DuPage Higher Education Service Council 

DHESC is a student-led, countywide collaboration to address the needs of the DuPage community through service.

About DHESC

Giving DuPage had an idea to better connect our nonprofit community to the skills, assets, and resources within our local colleges and universities. This Council is comprised of dedicated higher education students, faculty, and staff who support our nonprofit partners in addressing DuPage County’s most pressing needs.

We thank our partner, Campus Compact, for helping bring this idea to life.

Purpose of DHESC

  • Address local nonprofit community needs
  • Connect the nonprofit community and higher education institutions fostering direct collaboration & partnership
  • Create a higher education peer network to pool knowledge, resources & engagement efforts across institutions
  • Cultivate strong, empathetic student leaders dedicated to social change

APPLY HERE To Be A Student Representative

DHESC Member Institutions

Benedictine University
Universal Technical Institute
College of DuPage
Universal Technical Institute
Elmhurst University
Illinois Tech
Midwestern University
National Louis University
Universal Technical Institute
North Central College
Universal Technical Institute
Universal Technical Institute

Connecting Campuses & Community

Campus/Community Partnerships

2021 Higher Education: Community Assets & Resources

2021 DHESC Faculty/Staff & Student Roles & Responsibilities

Member Resources

Student Recruitment Resources

Past Meeting Materials

Campus Compact Featured Resources

Faculty/Staff Representative Information Form

Member Institution Information Form

DHESC – Members Only Page

Project Manager

Elizabeth Okrzesik
AmeriCorps member serving with the Campus Compact VISTA program at Giving DuPage

Elizabeth acts as project manager for DHESC to ensure its success throughout implementation and development. As a long-time resident of DuPage County, she is very excited to be uniting higher education in her home community and building strong relationships with nonprofit partners.

Elizabeth graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in Human and Educational Services and from CUNY School of Professional Studies with a master’s degree in Disability Studies. Her professional background and passion is in disability services and support. Following her service with AmeriCorps, Elizabeth hopes to support students with disabilities in higher education.

Elizabeth’s service term ended in August 2021.

DHESC is a program of Giving DuPage and operates in partnership with Campus Compact and AmeriCorps.

The mission of  Campus Compact is to advance the public purpose of colleges and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.

The mission of AmeriCorps VISTA is to engage members in a year of full-time service to strengthen organizations that eliminate or alleviate poverty through the mobilization of community volunteers and resources.