JANUARY 2020
Transfer Pathways Update

Work on the Teagle grant-funded Transfer Pathways pilot program is well underway with private colleges and universities and community colleges partnering in the project. 
Representatives from participating colleges met for two days in late September at Salem College to begin working out the details of the requisite articulation agreements and the academic advising components of the program.

The program, initiated by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in partnership with North Carolina Independent College and Universities (NCICU), and funded by the Teagle Foundation, will pilot efforts by NCICU and the North Carolina Community College System, to create pathways to facilitate two-year college students' pursuit of degrees in Sociology or Psychology at independent colleges and universities.  The Teagle Foundation  awarded CIC a three-year, $400,000 grant to develop best practices for two-year college-to-private college pathways, including advising and financial aid policies, that can be replicated in other states.  Read more
Photo : Dr. Charlie Nutt , Executive Director of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) ⁩along with Dr. Drew Koch and Dr. Sara Stein Koch of the Gardner Institute presented ideas for transfer student success at the NCICU/NC Community College articulation conference.
Economic Development Council Formed

NCICU has established an Economic Development Council to promote and expand the involvement of NCICU and individual campuses in assisting the State of North Carolina in economic development at the local, regional and state levels. The Council is comprised of representatives from NCICU’s 36 campuses. The Council held its first meeting in September at Wake Forest University. Representatives heard from state, regional and local officials who presented ideas for additional ways that private higher education can help in the state’s overall economic development delivery system and strategies. It was also an opportunity for the state’s economic development leaders to become better acquainted with the broad array of NCICU colleges and universities. 
Welcome New Presidents!
NCICU Receives Multiple Grants
Reverse Transfer Grant

NCICU has received a $30,000 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges, which has been matched by $25,000 from the Lumina Foundation and $5,000 from the North Carolina Community College System to develop a Reverse Transfer program.

Often, students at a two-year college transfer to a four-year institution before receiving an Associate's degree. But once they have taken the remaining required courses at the four-year institution, those courses can be transferred back to the two-year college and the student can be awarded the associate degree by the two-year institution. 

“Implementing this program will enable more students to earn associate degrees and encourage them to continue work toward their bachelors degree, thus making progress toward the education attainment goal set by myFutureNC and the state of North Carolina,” said NCICU President Hope Williams.

First Opportunity Partners Grant

NCICU has received a $27,500 First Opportunity Partners Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges to develop a Minority Male Mentoring program. NCICU is seeking matching funds to complete the grant.
NCICU Receives Two Grants to Improve Libraries
An $81,000 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant will facilitate collaboration among NCICU campus libraries. The grant is supplemented by a $4,500 Planning Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges that was matched by NCICU donors.

The NC Library Collaborative will bring together Library Directors and Chief Academic Officers from NCICU's 36 campuses to develop ideas and long-term support for a collaborative approach to sharing services and resources used by nearly 90,000 students, faculty and staff. The group will determine the best way to share costs across institutions and to develop the tools and staff skills needed to improve efficiency and access to collections across North Carolina. The project will build on work conducted by more than 60 librarians over the past two years and will result in an operational plan and a sustainable funding model.

Tom Clark , former Librarian at Shaw University, has been employed to coordinate the Library initiative. Tom brings 30 years of experience in academic libraries to this effort as well as several years in the private sector where he also coordinated information services.
Digital Learning Initiative for Future Educators
In 2017, the North Carolina General Assembly recognized the need to expand the State’s commitment to digital learning to include a focus on professional development opportunities for faculty at the State’s Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs).    In the State’s FY ’18 budget, the legislature provided the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) with funds for a Digital Learning Initiative. DPI subsequently awarded a grant to NCICU to spearhead the initiative. NCICU implemented a workgroup with representatives from five of NCICU's 31 EPPs and named Denise Adams as director of the Digital Learning Initiative.

“Given the unique role and significant responsibility of North Carolina EPPs in preparing K-12 teachers in the digital age, it makes sense that the EPP faculty themselves should also be well-versed in digital learning,” Adams explained. “NCICU welcomed the opportunity to be involved in creating a professional development strategy for EPP faculty to help achieve this goal.”   Read more
We are in need of Saturday judges for the Ethics Bowl. If you can volunteer, contact Sandy Briscar at briscar@ncicu.org. Thanks!
NCICU President Hope Williams was recognized for seven years as Presiding Officer of the Council of Independent Colleges' State Councils at the group's annual meeting in Pittsburgh. Pictured with President Williams are CIC President Rich Ekman , Ned Moore , and Carol Schuler .
College Foundation of North
Carolina (CFNC) commissioned this
video about NCICU (as well as related videos from the other education sectors in NC).
The Independent College Fund of North Carolina
The advisory board of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina (ICFNC), a division of NCICU, met in October at Campbell University. ICFNC raises funds to provide student scholarship aid and enrichment programs.

The board was delighted to welcome two new members , Leigha Smith (top) of Wells Fargo and  Winnie Wiseman (bottom) of Dominion
Energy.
Welcome our newest Business Affiliates!
EDC provides Owner’s Representation and Project Management services to institutional owners for the design and construction of their new and renovated facilities. Established in 1990 and based in Midlothian Virginia, EDC has delivered over four million square feet totaling over $600 million of higher education and research and development projects. EDC manages the entire project from preliminary programming and budgeting through construction and occupancy.

Jenzabar’s mission is to support education by enabling institutions of higher education to thrive, grow, and achieve student success. We help our clients align their technology solutions with their unique missions and goals—to generate the maximum return on their technology investments. Across the entire institution, our software and services enable our clients to deliver on the promise of higher education.
Elinvar is an executive search firm based in Raleigh, that has a track record of success in serving NC higher education institutions. The firm is also a long-time supporter of NCICU, serving on the ICFNC board and supporting the scholarship program as well as the Ethics Bowl. The Elinvar team includes a group of consultants with experience working in higher education as well as serving higher education clients.
NCICU Promotes Undergraduate Research
Each year, NCICU and the UNC System sponsor a symposium to showcase NC undergraduate student research and creative work. The State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) provides undergraduate scholars in all fields a forum to share the results of their work through posters, presentations, performances, and works of art. More than 800 students participated in the event which was held this year on November 23 at Duke University and was co-hosted by the NC School of Science and Math.

Eight students from North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) were awarded stipends to support the research they showcased at the symposium. In addition, two students from NCICU campuses were among five who have received the symposium’s highest honor, the 2019-20 Barthalmus Research Award – a monetary award given to a sophomore. George T. Barthalmus was the driving force behind the creation of the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium.