HERDI IC (Higher Education Research and Development Independent Colleges)

 

Executive Director:  Marcia Daniel

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Our core mission is to provide corporate clients the opportunity to gain critical assessments of their products and services from a number of the Nation’s most influential Independent College (IC) leaders thereby helping them to achieve their strategic goals.  HERDI IC college leaders, are hand-selected from across the country.  They form the Higher Education Research and Development Institute IC Advisory Board.  Six are empaneled for each three-hour encounter with a business client executive team.

  

All HERDI IC meetings are held prior to the annual Council of Independent Colleges (CIC.)

 

Here is the way all HERDI panels work: client company executives begin with an opening presentation of 20 to 30 minutes, followed by two and a half hours of candid give-and-take between the six college leaders and company representatives.  The client decides the topic and the format in advance, preferably in collaboration with the college president who chairs the panel.

 

Client goals are: (1) build collegial, longstanding relationships with selected HERDI IC college leaders; (2) gain direct and candid feedback from these influential administrators on the client’s products/services and marketing strategies; (3) understand the educators’ interests, initiatives, systems and operations; and (4) learn how to do business in the Independent college sector of American higher education.

 

College administrator goals are: (1) understand client products/services and what distinguishes them in the higher education marketplace; (2) explore how the client's product/service/strategy might contribute to the improved performance of her/his institution and/or system; and (3) develop productive, long-term relationships with client leaders as well as HERDI IC college colleagues.  This last goal is often the most prized.

 

HERDI IC college leaders meet separately the evening before the panels for light refreshments and open sharing.  The purposes are to build strong relationships among HERDI IC Advisory Board Members and to prepare for active panel participation the following day. 

 

The evening of the panels all HERDI IC educators and their guests are invited to join business executives at a Reception and Banquet sponsored by one of the participating companies.  The Reception and Banquet provide a great opportunity to build relationships and speak candidly with colleagues as well as client representatives. 

 

For Independent College leaders who are official members of the HERDI IC Advisory Board, HERDI IC will cover all expenses except travel to and from the session’s destination. For Independent College leaders who are official members of the HERDI IC Advisory Board, HERDI IC will cover host hotel lodging and meals during the HERDI IC meeting time. These meals are listed as functions during the meeting.

 

Date of next HERDI IC meeting is January 3-4, 2023.

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Advisory Board to be announced.

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