, Edward M., Hopkins, Brian , Quinn, Marty, Zalewski, Michael R., Munoz, Ricardo, O'Shea, Matthew J., Beale, Anthony, Moreno, Proco Joe, Sadlowski Garza, Susan, Lopez, Raymond A., Sposato, Nicholas, Villegas, Gilbert, Solis, Daniel, Reboyras, Ariel, Curtis, Derrick G., Moore, David H., Foulkes, Toni, Osterman, Harry, Moore, Joseph, Silverstein, Debra L., Cardenas, George A., Brookins, Jr., Howard, Willie B. Cochran, Mendoza, Susana A.
Topic: CITY DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES - Chicago City Colleges
Attachments: 1. R2016-550.pdf

 

RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE EXPANSION OF THE CHICAGO STAR SCHOLARSHIP TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO

 

WHEREAS, City Colleges of Chicago ("City Colleges") is a great asset for all Chicagoans, with over seven campuses and six satellite sites all over the City; and

 

WHEREAS, City College's operating budget exceeds $206 million, and is funded by Chicago taxpayers; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2015, City Colleges began the Star Scholarship program; and

 

WHEREAS, The Chicago Star Scholarship program provides a full scholarship, inclusive of tuition and books, for CPS graduates seeking an associate degree at City Colleges; and

 

WHEREAS, On average, an associate degree generates nearly $500,000 more in additional lifetime earnings than a high school diploma. A bachelor degree brings another half a million dollars. By enrolling at City Colleges, students can save up to $40,000 compared to other local institutions; and

 

WHEREAS, In its first year, the Chicago Star Scholarship has enabled more than 1,000 CPS graduates to pursue their degree from City Colleges free-of-charge. The first cohort of Star Scholars has achieved a 94 percent retention rate, suggesting that students enrolled in this program are more likely to persist in their coursework toward a degree; and

 

WHEREAS, Recipients of the Star Scholarship are permitted to continue their college education at fifteen institutions in the Chicago area and receive significant financial aid at schools participating in the Star partnership, such as Northwestern University, University of Cliicago, DePaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois at Chicago; and

 

WHEREAS, Currently, The Cliicago Star Scholarship is limited to those students who attend Chicago Public High Schools, have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and are "completion-ready" in Math and English; and

 

WHEREAS, The benefits of the Scholarship should extend to all taxpaying residents of the City; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twentieth day of July, 2016, do hereby request the City Colleges of Cliicago extend the STAR scholarship to all High School graduates residing in the City.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and owsfehted
to the Gity Colleges of Chicago.                     Jf (/j ^\