In recent months, CIC institutions have performed extraordinarily well in national competitions. “We are pleased that so many CIC institutions have achieved national recognition—this acknowledgement proves the strength of our institutions and reinforces the key message that small colleges can excel in national competitions against other kinds of institutions,” said CIC President Richard Ekman.

Phi Beta Kappa. Six institutions were recently granted chapters by Phi Beta Kappa, and two are CIC members, Washington College (MD) and Xavier University (OH). Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most widely known academic honor society. This distinguished academic honor recognizes excellence in higher education, and has been granted to only 10 percent of the nation’s institutions of higher learning.

Frye Leadership Institute. Nine faculty members and administrators from CIC institutions have been selected for participation in the prestigious 2007 Frye Leadership Institute. They are among 46 total participants who will attend the intensive, two-week residential program at Emory University (GA) in June. The Institute is cosponsored by EDUCAUSE and the Council on Library and Information Resources. Participants will have the opportunity to explore and analyze leadership challenges in higher education and interact with leaders in the field. Selected CIC participants include: Megan Fitch of Kenyon College (OH), Scott Hamlin of Wheaton College (MA), Jeff Overholzer of Washington and Lee University (VA), Barbara Pittman of Mercyhurst College (PA), Doug Ruschman of Xavier University (OH), Michael Spalti of Willamette University (OR), Thomas Steffes of Earlham College (IN), Eric Williams-Bergen of St. Lawrence University (NY), and Lily Zhang of Randolph-Macon College (VA).

AIR Fellowships. The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) recently announced recipients of the first fellowship awards for graduate study that will lead to, or advance, a career in institutional research. Ten of the 31 recipients are employed by CIC member institutions. Three out of four applicants from CIC members were accepted, while only one in five applicants from non-CIC institutions were successful.

Fellows from CIC institutions include: Cory Clasemann, University of Indianapolis (IN); James Eckles, Rhodes College (TN); Mary Geise, The University of Findlay (OH); Toni Holbrook, Rollins College (FL); Ann Lehman, St. Bonaventure University (NY); Eric Lovik, Clearwater Christian College (FL); David Mahan, Bellarmine University (KY); Sean Simone, Maryland Independent College and University Association; Robert Sweatman, Illinois College; and Kathryn Yerkes, University of Scranton (PA).

The AIR/NCES Graduate Fellowship carries a maximum award of $10,000 annually for full-time graduate study, or $3,000 for a year of part-time study. Awards are renewable for up to three years. Persons currently serving in institutional research were encouraged to apply.

This initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, aims to increase the level of expertise of institutional research officers across the country and improve the quality of data they produce.

President’s Honor Roll. Three CIC institutions—Stonehill College (MA), Chaminade University of Honolulu (HI), and Otterbein College (OH)—were among the finalists for President Bush’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The national program recognizes the contributions that college students are making within their local communities and across the country through volunteer service.

USA Today’s College Academic Team. Eckerd College (FL) student Ashley Rhodes-Courter was among the 20 students selected for USA Today’s 2007 All-USA College Academic Team.

Leadership of National Organizations. University of Richmond (VA) librarian James Rettig has been elected president of the American Library Association (ALA) and will begin his service in 2008. Rettig is the first president of the ALA since 1954 to be based at a small, liberal arts institution.

Mary Ann Coughlin, professor of research and statistics at Springfield College (MA), became president of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) in June. Coughlin is the first president of AIR from a smaller, private college.

Swarthmore College (PA) professor of biology Amy Cheng Vollmer will assume the presidency in June 2007 of the Waksman Foundation for Microbiology, which supports the education and training of young scientists, development of microbiological science in developing countries, and programs to improve K-12 science teaching and science reporting in the media. The foundation will be headquartered at Swarthmore.