In 1968 a small group of presidents serving independent colleges caucused at a convention. Beset by government encroachment, intensifying competition by public universities, and an atmosphere of student rebellion, they started an organization dedicated to their unique interests.
The American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities was to be a nationwide, collegial group solely for presidents serving in the thinning ranks of independent institutions. In its first few months of existence, AAPICU attracted more than 300 presidents as members.
AAPICU was immediately incorporated in the District of Columbia. An executive director was appointed. A logo was designed consisting of a constellation of independent stars encircling an American eagle. With occasional updates this logo and the chosen colors of blue and white have characterized the visual image of AAPICU.
The first annual meeting was held in Denver October 7-9, 1968. A topic of common concern was selected: computerization. But the important accomplishment was the peer networking about matters of governance and finance.
The first full slate of officers was headed by Ernest L. Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University. Other officers hailed from Methodist, Friends, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran institutions, indicative of the strong faith-related component in the membership. Proprietary and strictly independent institutions were also represented.
AAPICU immediately established itself as the voice for independent education in Washington, D.C. Resolutions debated at annual meetings included charitable deductions, affirmative action, government regulation of amateur athletics, the energy crisis, tax exemption, student aid, and Title IX.
AAPICU entered pleas in behalf of affiliated schools that were embroiled in suits with the federal government. The group went on record in opposition to many forces that would inhibit teaching religious values in independent colleges. AAPICU maintains a "war chest" of reserve funds for action on public policy issues that might run contrary to the interests of its members. The legal action reserve fund is built through grants and member dues.
From early in its history, approximately two-thirds of AAPICU members were from faith-related schools. These included Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and independent Christian affiliates. While always exhibiting strong support for values-based education, AAPICU also admits presidents of proprietary and independent schools, provided the institutions hold highest regional accreditation.
AAPICU affairs are conducted by a board of directors. Officers are elected annually. In recent years new presidents have served two-year tenures. An executive director is employed at the pleasure of the president and board.
Since 1972 AAPICU has favored Arizona as a site for its annual conference. Usually a mid-February date is set for the conference. Over the years AAPICU has attracted some of the nation's outstanding speakers. In recent years such notables as John Alexancer, Robert Andringa, Robert Birnbaum, Ernest L. Boyer, Lynne Cheney, Stephen R. Covey, Judith Eaton, James L. Fisher, David P. Gardener, Senator Mark Hatfield, Brian Hawkins, David Hubbard, Marianne Jennings, Rick Legon, George Marsden, J.W. Peltason, Lawrence Summers, and William Willimon have addressed the annual conference. Among the more popular features of the annual conference is the Presidents Roundtable where conference participants have the opportunity of sharing ideas, programs, and experiences with one another. One participant has written that the ideas that he has gained from the Presidents Roundtable have saved his university literally thousands of dollars.
In the mid-1990s AAPICU could see the public pendulum swinging toward its historic positions on moral and ethical issues that its members had defended almost alone during troubled times. Other organizations of independent higher education institutions have also come alongside AAPICU. Still, AAPICU continues to address presidential interests that are overlooked by other higher education groups.
Former members such as Jeffrey R. Holland of Brigham Young University have stated that AAPICU was their most useful professional organization. David Davenport of Pepperdine University says that AAPICU's distinction is that only presidents are involved in its deliberations. David E. Fry of Northwood University credits AAPICU with providing the best in "new knowledge." Thomas E. Corts of Samford University, who joined AAPICU when he first became a college president in the early 1980s, places high value on the informal idea swapping at annual meetings. "I never leave a meeting without two or three ideas that have actually worked for respected presidential colleagues," he says.
From the founding of Harvard College in 1636 to the present day, those colleges and universities independent of state control have been on the frontiers of education, preparing the finest leaders for a democrative society. AAPICU members insist that the public good is best served when they are free to pursue their own missions and high values, even when these run contrary to prevailing tides. The American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities is committed to preserving the private sector of higher education.