Message from cIcu's President

Higher Education: Acting Locally and Globally

 I continue to be struck by the enormity of the civic
engagement provided by cIcu’s member colleges
and universities. What we recently labeled “solutions”
are a multitude of efforts to bolster the economy,
improve lives, and generally enhance humanity; yet,
the full impact of higher education’s outreach is hard
to grasp. This may be due to the sheer diversity
and breadth of community service among member
campuses. Diversity and breadth have never been
easy to measure, to point to and say, “Look at that!”
In this issue of The Independent Sector, I say
just that. Look at the students on the banks of the
Hudson River, marking polluting drains in their
efforts to improve water quality for all of us. Look
at the researchers from Long Island to Buffalo
providing top notch healthcare training and
medical treatment. Look at the campuses organizing
important exhibits at the only art gallery available
to their community.
      Beyond the boundaries of our own state, consider too, the projects of broad cultural and
economic significance undertaken by New York’s private colleges and universities abroad. Many
campuses are expanding internationally, connecting countries and preparing global citizens to create
positive change anywhere in the world. In fact, applications to international campuses attracting
students from all corners of the globe, including Nigeria, Russia, and Honduras, are booming.
      Closer to home, Independent Sector colleges across the state find ways to encourage those with
aptitude but without means, those who could not otherwise pursue the opportunities that higher
education affords. These civic efforts go on and on, without immediate gratification or accolades –
the results of individuals at campuses driven by a sense of mission.




Abraham M. Lackman
President, Commission on Independent
Colleges and Universities
E-mail: abe@cicu.org


Username

Password

Remember Me: