EIU Media Relations

EIU, ROE#11 ink agreement for direct admissions partnership

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and Illinois’ Regional Office of Education District 11 (ROE#11) have partnered to introduce a pioneering program that will allow local, high-achieving high school students to be admitted directly to EIU following the completion of their sixth semester.

A memorandum of understanding has been created and signed by both EIU and ROE#11 formalizing the partnership. Benefits of the agreement include:

• Enhanced support from EIU Admissions Counselors during the college search process, and direct assistance with the process starting earlier for high school students
• Utilization of EIU’s Booth Library resources and access to research assistance for ROE#11 students throughout the duration of their admission to EIU
• Expanded communications flow to increase awareness of available scholarship opportunities at EIU for regional high school students
• Guaranteed scholarships as part of the offer of direct admission
• Waived application fees

As part of the agreement, schools under the jurisdiction of ROE#11 will provide EIU with a list of students maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher upon completion of their sixth semester (typically the end of the high school students’ junior years). ROE #11 School Districts comprise 24 public schools, four non-public schools and other associated regional education programs that together enroll more than 20,000 students across more than 3,500 square miles of Central Illinois.

More specifically, EIU Vice President for Enrollment Management Josh Norman detailed the intent of the alliance: “This partnership aims to increase opportunities for local students who may not consider higher education as a viable pathway to achieving their future goals.” Norman also added, “In addition, the partnership will reduce the number of college-bound students leaving the state to pursue higher education, and we are excited to partner with ROE#11 to better serve our local students and to help them realize their maximum potential.”

Other EIU leaders also look forward to providing its partner organizations with a fresh perspective on higher education and further increasing awareness of EIU’s support programs for college-bound students in Illinois from an earlier stage.

EIU has taken several innovative steps in recent years to expand awareness of the opportunities the University provides—including offering more than 50 in-demand undergraduate majors, 30+ graduate degrees, and a dozen post-baccalaureate options. EIU also has expanded its resources and delivery options to further meet the needs of traditional students, career changers, and working professionals. The mission of the University to offer superior, accessible undergraduate and graduate education by fostering opportunities for student-faculty scholarship and applied learning experiences within a student-centered campus culture complements ROE#11’s enterprise to provide services for learning using excellent leadership, professional development, and student programs.

The Regional Office of Education #11 offices are physically located at 730 7th St. in Charleston—about a mile from EIU’s main campus at 600 Lincoln Avenue, also in Charleston.

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.