Making the Case

Key Messages and Data • Making the Case Resources • Media Activity • Speeches and Addresses • Books and Reports •

Vol. 3, No. 3
JUNE 2002

PRESIDENT'S EDITION

Welcome to the latest issue of Communications Resources, CIC's periodic kit of tools and ideas to help you tell your institution's story. Your Public Relations Director has received a similar mailing.

PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP

Three recent pieces on the role of college presidents in civic leadership may be of interest to CIC presidents. Spencer Foundation President Ellen Lagemann's keynote address at the 2002 Presidents Institute stimulated a great deal of commentary—some positive, some negative—by Institute participants. The day after the Institute, an op-ed article on the very same subject by Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, appeared in The Washington Post and later in Newsweek, lamenting the failure of college presidents to speak out about pressing issues of the day. Zakaria wrote in such broad strokes, however, that David Ward, president of the American Council on Education, felt compelled to respond in a letter to the Washington Post editor. All three pieces are enclosed.

TESTING, COLLEGE COSTS, AND MAKING THE CASE

Also enclosed are two thought-provoking presidential op-eds on the testing issue, one from the perspective of Jim Doti of Chapman University, and another by Katherine Henderson of Point Park College. Their views cover much of the debate on this topic. Another interesting article, "Why College Costs so Much," by Amy Dockser Marcus for the April 2002 issue of Money magazine, focuses on New England College and President Ellen Hurwitz, who courageously opened her campus' financial books to the reporter. And a publication by the Minnesota Private College Council, "Worlds of Difference: Minnesota's Private Colleges," does a good job of promoting the private sector's story to parents and potential students.

Finally, Eastern University Provost Harold Howard's excellent informational series, "Just the Facts II: Provost's Perspective Special Report," is included in this package. It contains a wealth of information and data-from facts about college enrollments and the college-age population to data on the internet, home schooling, women in the professions, and world population trends. Review and enjoy.

WANT TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR WRITING?

Several presidents and PR directors have suggested articles for Communications Resources, and many presidents have submitted some of their writings for future issues. Please send your short speech, op-ed, report, or other articles that might be of interest to CIC presidents, to Laura Wilcox at CIC, One Dupont Circle, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20036. We're especially looking for articles about values, the return on investment that CIC colleges provide to students, and articles that "make the case" for independent higher education. For more information, contact Wilcox at (202) 466-7230; e-mail: lwilcox@cic.nche.edu; fax: (202) 466-7238.

Vol. 3, No. 3
JUNE 2002

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR'S EDITION

Welcome to the latest issue of Communications Resources, CIC's periodic kit of tools and ideas to help you tell your institution's story. Your President has received a similar mailing.

PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP

Three recent pieces on the role of college presidents in civic leadership may be of interest to Public Relations Directors as well as CIC presidents. Spencer Foundation President Ellen Lagemann's keynote address at the 2002 Presidents Institute stimulated a great deal of commentary—some negative, some positive—by Institute participants. The day after the Institute, an op-ed article on the very same subject by Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, appeared in The Washington Post and later in Newsweek, lamenting the failure of college presidents to speak out about pressing issues of the day. Zakaria wrote in such broad strokes, however, that David Ward, president of the American Council on Education, felt compelled to respond in a letter to the Washington Post editor. All three pieces are enclosed.

TESTING AND COLLEGE COSTS

Two thought-provoking presidential op-eds on the testing issue, one from the perspective of Jim Doti of Chapman University, and another by Katherine Henderson of Point Park College, are also enclosed. Their views cover much of the debate on this topic.

Another interesting article, "Why College Costs so Much," by Amy Dockser Marcus for the April, 2002 issue of Money magazine, focuses on New England College and President Ellen Hurwitz, who courageously opened her campus' financial books to the reporter.

TELLING OUR STORY

Some materials that might be of interest to you were included in the President's edition of Communications Resources (please request the copy from your President):

Eastern University Provost Harold Howard's excellent informational series, "Just the Facts II: Provost's Perspective Special Report," contains a wealth of information and data-from facts about college enrollments and the college-age population, to data on the internet, home schooling, women in the professions, and world population trends.
The Minnesota Private College Council's attractive publication, "Worlds of Difference: Minnesota's Private Colleges," tells the story of that state's private sector institutions to parents and potential students.

EXEMPLARY PUBLICATIONS

For those looking to improve campus and alumni periodicals, some fine examples of top-flight magazines have been produced by Rollins College (FL) and the universities of Widener (PA), Drury (MO), and Rockhurst (MO). Call the Public Affairs offices at those campuses for sample copies. If you think your exemplary magazine or publication could be of benefit to other Public Relations professionals at CIC colleges, please forward a copy to us at CIC headquarters.

CIC PR LISTSERV

If you're not on CIC's "listserv" discussion group for public relations directors and their staff and would like to join, send your e-mail address to Maxine Morris at mmorris@cic.nche.edu, and we'll add your name. There's no charge for this service. Participation is restricted to PR practitioners from CIC member institutions. CIC also sponsors listservs for presidents, chief academic officers, business officers, and lead staff in student affairs, advancement, and IT. See CIC's website or newsletter for details.

WANT TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR WRITING?

We are on the lookout for articles from PR directors for Communications Resources or the Independent newsletter that "make the case" for independent higher education. Please send your article of 700 words or less to editor Laura Wilcox at CIC, One Dupont Circle, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20036; e-mail: lwilcox@cic.nche.edu; fax: (202) 466-7238.