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About Us

About Us
The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) aims to provide opportunity and access to higher education through fairness, equity, and humanity.

New York is home to the largest Independent Sector of higher education in the world with more than 100 independent colleges and universities educating nearly 500,000 students annually.

CICU is a statewide association representing the public policy interests of the chief executives of New York’s independent colleges and universities in New York State. CICU is governed by a Board of Trustees and its President is Lola W. Brabham.

Founded in 1956, CICU works to develop consensus among a diverse membership and to advance higher education policy.

CICU is an educational corporation formed under the New York State Board of Regents and is the formal organizational liaison with the Regents, the New York State Education Department, the Chancellors of the State University (SUNY) and City University (CUNY); and with the proprietary sector of higher education.

Our core activities include:

State and Federal Advocacy

Advocating for higher education policy and student aid programs.

Research and Data Analysis

Educating students about New York’s independent colleges and universities, financial aid opportunities, and the college application process.

Resources for Prospective Students

To learn about New York’s independent colleges and universities, financial aid opportunities, and the college application process

Partnerships

Collaborating with companies that offer the good and services that colleges and universities depend on to fulfill their missions.

CICU’s Mission: Provide opportunity and access to higher education through fairness, equity, and humanity.

CICU’s Vision: Improve quality of life through higher education.

CICU’s Values: Advocacy, Opportunity, Choice, and Excellence.

Diversity Statement: At CICU we celebrate multiple perspectives and approaches. We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as a driver of innovation. We value difference because it connects us to our members and the communities we serve.

Click here to read CICU’s Strategic Plan and learn more about our work.

CICU coordinates its advocacy efforts with the Council of Governing Boards (CGB), a statewide association that represents the policy interests of more than 3,000 independent college and university trustees.

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