A coalition of 15 universities, including Michigan State University, has conducted more than $10 billion in research, more than twice that of the University of California System and the Ivy League combined, according to a recent report.
In its recently released Annual Report, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation details how it saves its members millions of dollars and their enormous influence in research and education far beyond their geographical footprint.
“The CIC’s values and priorities reflect those of MSU and include conducting world-changing research and being responsible stewards of our resources,” said MSU Provost June Pierce Youatt. “We continue to implement strategic collaborations that produce better outcomes for MSU and all CIC member universities.”
The CIC benefits are achieved by capitalizing on resources, leveraging joint purchases and contracts, and expanding opportunities for students, faculty and staff though shared resources on member campuses who work together to solve problems faster.
As budgets continue to be constrained, the CIC continues to offer the value of collective purchasing power. The CIC Purchasing Consortium has resulted in member universities participating in consortial contracts worth $76.9 million, which have created more than $7.5 million in estimated savings in fiscal year 2015.
“Together, our universities continue to refine what is arguably the most effective means for collaboration in American higher education,” Barbara McFadden Allen, CIC Executive Director said. “We can all find inspiration from the successes of our faculty colleagues detailed in this report.”
The report also details the collective power and progress of this enterprise, highlighting the Health Disparities Initiative between state departments of health and the member schools; faculty collaborations in theater, music education and business; and data on the economic impact of the scientific workforce and funded research being done across the campuses.
A founding member in 1958, Michigan State is a partner university in the CIC, the nation's premier higher education consortium of top-tier research institutions, including the Big Ten conference members and the University of Chicago.
For more about the CIC, please visit: https://www.cic.net/.