Hear directly from Chancellor Salgado about Forward, Together.
Juan Salgado
Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago
Building on Our Momentum: Our Vision
As the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity, City Colleges of Chicago catalyzes our students’ capacity to prosper and take part in building a stronger and more just Chicago.
Over the last five years, we have learned what works. We have increased enrollment and improved student outcomes. We will continue growing high demand programs and strong relationships with our partners at CPS, transfer universities, employers, philanthropy, and the community.
You can read more about our progress in our 2025 Impact Report.
Strategic Levers
Turning Vision into Measurable Progress
Four strategic levers will keep us on track as we work toward our transformational goals. These levers were informed by research, lessons learned, and input from key internal and external stakeholders, including students, faculty, and staff. They reflect not only the successes we are building on, but a promise to our students, our community, and our city.
Lever 1: Student Experience
Build an Exceptional Student Experience
We promise that every experience with City Colleges, from pre-admissions to post-completion success, will be exceptional. Every student will be able to maximize their learning inside and outside the classroom, navigate our institution with ease, make significant progress towards their goals, and feel welcome and supported by all City Colleges employees.
Lever 2: Economic Responsiveness
Respond to the Economic Needs of the City
We will continue to be forward-looking and agile in developing pathways and forging partnerships that unlock transformational career opportunities for City Colleges students and fuel the Chicago workforce with talent that is prepared to meet the needs of the economy.
Lever 3: Excellence
Advance a Culture of Excellence
We will advance a culture of excellence that inspires everyone to become the ‘best in class’ for our students and community. We hold ourselves accountable to delivering academics, experiences, and services of the highest quality and ensuring the well-being of our institution.
Lever 4: Collaboration
Strengthen a Collaborative and Connected Ecosystem
We will strengthen our collaborative network across Chicago, leveraging partnerships to remove barriers to student success and accelerate students’ economic mobility and wealth attainment.
What Is Our Theory of Change?
An Institutional Roadmap to Success
To achieve our goals, we are guided by a clear and focused theory of change. If we provide the right programs and supports, our institution will thrive, and so will our students—now and in the future.
To make a meaningful impact, we know we need to set ambitious goals. These goals rely on maintaining high expectations for our programs, our supports, our students, and our system as a whole.
As we work toward those transformational goals with our vision in sight and our theory of change guiding the way, we will continuously monitor our progress. Our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will hold us to the high standard by which we operate and hold our community accountable for meaningful change and progress.
Please check back in July 2026 for updates on our progress.
Our KPIs fall under five core areas:
- Enrollment, including:
- Unduplicated Total Enrollment
- Unduplicated Credit Enrollment
- Unduplicated Adult Education Enrollment
- Unduplicated Continuing Education Enrollment
- Credit Hour Production
- Adult Education Level Gains
- Fall-to-Spring Credit Retention
- Fall-to-Fall Credit Retention
- Taking and Passing College Level Math/English in the First Year
- IPEDS Graduation Rate
- CCC 4-Yr Outcome Measure
- Economic Mobility
- Transfer with Degree
- Net Promoter Score
With a guiding, districtwide framework, each of the seven City Colleges of Chicago have created a comprehensive strategic plan unique to the college, student body, and community. As you read each plan, let it spark your ideas, your partnership, and your commitment to building a stronger, more just Chicago.
March 2, 2026
Pritzker Traubert Foundation Awards First-Ever $5 Million Chicago Talent Challenge to City Colleges of Chicago and Cook County Health
CHICAGO-- March 2, 2026 — The Pritzker Traubert Foundation today announced HealthCatalyst Chicago as the inaugural winner of the Chicago Talent Challenge, a $5 million...
March 2, 2026
Crain's Chicago reports: Cook County Health, City Colleges to train 1,000 health care workers with $5M from Pritzker Traubert Foundation
This is an excerpt, to read the full story, visit: CCH, City Colleges to train health workers with $5M grant - Crain's Chicago Business Cook...
March 2, 2026
Chicago Sun-Times reports: Pritzker Traubert Foundation awards $5 million for City Colleges of Chicago, Cook County Health partnership
The Pritzker Traubert Foundation is awarding $5 million to City Colleges of Chicago and Cook County Health to form a partnership aimed at accelerating job...
March 2, 2026
Chicago Tribune reports: Pritzker Traubert Foundation awards $5M Chicago Talent Challenge to City Colleges and Cook County Health
This is an excerpt only, to read the full article click here: Pritzker Traubert Foundation awards funding for health care jobs. Last year, Penny...
