ISAC Student Portal2026 CCE: Registration Open
06/04/2026
www.collegechangeseverything.org
Dear Colleague,
You are invited to register now for the 2026 College Changes Everything® (CCE) conference as we come together on July 16th to explore this year's powerful and dual-sided theme: Education Matters.
Education is consequential, transformative and urgent; it is the ladder of opportunity that helps transform lives. And, matters of education – the systems, policies, and barriers – require our attention and collective action.
Whether you work directly with students or are a part of shaping the systems they navigate, CCE 2026 is your opportunity to be part of that conversation, not as a passive observer, but as a contributor, change agent, and student advocate as we explore:
- Which policies are quietly harming our students, and how do we work within imperfect systems while simultaneously pushing to change them?
- How do we dismantle the visible and invisible barriers that prevent students from accessing the education they deserve?
- How do we move from isolated programs to scalable institutional change that allows us to build educational ecosystems where innovation is not the exception, but the expectation?
- If education truly matters, what are we willing to change about our institutions, our practices, and ourselves, to prove it?
Through conversations, storytelling, best practices, and calls to action, the CCE conference offers a space for learning, advocacy, and action. This year, for our 16th gathering we call upon you to join us with intention, commitment, and passion.
Who Should Attend:
The annual conference is Illinois' preeminent postsecondary access and success event and brings together stakeholders committed to increasing the proportion of adults in the state with high-quality degrees and credentials. Its greatest strength lies in uniting a diverse statewide audience around educational opportunity and student success. Participants include: college access practitioners; high school leaders, counselors, and case managers; college and university administrators; employers and workforce development professionals; and policymakers and elected officials. The conference also offers stakeholders an opportunity to strengthen collaborative and collective leadership in pursuit of the state's goals.
We hope you will join us, a community of professionals dedicated to improving outcomes for all learners. Come ready to be challenged, inspired and most importantly, to act.
The conference agenda will be available later in June. More information about the conference, the Tinley Park Convention Center, and hotel is available on the conference website.
2026 College Changes Everything Conference Planning Committee
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission
- Illinois Board of Higher Education
- Illinois Community College Board
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Illinois State Board of Education
- Illinois College Access Network
- Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
- Advance Illinois
- Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
- ACT Now
- Women Employed
- iCan Dream Center
by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
to help make education beyond high school accessible and affordable.
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