AICUM Annual Meeting Held
More than 100 members representing 50 institutions gathered at AICUM’s Annual Meeting, which included the election of new officers and the approval of new by-laws.
Boston University President Bob Brown assumes the role of Chair, while Hampshire College President Ralph Hexter was elected Vice Chair/Chair-elect. Urban College of Boston President Linda Turner continues as Secretary/Treasurer.
New members to the Board of Directors: Francesco Cesareo, Assumption College; Gloria Cordes Larson, Bentley University; Michael Alexander, Lasell College.
Members elected to the newly-restructured AICUM Foundation include Zorica Pantic, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Sr. Mary Reap, Elms College, Richard Wiley, Endicott College, in addition to Presidents Brown and Turner.
Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley), Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Revenue, stressed her support of independent higher education in Massachusetts, saying she recognizes the challenges our institutions face. Peisch sees two areas of vulnerability for colleges and universities: the search for revenue by cash-strapped cities and towns, and the restriction of protections offered by the Dover amendment, particularly in those communities that rely heavily on local aid. She strongly urged all colleges and universities to keep communication open with their local communities and continue to educate key opinion leaders on the economic contributions made by institutions to their communities.
Senator Ben Downing (D-Pittsfield), Chair, Joint Committee on Revenue, Chair, Joint Committee on Higher Ed, also stressed the need for colleges and universities to build strong relationships with their elected officials and to over-communicate their outreach and economic and community benefits to employees, area residents and elected officials. He closed by saying: “If you build relationships, I think you’ll continue to do well because you are a major contributor to the Commonwealth.”
Outgoing AICUM Chair and Nichols College President Debra Townsley reviewed highlights of AICUM’s past year.
At the State House, AICUM helped to secure timely passage of UPMIFA legislation, giving institutions much needed flexibility in the management of endowments.
AICUM worked with the state to come up with a much more favorable reimbursement rate under the VA’s Yellow Ribbon program for Gulf War veterans.
AICUM also helped to defeat or stall a slew of bills or regulations impacting tax-exempt status, the Dover amendment, bio labs, student health insurance, PILOT’s, storm water regulations and campus police records, to name a few!
AICUM worked successfully with NAICU on federal tax issues and on the recently enacted student financial aid bill.
Last summer’s AICUM Symposium received high marks for providing various campus constituencies with timely, in depth seminars on a host of critically important issue areas. Thanks to our Affiliate Members for providing such high quality professional development sessions for our staff.
AICUM has served as the “go to” media source on matters impacting independent higher education and its newly introduced “Graph of the Month” highlights the many, and often surprising, ways independent higher education contributes to The Commonwealth.
We have had productive sit-downs with key legislative and Administration leaders including the Governor, Speaker of the House, Senate President and members of our Congressional delegation.
AICUM President Richard Doherty noted the efforts of AICUM's staff in organizing Financial Aid Advocacy Day, involving more than 30 colleges and 150 students on a snowy day in February. Student visits on that day provided the architecture for a full-scale advocacy effort against an ill-conceived amendment to prohibit students attending independent colleges from receiving need-based financial aid from the state. Through an e-mail campaign, students generated over 3,300 letters to legislators opposing this amendment and in the face of that widespread opposition, the sponsor decided to withdraw his amendment without debate.
Annual Meeting Photo Gallery
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Boston, MA 02108
