UIC Center for Literacy’s GED program opens doors for adult learners
Introduction
At the UIC Center for Literacy, adult learners gather with a shared goal: earning a high school diploma through the center’s GED program. For many, it is a milestone years in the making. The GED program, which served hundreds of learners over more than a decade, was paused between 2021 and 2024 due to a loss of funding. In fall 2024, the center was able to reinstate it, renewing its long-standing commitment to adult education and opportunity for Chicago communities.
Director Andrea Vaughan and a dedicated team lead the program, with curriculum designed by lead instructor Carina Gonzalez, enrollment and data support from Annaly Pardino and student support from case manager Maria Guadalupe Narvaez.
“Earning a GED doesn’t just change one life,” Vaughan said. “It impacts families and communities. At the UIC Center for Literacy, the GED program is more than a credential. It is a pathway forward for learners, families and the city they call home.”