History of ACI
Established in 1952 and governed by a board of directors that includes business and community leaders as well as member college presidents, the Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) was launched to collectively raise funds from the business community in order to sustain private higher education in Illinois.
Now, nearly 60 years later, ACI leverages the expertise of its member colleges and universities to be a catalyst for action, creating successful and energetic partnerships that provide the infrastructure and knowledge required to deliver long-term solutions to some of our nation’s most pressing educational challenges. ACI program arenas include college access, college success, experiential education and K-12 teacher quality initiatives. Since launching, ACI has empowered thousands of current alumni to fulfill their potential in work, family and communities throughout Illinois and across the country.
