ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES

The association serves its members in many ways. It disseminated information and provided various services both to its members and to the public. The association also sponsored various programs through royalty agreements with independent vendors to help colleges and universities realize savings through economies of scale. Such programs include a telecommunications program, bond facilities program, employment benefits program, energy procurement and energy management program, student loan program, software procurement program, tuition installment program, purchase card program, envionmental compliance, student health insurance, cyber security initiative, and a multiple employer retirement plan.

The association conducted various research studies which included the following: freshman admission and financial aid, student financial aid, financial analysis and trends, tuition and fee and patterns of voluntary support, baccalaureate research study. The association has undertaken an economic development project designed to align state, local, and college economic development initiatives and assist individual member schools or consortia of schools with specific projects. The association publishes an overall economic impact report of pa's independent higher education sector.