The University-Community Partnerships of the Great Cities Initiative make UIC an engaged urban university that actively participates in ongoing relationships that benefit the university, its students, and the greater Chicago community. UIC engages the city as its citizens, as researchers, as teachers, as mentors, as students. Such a variety of roles intersect and enrich all we do both on and off campus.

The University-Community Partnerships within Great Cities are comprised of hundreds of close relationships between urban communities and UIC faculty, staff and students. UIC partners with public and private institutions, including governments, businesses, and civic, community, health, and social service organizations. We build partnerships to help people and the institutions that help them face the issues and challenges of the city. Great Cities' University-Community Partnerships are the cornerstones of UIC's long-term commitment to create, disseminate and apply interdisciplinary knowledge about urban affairs and subjects, to improve the quality of life in metropolitan Chicago and other national and international urban communities.