About Us
At America’s Urban Campus, our mission is to enhance the image of Chicago as a global destination for higher education and to improve the lives of its citizens by drawing on the collective strengths of its member institutions. Chicago’s not-for-profit colleges and universities, representing 200,000 students, first came together in 2011 and formally established America’s Urban Campus (AUC) in 2016 to collaborate on a range of initiatives and investigate the economic, educational and cultural impact of Chicago’s higher education institutions. Chicago benefits from having one of the highest concentrations of universities and students in the U.S., providing a continuously renewed stream of talent for the region’s economy.
Who We Are
A group of 20 of Chicago’s not-for-profit higher education institutions, representing 200,000 students, has formed America’s Urban Campus (AUC) to collaborate on branding the city for higher education, building the talent pipeline, and supporting our communities. Click here for a map of college locations.
Leadership
America’s Urban Campus is led by the presidents and provosts of its members, who meet periodically to set broad policy and discuss issues with Chicago’s leadership. The Board of Directors consists of a representative from each institution, sets policy, reviews programs, and oversees the work of the Executive Director and the committees. Career Services Directors meet together to help build Chicago’s talent pipeline. Presidents and Chancellors met with Mayor Brandon Johnson in November 2024, at a leadership meeting hosted by University of Illinois Chicago Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda.
What We Do…Impact
To fulfill our mission of highlighting Chicago’s educational and professional opportunities, we strive to work towards three main objectives:
Elevating the city as a higher education destination
Developing a talent pipeline of Chicago-area students and graduates
Utilizing our collective institutional resources to help improve the lives of all our citizens
What We Do…Reports
$3.3 Billion in new Facilities construction 2014-2019
Reports on our economic, social and cultural contributions to the city.
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