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About LVAIC:Mission The mission of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges, (LVAIC) is to make strong institutions stronger. LVAIC is incorporated as a non-profit, charitable organization whose members include Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Moravian College and Muhlenberg College. Established in 1969, LVAIC expands educational opportunities for students; offers professional development programs for faculty and staff; engenders greater economy and efficiency in institutional operations; and serves local communities in a variety of ways. Cooperation permits smaller colleges and universities to retain the numerous advantages that flow naturally from humanly-scaled organizations, while providing many of the services usually associated with larger-scaled, less personal institutions. |
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Growth of Cooperation within LVAICCooperation has increased rapidly within the consortium in recent years. Over the past two decades, LVAIC administered programs, policies, contracts, and services have increased more than three-fold --now directly or indirectly touching nearly every student, professor and adinistrator on the six campuses. Additionally, hundreds of continuing education students and many thousands community friends will benefit from consortial programs and collegial activity. In short, the trend is clearly toward greater collaboration and sharing among our member institutions. In recent years, LVAIC has implemented an aggressive program in collaborative purchasing of commodities and services, under the auspices of the Business Services Groups. Seven other regional colleges, universities, and private secondary institutions have joined LVAIC member schools in these programs to enhance the cost benefits and efficiencies of economic services. The LVAIC programs have become a model for other regional consortia around the country. LVAIC Institutions and the Lehigh ValleyJointly and individually, LVAIC institutions have an important impact upon other educational institutions in the area, contributed significantly to the health of the local economy, and provide a wealth of cultural, intellectual, and artistic opportunities for the public. LVAIC is committed to improving the quality of education at all levels of learning. Serious, on-going collaboration with the business community, public universities, and local arts and cultural institutions is essential if students and faculty are to develop their gifts fully, a process which is essential if America is to compete successfully in the world economy. LVAIC institutions are major employers and economic forces in our region. A study conducted by the Pennsylvania Economy League in 1982, and again in 1990, conservatively estimated that for every dollar invested by public and private sources in Pennsylvania's colleges and universities, $1.70 is returned to the state's economy. The economic impact of LVAIC's member colleges and universities on the Lehigh Valley is substantial, as the following figures demonstrate:
Finally, LVAIC's member institutions are major sources of artistic, cultural, and public affairs programming. Most programs of this type are open to the public, many free of charge. This important aspects of the quality of life in the Valley reflects a major commitment by the LVAIC colleges to the local community which has helped to sustain these independent institutions over the years. Governance and FundingLVAIC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the Presidents of the six member colleges and LVAIC's Executive Director, who serves as the consortium's chief executive officer. The Board's leadership rotates on an annual basis. All cooperative academic programs are approved by LVAIC's Council of Provosts and Academic Deans. LVAIC is committed to a decentralized system of management and minimal staffing strategies. Many consortial goals are achieved through an extensive and well-established committee system, and the Board has designated certain individuals for leadership terms with their respective committees. LVAIC's budget is funded by its member institutions, governmental and private sector grants, and student fees for certain programs, such as study abroad. Institutional assessments in support of LVAIC are partially pro-rated according to institutional enrollments. About Postsecondary ConsortiaLVAIC is a member of the Association for Consortium Leadership (ACL), the national organization for promoting cooperative strategies in American higher education. ACL has done much to support the work of the nation's general purpose postsecondary consortia, whose member colleges and Universities include approximately 800 post-secondary institutions in the United States. 2005-06 Annual Report The 2005-06 annual report highlights programs and activities of the consortium during the academic year. To read the report, please click on the following link: |
130 West Greenwich Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
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