Northwestern, Partner Institutions Create America's Urban Campus

CHICAGO — Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro was among 22 university and college leaders who joined forces earlier this month to formally create a consortium called America’s Urban Campus (AUC) intended to identify and demonstrate the economic impact and other collective civic contributions of Chicago’s higher education institutions. 

As major economic and social drivers in the Chicago-area, Northwestern and other member institutions -- Loyola and DePaul universities, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago, to name a few -- will collaborate with The Chicago Community Trust to enhance the image of Chicago as a global destination for higher education while developing a talented workforce that will remain in the city.   

In addition to attracting students from every U.S. state and more than 100 countries, member colleges generate over $10 billion into the local economy each year and educate approximately 216,000 students in the region.

The consortium also will work to encourage students from all institutions to participate more collectively in civic engagement while identifying policy that will improve the lives of Chicago citizens.