Programs and Services
We are committed to ensuring all students have access, opportunities, and resources to achieve their highest level of academic, professional, and personal achievement.
Community Groups
CAST Connections College-2-Career (C4) Alliance
CAST College-2-Career Alliance is a community of juniors and seniors feeling a little uneasy about life after graduation and would benefit from additional personalized guidance. This community is also for students who want to further their education but do not know where to start.
C4 Alliance Perks
- Micro- internships/externships (Paid experiences are available to eligible students)
- Individualized Career Action plan
- Customized career readiness activities
- Graduate School preparation
- Professional development sessions
- Civic engagement opportunities
- Community of networks
Apply to C4 Alliance or refer a student(s) by emailing tybaile@ilstu.edu.
CAST Connections First Gen Fellows
CAST Connections First Gen Fellows is a program designed to capitalize on the strengths and talents of first-generation students while connecting them to customized resources, programming, and networks to enhance their college journey and success.
Who can join?
Any first-generation student is eligible to join. Preference will be given to first and second year students.
What can I expect as a CAST Fellow?
- Micro- internships/externships (Paid experiences are available to eligible students)
- Personalized career readiness tips tailored towards students’ career interest
- Individualized leadership preparation skills
- Academic enhancement sessions
- Mental health workshops
- Enhancement of soft skills
- Networking opportunities
- Community service opportunities
Apply to become a CAST Fellow or refer a student by emailing tybaile@ilstu.edu.
Make It Matter
Make it Matter is a highly engaging program that gives students the resources, coaching, and technology to launch a social impact project of their choice. Students work in a cohort to choose a community issue that is personally meaningful to them, learn about that issue, create a plan, and take action. Students will be trained and make explicit use of the disciplines and transferable skills like leadership, consensus-building, research skills, writing, speaking, and asking questions.
To learn more and apply to the cohort click here
Services
Wrap Around Student Services
Wrap-around services are services intended to assist students in connecting to the best support person based on students’ individual needs. We work alongside students to help them meet their educational, personal, or career goals. These services include individual consultation and Success Groups.
Individualized Student Consultation
CAST Connections provides one-on-one meetings with students seeking partnerships in evaluating and adjusting to academic challenges, students seeking assistance in finding co-curricular opportunities and students who need help to prepare for life after graduation. We encourage students at any level to schedule an appointment.
Students have the option to schedule a single one-hour meeting or periodic 30-minute check-in meetings. We recommend that students who are seeking academic consulting schedule at least 3-5 appointments. Students will create a customized action plan for the academic year.
This service is free. To schedule or refer a student for a consulting appointment, please click here.
Success Groups
CAST Connection Success groups are developed for those seeking to improve their GPA throughout the fall and spring semesters and get more connected to major-related activities.
Benefits of participating:
- Social connections outside of the classroom
- A community of accountability partners
- VIP access to CAST Connections' workshops/events
- Academic performance monitoring to help increase your major/cumulative GPA
- Connections to major-related opportunities
Refer a student by emailing tybaile@ilstu.edu