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April 15, 2015

North Park Partners with Noble Network to Expand College Opportunities

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North Park Partners with Noble Network to Expand College Opportunities

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The mission of Noble Network of Charter Schools is to "prepare low-income students with the scholarship, discipline, and honor necessary to succeed in college and lead exemplary lives, and serves as a catalyst for education reform in Chicago."

CHICAGO (April 15, 2015) — North Park University, along with 13 other colleges nationwide, was chosen to partner with the Noble Network of Charter Schools to provide greater access to higher education for Noble Network’s undocumented graduating seniors.

Beginning this fall, North Park will work with Noble, a Chicago-based network of public schools, and its Pritzker Access Scholarship program, to help close the financial aid gap for these students who are unable to obtain federal loans and scholarships. Currently at North Park, more than 96 percent of undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance, which can include federal aid and loans.

“We are committed to supporting Noble students even after they graduate high school,” said Michael Milkie, superintendent and CEO of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. “Undocumented students across the country often miss out on a college education because of their ineligibility for financial aid. We are grateful to our college partners for providing the opportunities for these students.”

In fall, Noble Network announced an estimated $3 million Pritzker Access Scholarship program with the Pritzker Foundation and The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation that will allow 70 Chicago high school students who are currently undocumented immigrants to attend college.

The agreement will be available to Noble seniors who have qualified for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (a temporary federal relief from deportation) and are accepted to one of the four-year colleges in the agreement. North Park University will provide five undocumented students who received the Pritzker Access Scholarship with the financial support necessary to close the need for direct costs.

“North Park is a community founded by immigrants over a century ago who were looking to better their lives through education,” said North Park University President David Parkyn. “This partnership is an opportunity to continue that tradition and serve the students of Chicago.”

These incoming students will also participate in the University’s COMPASS mentoring program, an intensive nine-day program that helps first-year students prepare for the academic and social challenges of college and adjust to life on campus.

“Our mentoring programs at North Park focus on identifying student needs, helping them understand who they are, what their skills, interests, and abilities are, and find social and academic opportunities that lead toward students feeling a fit at the University,” said Director of Student Success Dr. Barrington Price. “We look forward to welcoming these Noble Network students to campus and providing the support they need to excel in the classroom and long after they graduate.”

Along with North Park University, partnering institutions include:

  • Lafayette College (Easton, Pa.)
  • Carleton College (Northfield, Minn.)
  • Dominican University (River Forest, Ill.)
  • Franklin & Marshall College (Lancaster, Pa.)
  • Holy Cross College (Notre Dame, Ind.)
  • Illinois College (Jacksonville, Ill.)
  • Luther College (Decorah, Iowa)
  • Lycoming College (Williamsport, Pa.)
  • Monmouth College (Monmouth, Ill.)
  • North Park University (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Ripon College (Ripon, Wis.)
  • Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Ind.)
  • Western Illinois University (Macomb, Ill.)

Additional information regarding the Noble Network and its programs may be found at www.noblenetwork.org.


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