The for-profit college ITT Technical Institute said in a federal filing that it will cease operations on Friday. Carmel, Indiana-based ITT Educational Services Inc. said in a Wednesday filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission that it would stop services a little more than a week after it announced it would close all of its campuses. At the same time, Parkland College and other community colleges are stepping in to help displaced students.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth say college students are graduating with an 'overwhelming' amount of debt. During a panel at Parkland College in Champaign Thursday, the two discussed efforts to refinance the debt, increase Pell Grants, and allow for two years' free community college.

Parkland College President Tom Ramage says nine positions will be cut next week, once the community college completes a voluntary separation program that's yielded $1 million in savings. He sent a mass e-mail to staff Thursday.  The annoucement comes days after Parkland Trustees approved an 11-percent tuition hike.

The Illinois Coalition to Invest in Higher Education looks at the state's nearly 9-month budget impasse, and not only the impact on students, but the local economy.  Members who held a press conference Monday include mayors, those leading research efforts on the University of Illinois campus, and student leaders from the U of I and Parkland College.

The Parkland College Board gave its tentative approval Wednesday night to a 12% tuition and fee increase for the next academic year, as well as cuts in the Champaign community college's tuition waiver program. Parkland President Tom Ramage says the cuts are just part of what's proposed to adjust to an expected 50% cut in state funding for fiscal year 2017.