IBHE Brings Statewide Higher Education Conversation to Lake County

The University Center of Lake County is proud to welcome the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to Grayslake for its public Board meeting on August 19, 2026.

The meeting brings statewide higher education leadership to Lake County and provides an opportunity for the University Center to serve as a gathering place for conversations surrounding higher education in Illinois.

Created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1961, IBHE serves as the coordinating body for the state's higher education system. Its work encompasses Illinois public universities, community colleges, independent colleges and universities, and other postsecondary institutions. Through its Board meetings and statewide initiatives, IBHE addresses issues affecting students, institutions, communities, and the future of higher education throughout Illinois.

Hosting the meeting is particularly meaningful for the University Center of Lake County, whose mission is rooted in collaboration and expanding access to higher education. The University Center brings multiple university partners together in one location, providing Lake County residents with opportunities to pursue bachelor's, graduate, certificate, and professional programs while remaining close to home.

The visit also highlights Lake County's place within the broader Illinois higher education landscape. As institutions respond to changing student needs, workforce demands, affordability

concerns, and new approaches to educational access, collaboration between state leaders, colleges, universities, and local communities continues to be essential.

The University Center is honored to provide a space where these statewide conversations can take place and to welcome higher education leaders from across Illinois to Lake County.

About the Illinois Board of Higher Education

The Illinois Board of Higher Education is the coordinating body for higher education in Illinois. The Board works with colleges, universities, state agencies, and other stakeholders to support statewide higher education planning, policy, access, affordability, and student success.

About the University Center of Lake County

The University Center of Lake County connects area residents with undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and professional educational opportunities offered by its university partners. Through collaboration among higher education institutions, the University Center helps expand access to flexible educational pathways for students throughout Lake County and the surrounding region.

University Center of Lake County

1200 University Center Drive,

Grayslake IL 60030

847-665-4000 Visit ucenter.org to learn more.