CIC Refines Presidential Services
Two programs for presidents launched by CIC last year—Presidential Forums and the Presidents Consulting Service—are being refined and enlarged this spring, and each has a new director.
    Former CIC president Allen P. Splete has taken over as director of the Presidents Consulting Service (originally named Panel of Presidential Consultants). The basic structure of the program is unchanged; however, suggestions from consultants and presidents using the service last year have prompted several refinements. For example, CIC has streamlined the process of documentation, and presidents seeking assistance through the service are being asked to contact Splete directly. "The intent is to gain insight into the president's situation in order to make appropriate referral to one of the consultants," says Splete, who hopes these changes will increase the number of presidents who use the Service and simplify its processes. Consultant assistance is currently available in three areas:
president-board relations, financial management, and crisis management. For questions about the Presidents Consulting Service, please call Allen Splete at (202) 466-7230 or e-mail asplete@cic.nche.edu.
    George Houston, president of Mount Saint Mary’s College (MD), is the new director of Presidential Forums, replacing Peter Armacost, who accepted a position as president of a university in Pakistan. There are now seven active Forums, consisting of small groups of presidents from the same region who meet several times each year to discuss professional concerns. Four out of the seven Forums have met at least once, and three new Forums are convening this spring. Each Forum includes people who came to the presidency from different backgrounds and who belong to non-competing schools. The groups' typical agenda includes a presentation by a member of an idea, issue, problem, or proposal on which he or she seeks advice, a discussion of a new idea or program of mutual interest to the group, and an update of events on their campuses. For questions about the Presidential Forums, contact George Houston at (202) 466-7230 or e-mail ghouston@cic.nche.edu.

Staff News and Notes
CIC this winter shifted staff responsibilities in response to new initiatives that emerged from the strategic planning process, and to reinforce conference staffing due to record attendance at CIC’s major conferences and meetings. Laura Wilcox has been named Vice President for Communications, Alcenia McIntosh-Peters was promoted from Conference Coordinator to Conference Manager, and CAPHE Administrative Assistant Leslie Rogers will assume additional responsibility, working closely with Alcenia in the planning for and running of institutes, conferences, and workshops.
    CIC President Richard Ekman spoke at an EDUCAUSE regional meeting in Baltimore in January, and was the keynote speaker on February 23 at the annual meeting of the West Virginia Independent Colleges & Universities.

Staff Spotlight - The Voice of CIC Keisha Pearson is CIC’s Receptionist and Administrative Assistant, aka “The Voice of CIC.” In addition to answering the phones, sorting and distributing the mail, and greeting guests, she assists in mailings and scheduling the conference room for use by the many higher education associations and CIC member colleges that wish to use it. She assists CIC’s Director of Administration with office security and preparedness, purchasing, and maintenance of office equipment.     Keisha, who grew up in Queens, New York, has worked at CIC since January 2002. After graduating from the Katherine Gibbs School with an Executive Assistant certificate, she worked at AOL Time Warner in New York as a Clerk/Administrative Assistant, Operations, for Warner Music International.     In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her 13 year-old son and ten year-old daughter. To relax, she crochets, writes a little poetry, and shops.

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Last updated: March 2003
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