IBHE Equity Plan Committee

Charge and Membership: Heading link

Per Public Act 102-1046 public universities are required “to develop and implement an equity plan and practices that include methods and strategies to increase the access, retention, completion, and student loan repayment rates of minorities, rural students, adult students, women, and individuals with disabilities who are traditionally underrepresented in education programs and activities.”

To meet this requirement, the IBHE Equity Plan Committee was assembled in March 2024.

The Equity Plan committee was charged with developing an equity plan for UIC in accordance with Public Act 102-1046. Per this act, public universities are required “to develop and implement an equity plan and practices that include methods and strategies to increase the access, retention, completion, and student loan repayment rates of minorities, rural students, adult students, women, and individuals with disabilities who are traditionally underrepresented in education programs and activities.”

UIC had already engaged in an equity planning process, which resulted in the January 2023 Equity Plan, and which identified a series of strategic priorities to advance college persistence and completion among underserved groups, with goals to address equity gaps to be realized by 2030. In 2023, the IBHE released Equity Plan Framework Guidance for universities, which contains additional components to be addressed within university plans. The previous equity plan served as a baseline and be repurposed to fulfill the IBHE’s framework.

Fred McCall, Executive Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, and Nikos Varelas, Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Effectiveness, co-chaired this committee.

  • Nikos Varelas, Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Effectiveness – Co-Chair
  • Fred McCall, Executive Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Engagement & Dean of Students, Co-Chair
  • Mary Ellen Borchers, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Chancellor
  • Darima Butitova, Assistant Director Assistant Director, Office for Research on Student Success
  • Eileen Doran, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, College of Applied Health Sciences
  • Aisha El-Amin, Executive Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Belonging
  • Kiely Fletcher, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
  • Rosilie Hernández, Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Jessica Joslin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity Initiatives, Office of Diversity, Equity and Engagement
  • Colleen Kehoe, Director, Office of Budget and Financial Analysis
  • Felicia Keelen, University Innovation Alliance Associate and Fellow*
  • Eric Schwarze, Associate Director, Office of Academic Program Development
  • Josephine Volpe, Associate Vice Provost for Advising Development
  • Thomas Warfield, Director, Office of Institutional Research