LAICU Awarded Grant from Council of Independent Colleges

Baton Rouge, LA – April 18, 2019 – The Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU) has received a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) for $10,000 to fund a resource-development initiative for scholarship fundraising supporting students attending the nonprofit, private colleges and universities in Louisiana. The grant is to the Louisiana Independent College Fund (LICF), the division of LAICU that provides student scholarship aid and enrichment programs. LAICU/LICF is a statewide organization that serves 10 colleges and universities through funding for student scholarships and innovative projects that enhance campus programs, improve student outcomes, and encourage corporate investments in students and institutions.

“We are thankful to the Council of Independent Colleges for this grant award supporting the development of the Louisiana Independent College Fund,” said Dr. Stanton McNeely, President of LAICU and Executive Director of LICF. “Following the example of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) with a previously funded CIC Capacity-Building Grant, LAICU/LICF will use the grant award for a resource-development initiative that will showcase the transformational experiences of students and alumni who attended Louisiana’s nonprofit, private colleges and universities.“

The cash awards are part of CIC’s Capacity-Building Grants Program designed to help State Councils acquire expertise and resources needed to advance the needs of nonprofit, private higher education. The grants provide funds for materials, consultants, software, and research that fundraisers and marketers need.

Specifically, the LAICU/LICF program will highlight the testimonies of first-generation and low-income students and alumni who have benefited from the generosity of donors and the resulting transformations in their educational, personal, and professional lives.

“CIC is very pleased to help LAICU/LICF achieve its mission through the Capacity-Building Grant Program,” said Carol Schuler, Vice President for State Council programs.

“Independent colleges and universities in this country have proven remarkably effective at educating and graduating low-income and first-generation students in less time, with less student debt,” said Dr. Richard Ekman, President of CIC. “CIC is proud of the track record of State Councils in raising funds to help students afford a private college education, partnering with business and the community to enhance students’ career readiness, and helping individual states achieve their goals of a more educated workforce.”

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About the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Louisiana Independent College Fund

The Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU) is a statewide nonprofit association which represents Louisiana’s 10 regionally accredited nonprofit private colleges and universities: Centenary College, Dillard University, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Louisiana College, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Saint Joseph Seminary College, Tulane University, University of Holy Cross, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Over 26,000 students are served by Louisiana nonprofit private higher education. LAICU colleges and universities grow Louisiana by keeping Louisiana students in-state and also by attracting talent to the state. Visistwww.LAICU.org

The Louisiana Independent College Fund (LICF) is the division of LAICU that provides student scholarship aid and enrichment programs. The LICF Board of Directors is made up of presidents from LAICU member colleges and universities. LICF provides scholarships to support student access and choice to the nonprofit, private colleges and universities in Louisiana.

About the Council of Independent Colleges

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of 770 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility. It conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. www.cic.edu