Northeastern Illinois University’s College of Arts and Sciences Education Program Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

In the late 1990s, a group of faculty members at Northeastern Illinois University posed a question: What would happen if students who were interested in becoming teachers were put into a cohort for their freshman and sophomore years — helping each other with coursework, gaining experience outside the classroom and experiencing what it’s like to be an educator before really being at the head of a class?

By 2001, that query was the basis of a grant, implemented by Northeastern alumnus and Instructor of Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT) Jim Blair (M.A. ’68 English - Literature). The project, then called the Illinois Professional Learners Partnership (IPLP), was housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, and partnered with the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education.

IPLP was composed of five Illinois public and private universities, seven community colleges, educational agencies and five businesses including IBM and Ameritech. Its three major goals centered on collaborative reflection, professional preparation and plans to manage the organizational change process in teacher education reform.

Over the years, the program became known as the College of Arts and Sciences Education Program (CASEP). This academic year, CASEP marks its 25th year as part of the University. An anniversary celebration was held on May 1, 2026, in the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs. Current and former students, faculty and staff gathered to recognize this momentous occasion.

During the event, Blair noted he was inspired to start the program because of the experience he had at Northeastern as a student. When he came to Northeastern in 1965, he took a transformative creative writing class with the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks. In that class, he not only learned the subject matter, but he met his wife, Margaret Blair, as well as Harry Hild, who would later become Jim’s Department Chair of CMT once he began teaching at the University.

“It was an incredible experience,” Jim said. “Gwendoyn Brooks was able to impart a kind of teaching and the kind of courage teachers need to have. She gave that to me.”

Brooks’ supportive nature and encouragement to just try to do assignments, even if Jim didn’t feel he was ready, helped him discover the kind of teacher he wanted to be, and that he wanted to share that inspiration with others.

Northeastern President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D., served as IPLP’s first student recruitment coordinator.

“We didn't really know what we were looking for in terms of students, but knew we were looking for students who were hungry to do something different, and who wanted to engage in a very interactive and unique way with their teachers,” President Bell-Jordan said. “The faculty went above and beyond in the classroom, testing out this wonderful experiment.”

President Bell-Jordan noted that Jim is a “trailblazer” and thanked him, Marge, and their daughter, Jennifer Blair — who is also an alumna of the University and currently serves Northeastern as a Senior Program Specialist for Nontraditional Degree Programs — for their continued contributions and support of the University. Furthermore, she shared the results of CASEP speak for themselves. In a 2012 Program Review, the four-year graduation rate for Northeastern students overall was 5.3% and the six-year graduation rate was 23.1%. Students enrolled in the CASEP Program graduated at a rate of 25% and 58.3%, respectively.

Not only has the program guided countless students through Northeastern’s academic curriculum to graduation, but also confidently prepared them to lead their own classes. Additionally, CASEP has been a model for student success and retention, as well as the basis for the University’s Living Learning Communities, which offer holistic educational opportunities for students who wish to live at The Nest, Northeastern’s residence hall.

“Former provosts have recognized the importance of resourcing and funding CASEP because outcomes were so strong,” Dr. Bell-Jordan said. She continued, “Jim was fearless and committed, innovative and inspirational. He never forgot to center the student and the experience we wanted the students to have.”

Northeastern Director of the First-Year Experience program and former CASEP Director Jeremy Babcock emceed the event, which also honored two current CASEP students — Sergio Santoyo-Rodriguez and Mihaela Papucharova for their involvement in the program.

Additionally, current CASEP Director Jennifer Hasso shared that the CASEP acronym is being revised and will now stand for the College of Arts and Sciences Education Plus program. By expanding the idea of what an educator is, beyond traditional teachers to include students interested in related fields, such as social work, psychology, school counseling, administrators, and informal educational spaces like museums and nonprofits, CASEP can extend its impact even further.

“We wanted to be inclusive and expand the idea of who an educator is and who they serve,” Hasso said. “If you're willing to serve people, and if you want to go into some sort of education-focused area, if you're a curious person, if you're an explorer, then we will help you with open arms. We're also just really happy to continue this work.”

Incoming freshman students interested in becoming a part of CASEP need to apply after they’ve been admitted to the University.  Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort are now open. Visit the CASEP webpage for more information and to apply. 

Top photo (from left to right): Jennifer Hasso, Jim Blair, Northeastern President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan and Jeremy Babcock at the CASEP 25th Anniversary Celebration.