Seven new college and university presidents have used CIC’s new Institutional Diagnostic Service (IDS) since it was launched in September 2007. The IDS assists recently appointed presidents in reviewing the state of their institutions, identifying serious problems that should be addressed immediately, and recognizing promising opportunities for strategic attention. “The advantage of the IDS,” said CIC President Richard Ekman, “is that it enables a new president to view many aspects of the institution simultaneously, with advice from experts, then decide which is the highest priority for attention. Too often, a new president engages a consultant to help solve one problem only to discover that another aspect of institutional operations should have been addressed first.”

College presidents in their first or second year in office who apply for the Institutional Diagnostic Service meet with a four-person team of former independent college and university presidents and experienced higher education consultants. The team reviews a large quantity of written and electronic materials and spends a day-and-a-half on the campus, meeting with the president, members of the board, and senior staff, as well as discussing findings and possible strategies with the president. Following the site visits, the team prepares a confidential written report on its findings and recommendations.

The service is provided in cooperation with The Presidential Practice, an organization that provides coaching and counsel to newly and recently appointed presidents. Consultants for The Presidential Practice include: Rita Bornstein, president emerita, Rollins College (FL); Scott Colley, president emeritus, Berry College (GA); Ann Duffield, founding principal, The Presidential Practice; Gregory Farrington, president emeritus, Lehigh University (PA); James Galbally, founding principal, The Presidential Practice; Richard Kneedler, president emeritus, Franklin & Marshall College (PA); Stephen R. Lewis, Jr., president emeritus, Carleton College (MN); Dale Rogers Marshall, president emerita, Wheaton College (MA); John McCardell, president emeritus, Middlebury College (VT); Sister Mary Reap, president emerita, Marywood University (PA); Kenneth Shaw, president emeritus, Syracuse University (NY); and Jon Strauss, president emeritus, Harvey Mudd College (CA).

Support for CIC’s Institutional Diagnostic Service has been provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.