Featured Sessions

Data-Driven Advocacy: Unlocking the Power of Higher Education Metrics

In an era of increasing scrutiny and budget challenges, independent colleges must leverage comprehensive data to tell their story effectively. This session will explore the rich landscape of higher education data sources that can transform how we communicate the value, impact, and critical role of independent institutions to legislators, policymakers, and community stakeholders. Participants will discover how strategic data use, collection, and presentation can illuminate the unique contributions of independent higher education to state economies, student success, and social mobility.

Carolyn Mata, Higher Education Consultant

Enduring Leadership: Sustaining Self and Serving Others

In times of uncertainty and challenge, leadership is constantly tested—not just in strategy, but in resilience and confidence. Join an intimate conversation about navigating complexity with wisdom and steadiness. This reflective session will explore how to sustain your leadership over time, remain centered amid adversity, and deepen your impact by serving those who lead. Through shared insights and thoughtful dialogue, we will uncover what it means to lead with strength, humility, and lasting purpose.

Larry Roper, Professor Emeritus, Oregon State University

Leveraging Trust-Building for Organizational Engagement

As more colleges and universities struggle with financial resources and capacity bandwidth, higher education associations and organizations face an increasingly challenging environment in which to meaningfully engage member institutions. Simultaneously, trust continues to be identified as a key component of successful post-pandemic leadership. In this landscape, association leaders must place intentional focus on trust-building across stakeholders. The fact remains that trust is built initially between people, not between entities or organizations. As such, to create and reinforce trusted relationships with these key constituents, we must consider how leaders and colleagues can show up for each other most meaningfully and build real connections to our value proposition. Using a practical framework, this session will explore the factors of trust that inform our professional and stakeholder relationships and facilitate learning across organizations for effective trust-building at the association level.

Emma Jones, Executive Vice President and Owner, Credo

Presidential Competencies

Campuses will only go as far as their leadership will take them. Often, presidents will look to State Councils for support and sustainment. Participants will explore formal and informal action plans on how State Councils can support presidents based on the recent presidential competencies study commissioned by Academic Search. While campus and State Council leadership is increasingly difficult to navigate, a refocus on competencies can help presidents navigate issues and concerns and ground them to the primary goal: educating amazing students that change their families, communities, and the world.

Shawn Hartman, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Academic Search
L. Jay Lemons, President and Senior Consultant, Academic Search

Unlocking Fundraising Potential and Donor Engagement with AI

Discover how AI is revolutionizing fundraising and donor relationship management. This session will explore cutting-edge applications of AI, including tools for tailoring communication strategies to diverse donor demographics and leveraging chatbots for real-time engagement. This session will delve into AI-driven storytelling, creating personalized donor impact reports and compelling narratives that inspire continued support. Critical ethical considerations will be addressed, including navigating privacy concerns and ensuring unbiased, equitable targeting. Join us to uncover actionable insights that harness AI to deepen donor relationships, streamline operations, and drive successful campaigns while upholding the mission and values of your organization.

Jenny Xia Spradling, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, FreeWill

Using CIC Key Indicators Tool (KIT) and Financial Indicators Tool (FIT) Benchmarking Reports

Based on feedback from State Council members in 2024, CIC has worked to develop a new interactive version of KIT and FIT reports for use by State Council members. This session will offer insights into uses of the new customizable KIT/FIT reports. The session will also seek participants’ feedback on how the evolving reports can be most useful for State Council organizations in reporting to their boards, donors, legislative representatives, etc., as well as data points that can be used for strategic decision making.

C. Ellen Peters, Director of Strategic Research and Assessment, Council of Independent Colleges

Registration Information

To strengthen each team’s professional expertise and encourage broad attendance, CIC will offer a discounted registration fee for state executives, and an additional discounted registration for the second participant from a team. Third registrants are able to attend at no cost. These discounts are made possible thanks to generous support from the current conference sponsors Academic Search, TIAA, and Credo.

First Registrant: $385
Second Registrant: $270
Third Registrant: $0

Dress Guidelines

Business casual clothing is appropriate throughout the conference.

Cancellation Policy

Refunds will be made in full (less a $50 processing fee) for cancellations received more than 10 business days prior to the conference for which participants have registered. Requests received fewer than five business days prior to the start of the conference are ineligible for a refund. Please send cancellation requests, in writing, to the attention of Alonso De Los Rios by email to adelosrios@cic.edu. Registrations are transferable within State Council organizations.

Health and Safety

CIC is committed to the health and safety of conference participants. Please review the current CIC Health and Safety Guidelines and Requirements before registering for the conference.