The Council of Independent Colleges: A Comprehensive Overview

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) stands as a prominent association in the United States, dedicated to supporting and advancing the interests of independent higher education. Founded in 1956, CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. With a membership encompassing over 760 unique organizations, including more than 660 college and university campuses across the United States and the world, CIC plays a vital role in shaping the landscape of private higher education. CIC currently touches more than 2 million students.

Mission and Core Functions

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.

CIC is one of only six national higher education presidential associations and the only one to focus explicitly on supporting independent college and university leadership.

Eligibility for CIC membership is open to all private, nonprofit colleges and universities in the United States that show a commitment to the liberal arts, similar institutions located outside the United States, and two-year independent institutions. Simply defined, “independent” institutions are governed by boards of private citizens and operate independent of government control. The independent sector of higher education includes traditional liberal arts colleges, research universities, religiously affiliated institutions, historically black colleges and universities, single-gender colleges, and performing and visual arts institutions. Some independent colleges and universities offer graduate programs and have schools of engineering, business, nursing, and other professions.

Strategic Focus Areas

In May 2022, the CIC Board of Directors affirmed a set of strategic focus areas to guide future decision making and programming. Recommended by CIC president Marjorie Hass, these focus areas are grounded in internal and external data about the state of independent higher education, extensive feedback from CIC members, and an operational review of CIC’s capacities and opportunities. Over the next several years, President Hass and the CIC staff will use these focus areas to enhance member services and programs. The focus areas are intended to guide but not constrain. CIC will remain responsive to unexpected opportunities and to the changing needs of CIC campuses and emergent member priorities.

When presenting the focus areas to the Board, President Hass said, “These four focus areas are important in that our members increasingly look to us for leadership and solutions to pressing problems. In this period of rapid economic and cultural change, when our campuses and their leaders are under significant stress, CIC has a unique opportunity to leverage the shared strength of our diverse sector to create meaningful solutions.”

These focus areas are designed to ensure CIC remains relevant, responsive, and impactful in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

Relevance and Engagement of Programs

CIC is committed to ensuring its institutes, leadership development programs, workshops, and conferences are ever more relevant, engaging, inspiring, and of practical use to a diverse membership. Continuous reinvention is needed to keep our annual programming fresh, interesting, and connected to what is happening on campuses and in society. CIC will continue to set a standard in terms of developing a well-prepared and diverse leadership pipeline for independent higher education. Our meetings will make use of contemporary learning formats to share information and encourage discussion and debate. In-person convenings will encourage interaction and offer immediately relevant analyses, conceptual frameworks, and solutions so that participants return to their campuses inspired and ready to implement change. Virtual gatherings will supplement in-person ones to offer timely, cost-effective ways for campus leaders to be informed and build community. Our offerings will be accessible to diverse participants and relevant to diverse institutions.

CIC recognizes the need for continuous improvement and adaptation in its offerings. The organization will actively seek feedback from members and incorporate contemporary learning formats to enhance engagement and knowledge sharing.

Supporting Financial Health and Innovation

CIC’s programming and other member services will continuously evolve to meet the needs of our members. Building on the success of our current networks and services (e.g., TEP, OCSC, NetVUE, KIT/FIT) CIC will develop new solution-oriented networks, projects, and tools to enable member presidents to better meet their institutional goals. We will be responsive to the pressing challenges facing our members including: financial health, diversity and equity, access, retention, the need for better and more timely data, student success, employment outcomes for students, campus well-being, and the need to support open dialogue and democratic citizenship. We will also support campus leaders as they explore innovation and growth such as the expansion of graduate and professional programs, nontraditional credentials and certificates, and online instruction.

Recognizing the financial pressures facing many independent institutions, CIC is dedicated to supporting member financial health and fostering innovation. This includes developing new networks, projects, and tools to help institutions address challenges related to financial sustainability, diversity and equity, access, retention, and student success. CIC also supports campus leaders as they explore innovation and growth such as the expansion of graduate and professional programs, nontraditional credentials and certificates, and online instruction.

Increasing Member Engagement

Member engagement in CIC programs and services varies widely and has been impacted by the recent rapid turnover in campus leadership. We will make our value proposition clear and compelling and ensure that every member has access to the full value of CIC membership through strategies such as conference tracks, “opt in” member segmentation, and other personalized approaches. We will adopt a “digital first” strategy to improve communication with members. Enhanced use of internal data will allow us to reach out to members in more effective and relevant ways.

CIC aims to increase member engagement by making its value proposition clear and compelling, ensuring that every member has access to the full value of CIC membership through strategies such as conference tracks, “opt in” member segmentation, and other personalized approaches. We will adopt a “digital first” strategy to improve communication with members. Enhanced use of internal data will allow us to reach out to members in more effective and relevant ways.

Championing Independent Higher Education

CIC is a unique shared resource for our sector and is poised to better live out the third prong of our mission: enhance public understanding of private higher education’s contributions to society. Our focus on practice rather than policy gives us the opportunity and responsibility to champion independent higher education and the liberal arts in ways that impact public opinion and student choice. We are committed to using data and campus success stories to share the good news about our sector and its impact in ways that are timely, pithy, and influential. We are also in a position to support presidential leadership on issues of national importance such as the role of higher education in fostering democracy and the need for institutional autonomy.

CIC seeks to strengthen its role as a visible champion of independent higher education. By focusing on practice rather than policy, CIC aims to influence public opinion and student choice by sharing data and campus success stories. The organization is also committed to supporting presidential leadership on issues of national importance, such as the role of higher education in fostering democracy and the need for institutional autonomy.

Read also: WSAC Overview

President Hass said that the focus areas are important in that “our members increasingly look to us for leadership and solutions to pressing problems. CIC has a unique opportunity to leverage the shared strength of our diverse membership and create real changes in the ecosystem in which our campuses operate.”

Key Programs and Initiatives

CIC offers a variety of programs and initiatives designed to support its member institutions and advance the cause of independent higher education. These include:

The Tuition Exchange Program (TEP): CIC-TEP is a network of CIC member colleges and universities that are willing to accept as students, tuition-free, full-time employees and their family members. Nearly 440 colleges and universities from 47 states and seven countries are participating.
NetVUE: Explore a map and search a listing of CIC, TEP, and NetVUE members.
Executive Leadership Academy (ELA): The prestigious Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) kicks off today to prepare seasoned leaders for their next senior administrative role in higher education. The first of two in-person seminars in the yearlong program runs June 16-17 in Washington, DC, and will be led by current and former college presidents along with experts in critical areas pertinent to higher education.
Campus Free Expression Project: CIC received a grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation. The funds will support the continued work of CIC’s Campus Free Expression Project.
Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program: Don't wait! Applications for the 2026-27 Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program are now open. This program is tailored to administrators with presidential aspirations and demonstrated leadership potential.
Deans Coaching Circles: Attention CIC Deans: Are you ready to take your leadership journey to the next level? Don’t miss your chance to join Deans Coaching Circles, supportive group of fellow deans and a seasoned executive coach. Connect each month online to tackle real-world challenges, exchange insights, and grow as leaders-all in a confidential, collaborative environment designed to spark inspiration and foster genuine professional growth.
Incarcerated Scholars Conference: There's still time to register for the Incarcerated Scholars Conference, which will feature presentations from students at several CIC member institutions! This is a great opportunity to join the only event where scholars in prison lead the conversation. Get ready for the 2025 Incarcerated Scholars Conference! This virtual conference showcasing the scholarship and artwork of currently incarcerated scholars, graduates, and artists is FREE and open to the public.
Scriptural Reasoning: Some institutions are finding that their vocational and other educational efforts can be augmented by offering opportunities for Scriptural Reasoning on campus. Nick Adams, NetVUE scriptural reasoning coordinator, will interview campus leaders who are making use of this approach.
Chief Academic Officers Meeting: This annually held meeting brings chief academic officers of independent colleges and universities together, and includes special workshops for new CAOs and experienced CAOs.
Presidents Institute: The Presidents Institute is an annually held meeting for presidents of independent colleges and universities that includes programs for new presidents and for spouses. A leadership development program for college presidents in their first or second year and their spouses or partners that addresses the practical needs and strategic questions for success as leaders of independent colleges and universities.
Online Provider Directory: An online platform connecting you to companies and consultants dedicated to the independent higher education sector, free of charge.

The Value of Independence

Simply defined, “independent” institutions are governed by boards of private citizens and operate independent of government control. The independent sector of higher education includes traditional liberal arts colleges, research universities, religiously affiliated institutions, historically black colleges and universities, single-gender colleges, and performing and visual arts institutions. Some independent colleges and universities offer graduate programs and have schools of engineering, business, nursing, and other professions.

CIC recognizes and promotes the unique value of independent higher education, which is characterized by its autonomy, flexibility, and commitment to student-centered learning.

CICU

About UsThe Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) aims to provide opportunity and access to higher education through fairness, equity, and humanity. New York is home to the largest Independent Sector of higher education in the country with more than 100 independent colleges and universities educating nearly 500,000 students annually.

CICU is a statewide association representing the public policy interests of New York’s private non-profit colleges and universities. CICU is governed by a Board of Trustees and its President is Lola W. CICU’s Mission: Provide opportunity and access to higher education through fairness, equity, and humanity.CICU’s Vision: Improve quality of life through higher education.CICU’s Values: Advocacy, Opportunity, Choice, and Excellence.Diversity Statement: At CICU we celebrate multiple perspectives and approaches. We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as a driver of innovation.

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