Illinois Community College Board establishes toll-free line to help students affected by hurricane      

[SEPT. 6, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Community College Board announced Friday that it had established a toll-free line for calls from students who may need to enroll in local community colleges after being displaced from attending schools closed due to Hurricane Katrina.

"Illinois students studying in areas stricken by the hurricane can call the ICCB's Student Assistance Hotline if they need information on enrolling in their local Illinois community college," said Geoff Obrzut, president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Community College Board.

Many Illinois college students studying at colleges in New Orleans or near the Gulf Coast have found those institutions closed due to damage or problems caused by Hurricane Katrina. Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Aug. 31 that he had directed the Illinois Community College Board to ensure that all Illinois residents displaced from their higher education by Hurricane Katrina be able to continue their education at an Illinois community college.

Guy Alongi, chairman of the Illinois Community College Board, said that some community college presidents have already started receiving calls from affected parents and students and that local colleges will ensure that students are able to continue their studies. The board established the toll-free line to help Illinois resident students.

The toll-free number is 1 [phone]. Students may also contact their local community colleges directly or via the Internet at http://www.iccb.org/HTML/colleges/colleges.html by clicking on the link from that Web page to their local college.

[Illinois Community College Board news release]