Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is credited with bringing about a new partnership of all Illinois public universities with the online application system Common Application. | Governor's Facebook page
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is credited with bringing about a new partnership of all Illinois public universities with the online application system Common Application. | Governor's Facebook page
Illinois is trying to streamline the application process for students when applying to one of the state’s 12 public universities.
The state is expanded its access to the Common App, an online platform, in time for the 2021-2022 application season. Northern Illinois, Illinois Chicago and Chicago State universities have been using Common App.
“I’m proud to announce that Illinois will be one of only two states in the nation to have all of its public universities use the Common App for admission, making it that much easier for our students to apply to an in-state campus,” Pritzker said in a March 19 Facebook post. “Making college possible for everyone isn’t just about affordability. It’s also about making it easier to navigate a process that has too often left those from under-resourced communities tangled up in the fine print. I hope this move will help more young people live their dreams.”
To foster the Common App expansion, Pritzker earmarked $1 million in the proposed FY 2022 budget.
“Applying for college in Illinois just got easier,” Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) said in a Facebook post. “All 12 public universities and several colleges in Illinois will begin using Common App for admissions, allowing students to submit just one application to multiple schools.”
The state reported that there are 35 public and private universities that use Common App, while nationally, approximately 900 higher-education institutions use the service, according to the nonprofit’s website.
“As a college professor, this is excellent news,” said Alison Vermpm om res[pnse to the governor’s Facebook post about expanding Common App access. “Thank you for your work towards this.”
Illinois Deputy Governor for Education Jesse Ruiz credited Pritzker in his March 25 Facebook post for bringing about the new partnership with Common App.
“(Common App) Will make it so much easier for students and families to explore all the great public university options in Illinois and submit their applications to them,” Ruiz said.
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