BOSTON, Mass. (June 8, 2016) — University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and Shorelight announced the signing of an agreement to create UIC Global, an innovative partnership platform that supports the recruitment, preparation, and success of international students. UIC Global will launch the International Accelerator Program (IAP), which will operate at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
Located in Chicago, Illinois, UIC Global will broaden educational opportunities for students from across the globe and help the university become a model for international student success and opportunity. The development and implementation of UIC Global aligns with the university’s emphasis on diversity and providing students with an ethnically and culturally rich learning environment. The IAP will provide students with academic, language, social, and professional development opportunities that together dramatically increase student retention and integrate international students into campus life.
“University of Illinois Chicago is dedicated to the discovery and distribution of knowledge,” said Michael Amiridis, chancellor of UIC. “Our collaboration with Shorelight through UIC Global deepens our investment in the international community and provides new and innovative ways to give students the chance to study, work, and grow with classmates who will broaden each other’s perspectives and worldview.”
With a mandate to support student success and retention, UIC Global will provide a dedicated team of support staff and enrollment management services, ensuring a smooth transition and integration for students coming to UIC from diverse geographies and academic backgrounds. The program will build upon existing infrastructure within the university to grow international student enrollment by recruiting from more than 100 countries, support international students’ transition to a US academic environment and expand UIC’s global brand.
“Shorelight is proud to build a program with University of Illinois Chicago that will offer international students a transformative experience at a signature US institution in a great American city,” said Tom Dretler, CEO of Shorelight. “UIC Global students will benefit directly from an intimate, community-focused program with highly ranked academics and personalized support that will follow them through their very first days on campus to their successful graduation and beyond.”
University of Illinois Chicago will welcome its first UIC Global students in Spring 2017.
About University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago is a Carnegie research one university located in the heart of a great American and global city. With 29,000 students and 15 colleges, UIC is Chicago’s largest university and one of the nation’s most diverse. Deeply committed to its urban mission, UIC is a leader in teaching, research, clinical practice, and outreach aimed at eliminating disparities in health, education, and economic opportunity.
About Shorelight
Shorelight is reinventing the international education experience for students worldwide. Based in Boston, the company partners with top-ranked, nonprofit American universities to build comprehensive programs and services that are both high-touch and technology-driven to help talented students succeed on campus and become globally minded alumni.
