10/26/2026
When high schools, colleges, researchers, and student success leaders come together to share what works, students benefit.
National Louis University was honored to host the To & Through Summit, bringing together education leaders committed to one of our most important challenges: ensuring students not only access college but persist, graduate, and thrive.
At NLU, this commitment is deeply embedded in our mission. We know that access alone is not enough. Opportunity must be paired with intentional support, clear pathways, and a collective commitment to student success.
During a fireside chat with Dom McKoy, NLU President Dr. Eddie Phillips, himself a Chicago Public Schools graduate, brought the summit's theme, "What's Possible Together," to life through three powerful commitments:
1. Access and affordability must be by design. NLU is committed to providing an affordable four-year college education, with tuition among the lowest in Illinois.
2. Student success and basic needs are inseparable. Students thrive when we intentionally remove barriers to their success. From Louie's Fresh Market & Resource Hub to student wellness services and individualized support, we are building the conditions for students to persist and complete their degrees.
3. Representation matters, and so does creating pathways for others. As the first Black president in NLU's 140-year history, Dr. Phillips is committed to ensuring he is not the last.
For 140 years, NLU has helped expand educational opportunity. We remain committed to partnering with Chicago's schools, colleges, community organizations, and leaders to advance educational attainment and economic mobility.
When we invest in today's students, we invest in the future of our city, our families, and our communities.
Thank you to the To & Through team and all the participants for reminding us of what's possible when we work together.
📖 Be sure to check out NLU's impact here:
https://toandthrough.uchicago.edu/story/how-did-national-louis-university-improve-college-persistence-and-academic-achievement
