The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association in the United States of more than 650 independent,

liberal arts college A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on undergraduate study in liberal arts and sciences. Such colleges aim to impart a broad general knowledge and develop general intellectual capac ...

s and

universities A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

and more than 100

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completi ...

affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill its mission, CIC provides ideas, resources, and programs that help institutions improve their leadership expertise, educational programs, administrative and financial performance, and institutional visibility. Member institutions are drawn from across the spectrum of independent higher education, including selective liberal arts colleges, medium-sized private universities, religious colleges,

historically black colleges Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. Mo ...

, and single-sex institutions. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

Membership criteria

To join the Council as a full member, a U.S. college or university must grant

baccalaureate degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

s, must demonstrate a commitment to liberal arts and sciences through its curricular offerings and degree requirements, must have been in operation for at least three years, and must be

accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...

or have candidate status with a U.S. regional accrediting association. Similar institutions outside the U.S. may join as international members, and independent,

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

two-year institutions may qualify for associate membership.

Tuition Exchange Program

One of CIC's services to its member institutions is its Tuition Exchange Program, a network of more than 430 CIC colleges and universities that are willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other participating institutions.

Merger with Foundation for Independent Higher Education

In October 2010, the

Foundation for Independent Higher Education The Foundation for Independent Higher Education (FIHE) is the national office for a network of state-based private college fundraising associations in the United States. It was founded in 1958 as The Independent College Funds of America. In 2010 i ...

(FIHE) merged with CIC. This merger has enabled CIC to expand its role in supporting independent colleges by also working with, and providing grant support to, state consortia of private colleges and universities.

References

External links

* {{Authority control International college and university associations and consortia College and university associations and consortia in the United States