Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Nota Bene: CIC Foundation Conversation & New York Times Partnership

October 18, 2016
 
I recently took part in a conversation between a select group of college and university presidents and national foundation officers hosted by the Council of Independent Colleges at the TIAA headquarters in New York City.

The group discussed ways to connect the missions of private colleges and foundations. Topics included religion, vocations and the liberal arts, supporting exceptional students, supporting basic leadership, intergenerational connections, and STEM/STEAM.

Participating foundation heads included Ronald Pressman (TIAA), Michael Gilligan (Henry Luce Foundation), Christopher Coble (Lilly Endowment), Harold Levy (Jack Kent Cooke Foundation), Daniel Goroff (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation), Dale Knobel (Arthur Vining Davis Foundation), and Lisa Marsh Ryerson (AARP Foundation).

While in New York, I also attended the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)/New York Times Partnership’s Presidents Council meeting at the paper's offices. This is the 13th time I’ve participated in this meeting—the only meeting of college and university presidents hosted by the Times. Dr. Gregory Woodward, president of Carthage College, chairs the Council. Because of the current political climate, it was a particularly fascinating meeting.

Led by Dr. Richard Ekman, CIC President, and Laura Wilcox, CIC Vice President for Communications, presidents from 30 CIC member colleges and universities met with National Education Director for the Times Kathleen O’Connell, columnist Ron Lieber and National Correspondent Anemona Hartocollis. They provided candid assessments of current trends and also issues they plan to cover in the months ahead.

In addition, Council members were provided with information about new New York Times projects and resources available to campuses nationwide. Ms. O’Connell encouraged presidents to engage the additional resources available through the CIC/New York Times Partnership. The Partnership provides CIC member institutions with several benefits, including discounted print and digital newspapers and advertising rates, site licenses, and opportunities to meet with Times staff and to bring reporters and editors to campus for speaking engagements. For a number of years, the paper provided workshops for student newspaper editors. The intent is to use the New York Times as a resource to foster students’ intellectual growth and curiosity, civic participation, and personal success.

My prior campuses have benefited extensively from these relationships, and it is my hope that there will be opportunities for collaboration and additional resources for Virginia Wesleyan College through this valuable affiliation with the CIC.