The CIC Board of Directors recently approved a plan to invite private, two-year, liberal arts colleges to become members of CIC. For a two-year trial period, these institutions will be invited to become Associate Members. Eligible institutions must meet all CIC membership requirements, except for the granting of baccalaureate degrees. The number of these institutions, once around 300, has declined significantly over the past few decades. One reason is that a number of them have become four-year institutions—and CIC members.
     CIC has been approached by the presidents of a number of private, two-year colleges with programs in the liberal arts about the possibility of joining CIC. "These presidents note that the membership associations for community colleges are overwhelmingly concerned with issues that face large, public institutions. They believe that they have much more in common with the presidents of four-year, private liberal arts colleges than with the larger community colleges," CIC President Richard Ekman said. Nationally, there are perhaps 40 institutions that would meet all CIC membership criteria except the BA degree requirement.
     Wesley College (DE) President Scott Miller, chair of the membership committee of the CIC Board of Directors, said the Board would assess this initiative at the end of the two-year trial period and decide whether to recommend appropriate changes in CIC's Bylaws to the CIC membership.

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Last updated: December 2003
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