CIC Makes the Case in the News

Two opinion pieces by CIC President Richard Ekman have been published in recent editions of University Business magazine: “Small Colleges: Tops in Training Scientists,” which touts the success of small colleges in addressing the shortage of U.S. scientists in the April 2007 edition; and “Assessing Assessment” in the June 2007 edition, which stresses the need for measuring learning outcomes while cautioning against a government-controlled testing regimen. Ekman also made a strong case for independent higher education in several media interviews, including the Kansas City Star, “Independent Thinking: Private Colleges Can Pay Off,” April 15, 2007; a taped WVTF Public Radio (Virginia NPR Affiliate) interview about Ferrum College’s (VA) fundraising campaign and the benefits of small private colleges, which aired on May 3, 2007; and a lengthy interview with representatives from Focus Reports, which is preparing a special supplement on American higher education that will run in International Business Daily (China’s version of the Wall Street Journal) in fall 2007. That interview focused specifically on the characteristics and contributions of the independent sector of higher education. The supplement will likely be titled “The USA: Prime Destination for Chinese Students.”

Making the Case Website Features Additional Resources and Material

Sections of CIC’s Making the Case website have been reorganized to make them more useful and user-friendly.

The Media Activity and Speeches and Addresses sections are now organized by subject matter (in addition to chronologically) to correspond with the six key messages in the data section of the website—namely, that independent colleges are affordable, accessible, provide personal attention, enable success, engender alumni satisfaction, and contribute to the public good.

The Key Messages and Data section now includes links to relevant news stories, op-ed pieces, letters to the editor, speeches, and other writings. For example, there are ten facts under “Financial Assistance” and below them are more than a dozen writings that relate to data about the wide variety of federal and state grants, institutional grants, work-study, and loans available to help students and families pay for college.

As a result of these changes, campus officials who are working with the media, or writing a speech, op-ed, essay, or letter to the editor will be able to find not only data and charts but also examples of how others have used that data to help make the case for their institutions.

Staff News and Notes

Barbara Hetrick became CIC’s vice president for advancement in May. Previously she served as vice president for academic affairs and professor of sociology at Catawba College (NC) since 2003. She is very familiar with small colleges, having served as vice president for academic affairs at The College of Wooster (OH) from 1997 to 2002 and in a similar role at Hood College (MD) from 1985 to 1995. Hetrick also served as vice president of the Maryland Independent College and University Association. She is a graduate of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) and received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Maryland. In addition, Hetrick serves on the board of directors of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), has been an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, helped to begin the Associated New American Colleges, served on the deans’ councils of the Annapolis Group and the Great Lakes Colleges Association, and was chair of the American Conference of Academic Deans. She replaces Frederik Ohles, who begins serving as the president of Nebraska Wesleyan University in July.

CIC’s new business manager is Kalpna Srimal, who joined the staff in March. She has served as controller of the American Foreign Service Association, a nonprofit membership organization in DC; as manager of budgets and financial analysis for the American Pharmacists Association, a large association also located in DC; and as an accountant for a variety of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including—early in her career—George Washington University Medical Center. Srimal holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland, College Park; her major field was accounting. She replaces Melodie Davis, CIC’s business manager since July 2005. Davis recently married and moved to North Carolina.

Publications coordinator Lilia LaGesse also joined CIC in March. Previously, she was a designer for Miami University’s (OH) special collections library, as well as Northwestern University’s French and Italian departments and university relations department. She came to CIC from CoStar Group in Columbia, Maryland, where she served as research analyst/news editor. LaGesse is also completing a master’s degree in publications design at the University of Baltimore. She received her undergraduate degree with a double major in art theory and practice and communication studies at Northwestern University in 2004. LaGesse replaces Sandra Faulkner, who is now a publications designer for a law firm in DC.

CIC congratulates Kim Farmer on her promotion to membership manager from conference coordinator. She is responsible for working with the staff and Board of Directors to recruit and retain members, manage CIC’s Tuition Exchange Program, and maintain the database. She replaces Erika Henderson, who had been at CIC since 2000 and became membership manager in 2001.

Other congratulations are due to August Adams, communications and web manager, who recently published a novel, National Darkroast Day. The novel was showcased by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) at the World Intellectual Property Day Celebration on Capitol Hill in April. More information on the novel is available at www.nationaldarkroastday.com.

CIC President Richard Ekman participated in Secretary Spellings’ Summit, “A Test of Leadership: Committing to Advance Postsecondary Education for All Americans,” on March 22; delivered the Betsy Curtright Kraus Endowed Lecture at Culver-Stockton College (MO) on April 24; and was the commencement speaker at Texas Lutheran University on May 12.

Director of Research Hal Hartley was recently named to a three-year term on the initial panel to review applications for the new AIR/NCES Graduate Fellowship for study in institutional research. The panel’s first meeting was in May 2007. Hartley also served as a session facilitator at the annual AIR Forum, held June 3–6, 2007 in Kansas City, Missouri.