MARYVILLE – To highlight an initiative to increase higher education accessibility, State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) announced first-year students applying to any of Illinois’ public universities, as well as several of the state’s private institutions, only need to submit one form on Common App.

“Applying to college can be confusing, tiresome and expensive,” Crowe said. “By using the Common App platform, Illinois is simplifying the process and working to ensure accessibility to higher education opportunities.”

This fall, all 12 public universities in Illinois will be available on the Common App platform, thanks to a $1 million state investment.

For families with financial concerns, waivers are available for low-income Common App applicants. In addition, some colleges and universities either have no application fees or will waive fees if needed.

“For many applicants and their families, a major concern for starting the college journey is the cost,” Crowe said. “There are several aid options available to help reduce the financial burdens associated with applying for college.”

Residents are encouraged to visit the Common App website for informational resources, including a first-year application guide, videos and a complete list of institutions that use the application.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is encouraging incoming students to take advantage of Common App – a tool to apply for multiple Illinois colleges at once.

“Common App makes college more accessible by making the application process less tedious and stressful,” Turner said. “Illinois’ best and brightest now have a streamlined and simplified process to apply to all public universities in our great state, like the University of Illinois Springfield.”

Incoming students applying to college will now be able to submit applications to any of Illinois’ 12 public universities and dozens of private institutions using just one form on commonapp.org. Once a student makes a Common App account, they will be asked to confirm which schools they’d like to apply to and review the admission requirements for those schools. They’ll then submit their application on the website, where they’ll be able to track its status.

Low-income students and their families can apply for a waiver to help cover the application cost. Over the last two years, more than 470,000 students using Common App across the country were granted a fee waiver.

MANTENO – As Veterans Day approaches, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is asking residents to write friendly, encouraging letters in an effort to thank our heroes in veterans’ homes across the state.

“Veterans Day is a time to honor the brave American men and women who have served our country,” Joyce said. “Join me in writing letters to our veterans so we can show our appreciation to all of them.”

Operation Rising Spirit is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs that encourages communities to write letters to residents in the care of veteran’ home in Illinois. At a time when isolation is at a record high, the letters are meant to extend friendly affirmation for the bravery and courage of veterans both throughout their service and the pandemic.

The effort was first launched in 2020 ahead of Veterans Day in November. The letter-writing campaign will focus on the veterans’ homes in Illinois, located in Anna, Chicago, LaSalle, Manteno and Quincy. Senator Joyce represents Manteno, which provides care for up to 294 skilled care and special needs veterans.

“Let’s show our support for our veterans and send these heroes letters to thank them for their service,” Joyce said.

To send a message to a veteran or a veteran home, visit Send-a-note. Locations for each of the veterans’ homes in Illinois can be found here, if someone would rather send a physical letter.

FAYETTE COUNTY – As part of its Adopt-a-Legislator® program, the Fayette County Farm Bureau welcomed State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) to multiple farms in downstate Illinois to learn about their operations and further develop relationships with farmers in the state.

“The time spent in Fayette County with my family during our tours of the fields and farms was enlightening,” Pacione-Zayas said. “Maintaining connections to the land and relationships with farmers across the state is important for bridging the gap between urban and rural communities in Illinois.  In the months I’ve been a part of the Adopt-a-Legislator program, you recognize the significance of championing policy that benefits the agriculture industry and our environment so Illinois communities can be sustainable and thriving.”

CHAMPAIGN – Prospective students applying to any of Illinois’ 12 public universities can now use the Common Application, and Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is encouraging incoming students to take advantage.

Bennett worked with his colleagues in the General Assembly and the Illinois Board of Higher Education to obtain $1 million in funding to add all of the state’s public universities onto the Common App platform so that students in Illinois will consider continuing their educational journey at home.

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is encouraging incoming college students to take advantage of a new one-stop shop to apply for Illinois colleges and universities.

“Applying to multiple colleges can take hours of entering the same information into numerous websites and end up costing hundreds of dollars,” Murphy said. “With Common App, applying to college just got easier.”

Incoming students applying to college will now be able to submit applications to any of Illinois’ 12 public universities and dozens of private institutions using just one form on commonapp.org. Once a student makes a Common App account, they will be asked to confirm which schools they’d like to apply to and review the admission requirements for those schools. They’ll then submit their application on the website, where they’ll be able to track its status.

Low-income students and their families can apply for a waiver to help cover the application cost. Over the last two years, more than 470,000 students using Common App across the country were granted a fee waiver.

“Common App will make the process of applying to college less tedious and stressful,” Murphy said. “It breaks down barriers to higher education for low-income students, giving them a better chance at success.”

The expansion of Common App comes thanks to $1 million set aside in partnership with the governor’s office, Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois General Assembly.

PLAINFIELD – To increase college accessibility and affordability, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) is excited to announce that college-bound students can apply to all Illinois public universities through Common App.

The governor’s office and Illinois Board of Higher Education worked with the Illinois General Assembly to utilize $1 million in funding to add all public schools and a dozen private universities to the Common App system.

“Streamlining the college application process will help us keep Illinois’ best and brightest in state,” Loughran Cappel said. “Expanding opportunities for our students will help encourage them to choose Illinois’ higher education facilities as the next step in their academic journey.”

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) encourages people to help lift up veterans across the state by asking service organizations, volunteers, and others to write friendly letters to veterans’ home residents ahead of Veterans Day.

“The district I represent is home to a large population of veterans, each of them being valued members of the community,” Belt said. “Some have lost their lives, and some continue to endure the impacts of their service, and we must honor, recognize, and show appreciation to all of them.”