Mission

AIKCU is a non-profit, member services organization committed to strengthening the Commonwealth’s vibrant independent, not-for-profit college and university sector while striving to assure that students of all ages and backgrounds have an opportunity to enroll and succeed. We serve to sustain the unique educational qualities and societal contributions of our members by identifying and building on their shared interests.

Value Statement

AIKCU embraces the unique qualities of independent higher education including: the value of student choice in higher education; the combination of tradition with the ability to adapt and innovate in response to changing educational and societal needs; the advantages of immersion in the liberal arts; a commitment to student-centered education for diverse student populations, traditional college age as well as adult, that prepares them for rewarding personal lives and successful careers; and an abiding belief in the importance of service. We further recognize that a quality system of higher education is dependent upon successful public and independent institutions.

Vision

AIKCU aspires to continually improve the condition of the independent college and university sector by listening closely to its members, by responding to their needs and by identifying innovative opportunities to better serve members and their constituents.

Purpose

To serve as the public policy voice of member institutions and maintain favorable state and national governmental support and oversight of independent higher education, with special emphasis on positive student financial aid policy;

To play a positive role in meeting local, state and national educational and economic development needs, consistent with member missions;

To secure resources to assist students, to promote institutional collaboration and to help the independent college and university sector respond to changing educational and societal needs:

• To facilitate cooperative efforts among member institutions to enhance services and reduce costs;
• To collect and disseminate data and information to better inform members, policy-makers, prospective students and the public about the value of independent higher education;
• To build a sense of community, common purpose and understanding of the value of inter-institutional collaboration; and
• To enhance the visibility of the independent sector and convey the public benefits of independent higher education at the state and national level.