EIU Media Relations

EIU, ROE#12 partner to pen direct admissions agreement

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and Illinois’ Regional Office of Education District 12 (ROE#12) have joined forces to formalize a partnership program that allows local, high-achieving high school students direct admission to EIU following the completion of their sixth semester.

“ROE#12 has been a longstanding and engaged partner with EIU, and this direct admissions arrangement will benefit many of the students and families we proudly serve,” said Jeremy Brush, Regional Superintendent of Schools for ROE#12. “This is a tangible outcome of our commitments to educational leadership and student opportunity in our region and for Illinois.”

Leaders from EIU and ROE#12 recently signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize details of the direct admission partnership. Benefits of that agreement include:

• Enhanced support from EIU Admissions Counselors during the college search process, and targeted assistance with the direct admissions process starting earlier for qualifying high school students
• Utilization of EIU’s Booth Library resources and access to research assistance for ROE#12 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
• Opportunities for ROE#12 to provide input to EIU advisory boards that enhance EIU programs and services
• Guaranteed scholarships as part of the offer of direct admission
• Waived application fees for students applying for direct admission to EIU

ROE#12’s mission is to provide the schools and residents of Clay, Crawford, Jasper, Lawrence, and Richland Counties with educational leadership and assistance in accordance with Illinois School Code and the highest professional standards. To achieve that mission, ROE #12 partners with 11 public and five non-public schools, two education-for-employment (EFE) systems, and one special education cooperative. This partnership with EIU will reinforce its mission by providing additional opportunities to students in the five-county area it serves south and east of Effingham, Illinois. ROE#12 also maintains offices in each of the five counties it serves to maximize support for its service region.

EIU Vice President for Enrollment Management Josh Norman is excited to expand higher education opportunities to students across East Central Illinois. “EIU is committed to accessibility, and this partnership increases opportunities for local students looking for a quality higher education experience close to home.” Norman also added, “Partnerships like these also increase the number of college-bound students staying in Illinois to pursue higher education, which supports the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s mission to create ‘A Thriving Illinois.’”

EIU announced a similar partnership with ROE#11 in March 2024. EIU leaders look forward to providing their educational partners in the region with fresh perspectives on higher education and intensifying awareness of EIU’s support programs for college-bound students in Illinois.

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.

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.