Council of Independent Colleges

Happy Thanksgiving from CIC. We are grateful for our members and their innovation, collaboration, and resilience to support and unlock the potential of independent higher education for more than 2 million students served by CIC institutions.?

We are pleased that CIC President Marjorie Hass was invited to participate last week in the Liberal Arts Summit 2024 hosted by Times Higher Education in collaboration with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Hass spoke on a panel to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing liberal arts programs in the current global education environment. #THEliberalarts

CIC’s 2025 Presidents Institute will take place on January 4–7 in San Antonio, Texas. The Institute provides opportunities to renew, reflect, and anticipate the year to come with important sessions such as “Understanding the Election Results and the Economic Implications for Higher Education” and “Financial Challenges and Strategies to Combat Them.”? ? In addition to engaging programming, the hotel is just a short drive from downtown San Antonio, a city filled with a vibrant shopping district, wineries, and the beautiful San Antonio Botanical Gardens, and River Walk.? ? Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eNK73F-P?? ? Find a full list of San Antonio highlights and attractions: https://lnkd.in/eME9Cvs?? ? We hope you will join us! #CICpresidents2025 ???

CIC’s Campus Free Expression Project Roadmaps offer tailored advice for presidents, trustees, faculty members, and student affairs officers. The reports are free and available on the CIC website as resources to promote open discourse and prepare students as independent thinkers and engaged citizens.??? ? Jacqueline Pfeffer Merrill, Ph.D., director of the Campus Free Expression Project, will moderate a plenary session at CIC’s Presidents Institute focused on moving campuses toward a campus-wide approach to a free expression culture. She’ll also be available for individual consultations with presidents who sign up using the conference app, Guidebook.? ? Learn more and download the reports: https://lnkd.in/g_Fj-RnT

Higher education leaders may soon face a new landscape shaped by policy shifts, budget changes, and regulatory impacts that could affect independent colleges and universities. CIC is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, December 10, at 12:30 p.m. (ET)?on anticipated legislative and policy changes that may impact enrollment, financial aid, and campus operations.? ? The conversation will be led by Marjorie Hass, president, Council of Independent Colleges; Donna Carroll, president, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities; David Hoag, president, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU); and Barbara K Mistick, president, NAICU - National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities.?

The newest cohort of US Rhodes Scholars was announced Saturday, and includes three students from CIC member institutions (Eastern Mennonite University, Coe College, and Pepperdine University). Congratulations to these students and their institutions! https://lnkd.in/e8TfqZgZ

The Educating Character Initiative (ECI) is accepting proposals for grants related to Building Capacity and Community at US Colleges and Universities. In 2025, ECI intends to award grants to both individuals and institutions, varying in scale, focus, and expected impact.? ? Teacher-Scholar Grants: up to $15,000 with applications due by January 3 Institutional Impact Grants: between $100,000 and $1 million with concept papers due by February 17 Capacity-Building Grants: up to $50,000 with applications due by March 17 Guidelines for grant proposals can be found here: https://lnkd.in/etvjbJ49? ? ECI is also hosting six one-hour webinars to give an overview and answer questions about the ECI grants:? -Wednesday, November 20, 11:00 a.m.–noon (ET) and noon–1:00 p.m. (ET)? -Thursday, December 12, 11:00 a.m.–noon (ET) and noon–1:00 p.m. (ET)? -Thursday, January 9, 11:00 a.m.–noon (ET) and noon–1:00 p.m. (ET)?

The latest issue of Marjorie Hass' newsletter was published today: https://lnkd.in/eEvQxr9j She reflects on returning to one’s “why” and the importance of creativity and art in dark or unknown times. The link to subscribe to future issues can be found on the CIC website: https://lnkd.in/eAECAQ-S???

Want to learn more about CIC’s members, mission, programs, and events??? Find it in the CIC Annual Report, “A Bridge to Multiple Networks” https://lnkd.in/e7e_Achj?

Since 2022, CIC has offered a series of virtual workshops?to help member institutions to achieve and manage National Science Foundation (NSF) grants for early-career faculty members in computer science and related disciplines.? Applications are open for the final workshop of the series, which will take place virtually on March 11–12. The workshop will bring together faculty members in computer science and related disciplines alongside grants officers at their institutions, with a focus on designing effective and compelling proposals and setting up a strong infrastructure to manage two NSF grant opportunities for early-career faculty members: the CISE Research Initiation Initiative (CRII) and the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER).??? ? Institutions are invited to submit applications for teams consisting of one (or two) untenured, tenure-track faculty members and one grants officer who has responsibility for soliciting and managing federal grants at the institution.? ? Find more information or submit an application: https://lnkd.in/eiAxFrBU??