UNL to become member of prestigious CIC

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will join the Committee on Institutional Cooperation effective July 1, 2011, following a unanimous vote by the CIC provosts.

July 1, 2011, is the same day UNL will become a member of the Big Ten Conference. Following the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors approval of UNL joining the athletic conference, the CIC membership was referred to the CIC Provosts, who govern the CIC as a "board of the whole." The CIC announced the unanimous vote of approval June 16.

The addition of UNL marks the CIC's first expansion since Penn State University joined the consortium in July 1990. It increases CIC membership to 13 institutions, which includes the Big Ten Conference institutions and the University of Chicago.

"We welcome the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a top-notch public research institution that shares the academic values, aspirations and challenges of the CIC member universities," said Rodney Erickson, CIC chair and Penn State executive vice president and provost. "UNL, like all of the current CIC institutions, is a member of the Association of American Universities. UNL also has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral/Research Extensive University. We look forward to working with our colleagues at UNL in the years ahead."

UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman announced the approval June 15 in a late-day e-mail to all UNL faculty and staff.

"The Big Ten is a historically prestigious and stable academic community of scholars and students," UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said. "The Big Ten, known for its athletic prowess, is highly regarded in academe for its track record of effective collaboration through the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. This makes sense for the future of our university. We are honored to be included in the CIC."

Said CIC Director Barbara McFadden Allen, "This is an exciting time in higher education, and the CIC is moving fast on many fronts. We're looking forward to working with the university leadership to weave Nebraska into our many initiatives, projects and programs."

Perlman told faculty and staff that the CIC affiliation will bring many academic benefits to UNL. "Our full membership in the CIC begins July 1, 2011, however the CIC will be working with our academic leaders and faculty during the coming year to connect UNL with the resources and networks of the CIC," Perlman said. He noted many UNL faculty have ties to the Big Ten and CIC schools already, including the approximately 302 UNL faculty members of all ranks who have received their highest degree is from a Big Ten institution, plus 13 more from the University of Chicago. "Approximately 30 percent of our tenure-line faculty earned their highest degree at a CIC institution," he said.

The CIC is the nation's premier higher education consortium of top-tier research institutions. Through collaboration CIC members save money, share assets, and increase teaching, learning and research opportunities. Founded in 1958, CIC members engage in voluntary, sustained partnerships such as library collections and access collaborations; technology collaborations to build capacity at reduced costs; purchasing and licensing collaborations through economies of scale; leadership and development programs for faculty and staff; programs that allow students to take courses at other institutions; and study-abroad collaborations. More information is at www.cic.net.

WRITER: Kelly Bartling, University Communications, (402) 472-2059