Background About the CIC Organization

Background
The Committee on Institutional Cooperation, established in 1958, is a consortium of twelve universities (the eleven members of the Big Ten Athletic Conference and the University of Chicago) committed to advancing academic excellence by promoting and coordinating collaborative activities and sharing resources. Its programs and activities extend to all aspects of university activity except intercollegiate athletics. These endeavors are organized to augment and complement institutional programs without supplanting them or reducing their individual importance.

The CIC is governed by the Chief Academic Officers of the member universities who are known as the CIC "Members." A headquarters staff of 17, located in Champaign, Illinois, administers the CIC programs.

CIC universities confer, on average, 15% of all Ph.D. degrees awarded annually in the United States. Collectively, the CIC member universities engage in nearly $6 billion worth of externally funded research annually, employ more than 33,000 full-time faculty members, and enroll nearly one-half million undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

CIC Programs
Key programs of the CIC include the Traveling Scholar, Foreign Language Enhancement Program, Summer Research Opportunity Program, and access to expanded study abroad opportunities through the AESOP program. Other key initiatives include cooperative purchasing and licensing activities, annual leadership programs such as the Academic Leadership Program and the Departmental Executive Officer Seminar, and professional development events such as the Diversity Forum and the TechForum.

Annually, some 1,200 students participate in academic and research offerings coordinated through the CIC, approximately 60 groups and committees convene, and conferences are presented on topics ranging from intellectual property to academic and department leadership. In addition, the CIC receives grant funding in support of a number of programs.

Governance
Collectively, the Chief Academic Officers of the member universities are the Members of the CIC and its governing body. The Members of the Committee meet twice annually to establish CIC guidelines and procedures, to discuss proposed initiatives and evaluate existing programs, and to address collective concerns and policy issues common to these institutions.

CIC Groups and Committees
It is a fundamental principle of the CIC that communication is the first step in cooperation. The many diverse communications that take place within the CIC are in themselves a very important form of inter-institutional cooperation. The CIC serves as an umbrella organization for peer groups of faculty members and administrators that meet regularly to share best practices and exchange information and views. These peer groups (e.g., Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans, Registrars, Romance Language Chairs) meet in person, via conference call, and increasingly through videoconferences.

During the life of the CIC, the number of active peer groups has increased dramatically. With so many peer groups now meeting on a regular basis, CIC resources must necessarily be provided differentially. The majority of groups that meet under the CIC umbrella are self-supporting and self-organizing. Other groups that have been designated by the Members may be coordinated and supported by CIC headquarters staff and may receive assistance in managing projects and programs. These designated groups tend to be deans, campus-level administrators, and working groups appointed by the Members to address specific areas.

Committee Structure
The CIC headquarters staff serves as liaison between the many committees and groups of the organization and the Members (chief academic officers). Groups such as the LAS Deans, the Graduate Deans, the Chief Information Officers, and the Library Deans and Directors do organize subgroups and subcommittees in order to address issues and manage particular programs. The Members (Chief Academic Officers) occasionally appoint ad hoc committees to address an issue, and will frequently request information from or encourage particular types of collaboration from or within groups. In addition, many groups self-organize meetings for the purpose of benchmarking and information sharing.

Funding
The annual operating budget of approximately $1.4 million is supported by member university assessments. The budget and assessments are reviewed and approved annually by the Members.

The operating budget supports day-to-day office operations of the headquarters, including personnel, rent, travel, and related operating expenses. Most programs and initiatives requiring support other than staffing and management from the headquarters are supported through one-time, additional voluntary contributions, or through grant funding.

Headquarters
The CIC is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, and currently employs a full time staff of 17. The staff reports to the Director of the CIC, who in turn reports to the Members (the chief academic officers of the member universities).

By agreement with the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the CIC is considered an affiliated office of the University, and does not have separate legal or corporate status. The CIC shares indirect cost recovery funds with the University, and in return receives personnel, financial, legal counsel, and other management services.

For additional background see:

CIC Strategic Directions 2004-2007

"A Case Study on Interinstitutional Cooperation" by Herman B. Wells.

CIC Group and Committee FAQ