Schools

Governor Quinn Announces $54.8 Million Investment in Chicago Area Colleges and Universities


Includes Nearly $4.8 Million to Columbia College Chicago for Major Campus Improvements; Grants to Create Thousands of Local Jobs

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–July 31, 2013.  Governor Pat Quinn today announced $54.8 million in grants to colleges and universities in the Chicago area, including nearly $4.8 million for major improvements at Columbia College, the site of today’s announcement. The grants are part of $90 million included for this fiscal year in the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program to address the critical needs of the state’s private colleges and universities. Today’s announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to improve higher education in Illinois while creating thousands of construction jobs.

“Every year thousands of students from around the nation begin their careers in higher education right here at our exceptional Chicago area colleges and universities,” Governor Quinn said. “These critical investments will pay dividends in jobs and our economy. Investing in higher education is one of the best strategies we have to generate creativity at our universities and colleges, prepare our students for good jobs, and allow Illinois to lead the way in new ideas and more economic growth.”

The nearly $4.8 million investment in Columbia College Chicago will help make improvements in the academic environment — both classrooms and laboratories — as well as increase energy efficiency in many of the historic and landmark buildings that comprise Columbia College’s urban campus.

“Columbia College Chicago is pleased to have Governor Quinn invest in our students,” said Kwang-Wu Kim, president and CEO of Columbia College Chicago. “We particularly value this funding from the State of Illinois as it improves classrooms and learning environments to further enable our faculty, who are masters in their fields, to help our students become innovative problem solvers.”

In the Chicago area, 27 private colleges and universities will receive grants totaling $54.8 million. Among those institutions, DePaul University will receive $7.8 million for a new academic building and John Marshall Law School will receive $927,673 for a Veterans Legal Support Center and Clinic. Additionally, Loyola University of Chicago will receive $5.7 million for the Mundelein Center and Robert Morris University will receive $2.6 million to expand their library.

Other investments include:

The Adler School of Professional Psychology of Chicago will receive $372,270;

Concordia University in Chicago will receive $1,279,523;

Dominican University in River Forest will receive $1,247,090;

East-West University in Chicago will receive $842,167;

Hebrew Theological College located in Skokie will receive $386,685;

The Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago will receive $805,148;

Illinois Institute of Technology of Chicago will receive $3,288,407;

MacCormac College in Chicago will receive $84,479;

The Moody Bible Institute in Chicago will receive $634,137;

National-Louis University in Chicago will receive $1,515,728;

North Park University in Chicago will receive $1,202,863;

Northwestern University of Evanston will receive $7,153,844 for the Technological Institute;

Roosevelt University in Chicago will receive $2,854,327;

Rush University of Chicago will receive $935,535;

Staint Xavier University in Chicago will receive $2,490,028 for library renovations;

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago will receive $1,423,670;

Shimer College in Chicago will receive $75,633;

Spertus College of Judaica in Chicago will receive $63,840;

St. Augustine College in Chicago will receive $727,177;

Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights will receive $874,928;

The University of Chicago will receive $4,370,493 for the Interdisciplinary Molecular Engineering Research Center; and,

The VanderCook College of Music in Chicago will receive $299,869.

So far under Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, private universities have received $200 million to address their capital needs.

Governor Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program is supporting more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation.

Source:  illinois.gov

 


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