Founded in 1969 as an experimental model for transformative higher education, Governors State University continues to lead through innovation and academic success at the southern edge of the greater Chicagoland area. True to our founding principles of excellence and inclusivity, the university’s diverse community of students and faculty remains a vibrant beacon of hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in our four colleges learn locally and impact globally as artists, entrepreneurs, teachers, and healthcare workers.

Our College of Arts and Sciences is our largest and most robust, reflecting a diversity of ideas and interests in its programs from chemistry to the classics. Students in the College of Business are preparing to take on the world and gaining useful experiences close to home though university partnerships with local businesses. In our College of Education and College of Health and Human Services, students aspire to make a difference right here in Chicago’s South Suburbs. Overwhelmingly, they graduate and choose to stay close to help and heal bodies, while shaping and shifting minds and lives.

While our students are committed to excelling, they can’t do it alone. They are supported by esteemed faculty who have distinguished themselves as leaders in their respective fields of study. Faculty enrich students’ classroom experiences with real-world lessons that prepare them for a competitive workplace.

You don’t have to look far to see that our graduates are the ROI on Governors State University’s promise to offer an exceptional and accessible education. Nearly 50,000 alumni are living, working and improving their communities near and far. Their contributions help drive local and state economies, creating growth and stability in the region.

According to the most recent economic impact survey, Governors State University generates an estimated $274.7 million annually to our immediate region, which includes the Metropolitan Chicago area, Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties.

Together, in the coming years, we will continue innovating and transforming education by providing culturally relevant programs.

Finally, I leave you with a quote that has been attributed to the great Chinese philosophers Confucius and Guan Zhong. I find myself referencing these words as a guidepost for my life and work.

“If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.”

At Governors State University, we’re making plans for the next 100 years and beyond. On behalf of our Jaguar family, I want to welcome you to an exciting journey.

Dr. Cheryl Green
President of Governors State University