By: News Bureau
Southern Illinois University Carbondale strengthened its commitment to students in the Chicago area with agreements to bring the expertise of a doctoral research university to qualified COD students by providing the option to earn their bachelor’s degrees remotely and at a lower cost in nine academic programs.
College of DuPage is excited for the scope of opportunities made available to our students through the Saluki Step Ahead program.
COD President Dr. Brian Caputo
SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane signed agreements with College of DuPage to participate in Saluki Step Ahead. Established in 2021, the program enables students who graduate with an associate degree from the community colleges to complete their SIU bachelor’s degrees online in accounting, business administration, criminology and criminal justice, early childhood, elementary education, health care management, nursing (RN to BSN), psychology and radiologic sciences. Nursing, early childhood and elementary education were recently added to the academic program offerings.
The signing ceremonies, which occurred during Saluki Takeover Tour: Chicago, are part of SIU Carbondale’s commitment to provide Chicago area students an affordable, high-quality college education at a university with high research activity.
“College of DuPage is excited for the scope of opportunities made available to our students through the Saluki Step Ahead program,” said College of DuPage President Dr. Brian Caputo. “This agreement provides an invaluable platform for students to obtain affordable access to education as they pursue an array of academic goals.”
Lane said the latest Saluki Step Ahead agreements fit well with the university’s strategic plan, Imagine 2030, and its pillars of student success and partnerships.
“We are proud of the first-rate education and unique opportunities Salukis receive on our beautiful campus,” Lane said. “But we understand not all Chicago students can move to Carbondale to complete their education, so we will bring SIU Carbondale to the Windy City. We are committed to providing access and affordability, removing barriers for all students and opening new pathways for people with limited options.”
The new agreements will bring SIU Carbondale to a total of 24 Saluki Step Ahead pacts that the university has with community colleges in Illinois, Missouri and Texas so far, including eight Chicago area colleges.
Students in the program pay the community college rate for their first two years. In the third and fourth years, they receive an annual $4,000 scholarship. The goal is to allow them to earn their degree for $25,000 or less.
Pictured above: (left to right) Josi Rawls, SIU associate director for transfer relations; SIU System President Dan Mahony; SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane; College of DuPage President Brian Caputo; Mark Curtis-Chavez, COD provost, and Courtney Hatcher, COD coordinator for articulation and partnerships.