The��Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs��(CACREP) informed NPU’s School of Professional Studies (SPS)��last month��of its decision��following��a two-year review process.

SPS Dean��Dr.��Lori��Scrementi��called the decision a��noteworthy��milestone for the school.

“This recognition affirms the excellence of our faculty, the strength of our curriculum, and our commitment to preparing highly qualified counselors who are equipped to meet the growing mental health needs of our communities,”��Scrementi��said.��“CACREP accreditation positions our program—and our graduates—for a strong and impactful future.”

The CACREP board��based��its��decision on its review of self-study documents, the site��review team’s report, and��NPU’s response to the site review team’s report, according to a representative from CACREP.

“On behalf of the CACREP��board and��staff,��I extend congratulations��to all of those involved in making this a successful accreditation review process,” said CACREP CEO��and President M. Sylvia Fernandez of the accreditation, which lasts through 2034. “Such support is considered vital to assuring continued quality in higher education programs.”��

NPU’s MACMHC program is a fully online, 700-hour, field-experience-heavy program designed to prepare students for licensure in Illinois and other states. It emphasizes ethical, culturally competent care with a Christian perspective, preparing graduates for diverse roles in community counseling, addiction treatment, and private practice.

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The award supports music students who have achieved a high level of musical excellence, demonstrated leadership and service, and contributed to an inclusive community. Alvarez, who plays the oboe, plans to pursue a graduate degree in music education. She said she chose the oboe because she wanted to learn to play her favorite piece, “The Duck” from Peter and the Wolf, and use her skills to perform in church.

“My time at North Park has helped me learn a very important lesson—that ‘the show must go on!’” Alvarez said. “It also taught me to take the opportunities available to me. The Music Department professors have guided us music students to a better understanding of music and the possibilities of what we can do with it.”

NPU Professor of Music Dr. Joseph Lill said about Alvarez, “She is a joy to be around, every day, every rehearsal. She is exactly what we look for in a student: someone who takes advantage of everything a small school offers and makes new students feel right at home.”

About the Presser Foundation
The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the will of the late Theodore Presser. It is one of the few private foundations in the United States dedicated solely to music education and music philanthropy. Many universities and independent institutions of higher education present the Presser award annually to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of a music major in their final year of undergraduate study.

The Foundation is committed to equitable, transparent, and forward-thinking philanthropy. For more information: .

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The project is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which supports theological schools in the United States and Canada in responding to their most pressing challenges. The NPU grant is one of 45 to be awarded in a competitive round of funding to support theological schools in their work with other seminaries; colleges and universities; and church-related organizations.

One Covenant Community will unite every major Covenant entity involved in congregational leadership development and support. Partner organizations include all 11 ECC regional conferences, as well as groups such as Serve Clergy and Serve Locally, Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos (CHET), Alaska Christian College, Minnehaha Academy, Midtown Leadership Institute, Mission Springs and Covenant Harbor Camps, the Mosaic Commission, and the Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors. These partners will support church leaders with continuing education; strengthen partners’ institutional capacity; and foster Covenant identity, unity, and belonging.

Lilly Endowment launched the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative in 2021. Since then, it has provided grants totaling more than $700 million to support 163 theological schools in efforts to strengthen their own educational and financial capacities and to assist 61 schools in developing large-scale collaborative endeavors.

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The program provides scholarships to students who are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients—also called Dreamers—as well as to not DACA recipients. Incoming NPU students who qualify for the award are encouraged to apply by January 31, 2026.

“TheDream.US scholarship has made higher education possible for so many North Park students who once doubted it was within reach,” said Genesis Rivera, NPU admissions counselor. “Seeing their growth and success reminds us why this partnership matters and gives us so much hope for what’s ahead. We look forward to continuing to grow in our partnership and walking alongside more students as they pursue their goals at North Park.”

This partnership reflects North Park’s mission to welcome and support students of all backgrounds as they pursue lives of significance and service in Chicago and beyond.

Since its founding, TheDream.US has awarded more than 12,000 scholarships to immigrant youth representing over 120 countries and 45 states, resulting in 4,500 graduates to date. The organization partners with nearly 80 colleges in 20 states to provide scholarships, career support, and access to legal resources that help Dreamers overcome systemic barriers and achieve social mobility.

Through data, scholar and alumni stories, strategic partnerships, and targeted advocacy, TheDream.US advances equitable access to higher education and workforce pathways for immigrant youth. For more information, visit .

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Eligible Trinity Christian College students will be welcomed into a supportive pathway that honors their academic progress. By recognizing completed coursework and providing individualized credit evaluations, North Park will help students stay on track toward graduation with minimal disruption.

“We know that transitions of this kind can be deeply personal and challenging,” said Mary K. Surridge, president at ���ʵ���. “Our commitment is to walk alongside each student with care, integrity, and support—ensuring that their academic goals remain within reach and that their faith continues to be nurtured in a welcoming community.”

As part of the teach-out partnership, students will receive one-on-one advising, simplified transfer pathways, and personalized financial aid reviews. North Park is also offering campus visits and information sessions so Trinity Christian students can meet faculty and staff and experience the university’s vibrant Christian community firsthand.

“North Park and Trinity share a common mission—educating students for lives of significance and service grounded in the Christian faith,” Surridge added. “We are honored to serve as a teach-out partner and to provide a place where students can continue to thrive academically, spiritually, and personally.”

Located on Chicago’s North Side, ���ʵ��� offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a range of graduate and professional programs. With a diverse student body and strong focus on Christian values, intercultural understanding, and urban engagement, NPU provides a distinctive educational experience rooted in both compassion and excellence.

Trinity Christian students interested in exploring teach-out or transfer opportunities can contact North Park’s Office of Admissions at admissions@northpark.edu or visit the Trinity Christian College page on North Park’s website for additional information and resources.

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Presented in October by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the award recognizes students who excel in curricular and extracurricular activities and who work toward the betterment of humanity.

“I can think of few students in my more than 20 years teaching who better exemplify that quality,” said Assistant Dean of Sciences and Professor of Biology Matthew Schau. “Sofia is incredibly passionate about scientific research.”

Volkmann, who plans to attend graduate school, is currently working on a research project focused on the mechanism of cancer metastasis to the brain.

“I believe in this capacity she’ll make the world a better place,” Schau said of Volkmann, who grew up in Brazil, played two varsity sports and maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout college. She worked four on-campus jobs to support herself in school, including in biology and chemistry lab prep and for campus safety where she often works night shifts.

Each Student Laureate receives the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin, and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy. Student Laureates are selected by their individual schools.

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NPU students, faculty, and staff met on campus in the morning amid a torrential downpour. Despite the rain, however, volunteers eagerly headed to their designated volunteer sites, said Andrea Spicer, NPU’s coordinator for local service outreach.

This year’s participating organizations included World Relief, Concordia Place, the Friendship Center, and Jesus People EEC.

“This day provides a way to put into practice our value of living lives of service,” Spicer said. “Witnessing hundreds of people connect and work alongside our neighbors was a meaningful expression of North Park showing up in ways that impacted everyone involved.

Service Day was an all-day affair featuring breakfast in the morning and an after-party on campus with food and games.

NPU’s University Ministries designed the event to create and further a culture of service among North Parkers, expose students to organizations doing great work around the city, and strengthen alumni and student engagement with the university’s mission and values. It also serves as a tangible way for the NPU community to love its neighbors, Spicer said.��

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“���ʵ���’s rise in multiple rankings tells the story of our sacred mission in action,” said President Mary K. Surridge. “We affirm and support our students, open doors of opportunity, and change life trajectories for generations to come through excellence in education and faithful service. We are poised and prepared to elevate and advance our mission even further.”

This fall also marks the first time in recent years that NPU has earned a badge in the Best Value – Regional Universities (Midwest) category at spot #25. The methodology for this ranking primarily considers academic quality relative to the average cost for undergraduate students after scholarships and aid, the percentage of students who receive scholarships and aid, and the percentage of that aid that students don’t need to pay back.

“These rankings affirm North Park’s commitment to delivering a high-quality, affordable education,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Strategic Planning Anthony Scola. “Our rise in overall standing and social mobility reflects the strength of our academic programs, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and our unwavering focus on supporting students from all backgrounds as they pursue lives of significance and service.”

NPU welcomed 562 new traditional undergraduate students this fall, a five-percent increase for this group compared to last fall. It also welcomed 455 first-year students, the third largest incoming group of first-year students in NPU history. The five largest first-year classes have all occurred in the last five recruitment cycles.

In its annual ranking, U.S. News & World Report considers 17 measures of academic quality at nearly 1,500 degree-seeking institutions. It also considers student satisfaction, attending costs, and campus life in determining its list.

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The grant, issued to NPU in November 2024 by IBHE’s End Student Housing Insecurity grant program, funded a staff position and food pantry, according to Skyy Barney, NPU’s student care coordinator.

The position, HOUSE (Housing and Opportunities that are Useful for Student Excellence) liaison, works directly with students experiencing homelessness or precarious living situations. It’s often difficult to recognize such students, according to Kate Danielson, founder and director of Foster Progress, a Chicago-based group that helps foster children go to college.

“These students might be staying on friends’ couches or asking to stay on campus over breaks,” Danielson said. “Or they might avoid conversations about home or family or mention money stress or unstable transportation. They also often lack a fixed, adequate nighttime residence and experience food insecurity.”

Students who qualified to benefit from the grant included those who self-disclosed their unstable housing or those transitioning out of foster or state care. Faculty, staff, and peers could also refer students.

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