The Illinois Board of Higher Education is awarding grants to nine colleges and universities which will target equity in recruitment and retention. The $3 million in funding comes from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund for use in FY 2021. The institutions will support the students’ progress toward degree completion by closing digital equity gaps, providing targeted, academic, and social/emotional supports through peer mentoring and other innovative efforts. This includes equipment checkout efforts, enhanced financial and career literacy programs, intensive language instruction, childcare assistance, increased campus food pantry supplies, and telehealth. Grantees are:

• Eastern Illinois University – $41,693

• Eureka College – $165,424

• Governors State University – $456,286

• Lewis University – $446,891

• Lincoln College – $375,948

• National Louis University – $444,094

• Northern Illinois University – $456,286

• Northeastern Illinois University – $456,286

• St. Xavier University – $157,092

The grant program was open to all four-year Illinois public and private/non-profit institutions of higher education holding accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.