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Malaysian Reserve
4 days ago
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NCICU Applauds North Carolina's #1 Business Ranking, Thanks Lawmakers for Partnership
RALEIGH, N.C., July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) today congratulated state leaders on North Carolina being named by CNBC as the #1 state for doing business in the nation. State leaders have praised the contributions of North Carolina's colleges and universities in building a world-class workforce. NCICU celebrates this accomplishment and the vital partnership of the state's private, nonprofit colleges and universities in developing North Carolina's talent pipeline and economic strength. 'North Carolina's recognition as the nation's top state for business is testament to the power of education and collaboration,' said Dr. A. Hope Williams, President of NCICU. 'Independent colleges and universities are proud to work together with the General Assembly and other state leaders to prepare the graduates who drive our economy forward. We appreciate our lawmakers' support of higher education and we remain committed to helping North Carolina continue to thrive.' Independent Colleges Drive Talent and Economic GrowthNCICU is the statewide office of the 36 private, nonprofit colleges and universities in North Carolina. NCICU institutions collectively enroll over 83,000 students from across the state, the nation, and the world. The organization's mission is to support, represent, and advocate for independent higher education in North Carolina. NCICU works closely with government, business, and community partners to ensure student success and to drive the talent and innovation that fuel North Carolina's economy. NCICU highlighted several ways in which its 36 campuses contribute to North Carolina's success: Workforce Talent: NCICU campuses award nearly one in four of all bachelor's degrees in North Carolina and one in three of all graduate and professional degrees. Professional Degrees: A majority of North Carolina's advanced professional degrees are from independent colleges, including roughly 60% of medical degrees, 65% of law degrees, 89% of physician assistant degrees, and 56% of pharmacy degrees statewide. Economic Impact: North Carolina's private colleges and universities collectively generate an economic impact of about $14.2 billion annually and employ over 66,000 North Carolinians, making the independent higher-education sector one of the state's largest private employers. Continuing a Strong PartnershipAs North Carolina builds on its #1 business ranking, NCICU looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with policymakers to sustain this momentum. NCICU also encourages collaboration on other important initiatives that strengthen education and communities. By working together, state leaders, independent colleges and universities and public higher education partners can continue to bolster educational opportunities and economic growth across all regions of the state. The state's recent #1 ranking underscores what is possible when there are strong public/private partnerships united toward a common goal. ABOUT NCICUNorth Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) is the statewide office of private, nonprofit, liberal arts and research colleges and universities. NCICU supports, represents, and advocates for North Carolina independent higher education in the areas of state and federal public policy and on education issues with the other sectors of education in the state. It also raises funds through the Independent College Fund of North Carolina for student scholarships and enrichment experiences, provides research and information to and about private colleges and universities, conducts staff development opportunities and coordinates collaborative programs. Presidents of the colleges and universities comprise NCICU's Board of Directors. CONTACT: Demarcus Williams,
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Independent College Fund of North Carolina Raises Nearly $2.7M in 2025
Fourth Highest Fundraising Total in ICFNC's 70-Year History RALEIGH, N.C., June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independent College Fund of North Carolina (ICFNC), the fundraising arm of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) announces the successful completion of its 2024–2025 campaign, nearly $2.7 million in support of North Carolina's private, nonprofit colleges and universities. This year's total marks the fourth-highest fundraising achievement in ICFNC's 70-year history. The campaign included $438,936 for scholarships, $1,029,582 in grant support for NCICU programs, and over $1.2 million in in-kind donations. "We appreciate our corporate, foundation, and individual partners whose investments in ICFNC are helping transform the lives of students our colleges and universities across our state," said NCICU President Dr. A. Hope Williams. "This year's campaign reflects both the strength of our partnerships and the ongoing commitment to North Carolina's future leaders." The impact of this year's grants and gifts remained substantial across a wide range of priorities—from scholarships and student success to technology access and public policy engagement. "Our donors are not only helping students afford a high-quality education but they are also fueling innovation, equity, and community engagement across North Carolina's independent college sector," said Colleen Kinser, Director of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina. "We are especially proud of the continued support for mentoring programs, student teaching scholarships, and critical workforce development initiatives." 2024–2025 Campaign Highlights: NCICU Transfer Pathways Initiative: Building on more than $1.4 million in funding from national foundations, NCICU made major strides this year in the partnership developing a statewide transfer portal to streamline credit mobility between North Carolina's 58 community colleges, Louisburg College, and NCICU's four-year institutions. SAS Software Grant Program: With in-kind donations valued at over $1.2 million, 32 NCICU campuses benefited from no-cost access to SAS software and professional development tools, strengthening student learning and data analytics capacity. Hurricane Helene Relief Campaign: This campaign raised nearly $300,000 to support eight NCICU campuses severely impacted by Hurricane Helene, assisting with recovery and continued academic operations. Science of Reading Initiative: Funded by a $1 million grant from the Goodnight Educational Foundation, this initiative advanced literacy training for education faculty through LETRS certification, equipping future teachers with evidence-based instructional methods. S.T.A.R. (Student Teacher Assistance for Retention) Scholarship: This scholarship awarded over $313,000 to student teachers, with major contributions from Dogwood Health Trust, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), and Truist. Funding supported tuition, living expenses, and licensure testing costs for education majors preparing for the classroom. Faculty-Student STEM Mentoring Program: This grant concluded its final year with significant results in student retention and research participation, supported by the NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and CIC. iBELONG Mentoring Program: Designed to increase retention and graduation rates for at-risk students, the program completed its fourth year with continued philanthropic support and plans for campus-led sustainability. NCICU Ethics Bowl: The fourteenth annual event raised $72,100, engaging students across 19 campuses to explore ethical issues in health and wellness. Planning is underway for the 2026 event, themed "Ethics in Leadership." North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium: Co-sponsored with the UNC System, the virtual event enabled 11 NCICU students to receive stipends and share original research. Council of Independent Colleges Grants: Capacity Building Grant enhanced NCICU's donor engagement tools and digital communications. Scholarship Challenge Grant helped unlock $50,000 for the Finish Strong Scholarship, benefiting students on the verge of graduation. Meeting the Moment Grant strengthened NCICU's public policy presence through campus-president roundtables and legislative engagement. With this momentum, NCICU and ICFNC remain focused on advancing affordability, accessibility, and academic excellence across North Carolina's independent higher education sector. Click here to learn more about NCICU scholarships and how to support student success. ABOUT NCICU & ICFNCNorth Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) is the statewide office of private, nonprofit, liberal arts and research colleges and universities. NCICU supports, represents, and advocates for North Carolina independent higher education in the areas of state and federal public policy and on education issues with the other sectors of education in the state. It also raises funds through the Independent College Fund of North Carolina for student scholarships and enrichment experiences, provides research and information to and about private colleges and universities, conducts staff development opportunities and coordinates collaborative programs. Presidents of the colleges and universities comprise NCICU's Board of Directors. The Independent College Fund of North Carolina is the fundraising arm of NCICU. An advisory board, made up of corporate and foundation leaders, together with 25 college presidents, guides the work of the Fund. For more information about NCICU and ICFNC, visit CONTACT: Demarcus Williams, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
