Committee on Institutional Cooperation's annual report available
March 2, 2015
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The Committee on Institutional Cooperation recently released its 2013-14 annual report, which highlights the myriad ways its affiliated institutions collaborate to the benefit of all. (Photo courtesy www.cic.net) |
The Committee on Institutional Cooperation, of which Purdue is a member, recently released its 2013-14 annual report, and it highlights the myriad ways its affiliated institutions collaborate to the benefit of all.
The CIC is a consortium of the Big Ten member universities plus the University of Chicago. Since 1958, CIC universities have worked together to capitalize on resources, save money through joint purchasing, and increase opportunities for students, faculty and staff, says Barbara McFadden Allen, the consortium's executive director.
According to the annual report, during 2013-14 CIC universities realized a total of $6 million in savings by using a joint fiber-optic network; $5.2 million through joint purchasing; and $9.4 million through using joint library collections.
Purdue remains deeply involved in CIC's leadership and transformative initiatives, Allen says.
For instance, Mark J.T. Smith, dean of the Graduate School, is leading a CIC effort related to increasing the number of faculty members who are underrepresented minorities. Additionally, G. Christine Taylor, vice provost for diversity and inclusion, chairs a group made up of diversity officers from each of CIC's member institutions. In the fall, Taylor convened a conference for CIC leaders to discuss using data to make more informed decisions about policies related to diversity and inclusion.
Further, Gerry McCartney, Purdue's system CIO, vice president for information technology and Oesterle Professor of Information Technology, is a leader in building the joint fiber-optic network that helps all member institutions save money, Allen says.
Deba Dutta, Purdue's provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, is a CIC board member, and he provides guidance and leadership about the committee's overall agenda, Allen says.
Dutta says Purdue's engagement with CIC is a great asset to the University and its partners.
“Purdue is proud to be a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, which allows us to collaborate with our peers and offer exciting and rewarding opportunities to our students, faculty and staff," Dutta says.
"CIC promotes an exchange of academic ideas and best practices that allows all members to continuously evolve and improve, and it helps Purdue amplify the global influence of our research and scholarship.”
Writer: Amanda Hamon Kunz, 49-61325, ahamon@purdue.edu
