January 13, 2026
The CIC members in attendance at the Annual Business Meeting on January 7, 2026, voted to add a sixth CIC membership category for Graduate Members. This new category will be open to nonprofit, independent, graduate-only liberal arts colleges and universities. The change to CIC’s bylaws supports the “promotion and advancement of independent colleges and universities of liberal arts and sciences” while providing a home to institutions looking for peer interaction and support.
New graduate members offer enrichment of the current member experience to CIC, especially in contributing to networks (including the new Graduate Program Network), leadership trainings, and other offerings involving graduate program leaders. Currently, some 78 percent of CIC institutions have some kind of graduate offering.
Graduate members can participate in CIC’s leadership, faculty, and institutional development offerings as well as many of our networks. They can also access resources, publications, and listservs. Learn more about the benefits, criteria, and details of graduate membership on the CIC website.
To apply for graduate membership or obtain more information, please contact Alicia Jackson, membership services and Tuition Exchange Program manager, at ajackson@cic.edu.
About CIC
The Council of the Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that work to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. Founding in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.