President Loren Swartzendruber Elected Private College Council Chair

Loren Swartzendruber, president of EMU
Loren Swartzendruber is serving as chair of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Loren Swartzendruber, president of EMU, is serving as chair of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Dr. Swartzendruber was elected at the fall meeting of the CICV board of directors and will serve in this role through Sept. 30, 2010.

The CICV is an association of 27 nonprofit, private colleges and universities in Virginia. Founded in 1971, CICV is the legislative advocate for Virginia private colleges and provides services to members in the areas of research, marketing, and consortium purchasing.

The presidents of the 27 member institutions serve as the CICV board of directors. As chair, Swartzendruber will promote collaboration and consensus-building among member institutions, advocate on behalf of Virginia private colleges during the Virginia General Assembly session, and advise CICV’s staff on all policy matters, including legislative and marketing priorities.

“Loren has been active with the CICV for many years,” said Robert B. Lambeth, Jr., CICV president. “His election as chair indicates the high regard the other private college presidents hold for him.”

CICV, with headquarters in Bedford, Va., was instrumental in starting the state’s Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program. This year, approximately 21,000 Virginia residents will receive a non-need based tuition grants of $3,000 (undergraduate) and $1,300 (graduate students in health professions).

In addition to its involvement with the TAG program, CICV monitors legislative and regulatory actions which affect Virginia private colleges. CICV also sponsors several marketing programs – including Virginia Private College Week – to promote the quality and affordability of Virginia private colleges.

Swartzendruber is in his second four-year term as president of EMU.