Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas - ICUT

ICUT's AI Summit last week was a great way to kick off the spring! Leaders from across Texas came together at the University of Dallas for hands‑on sessions, thoughtful conversations and practical insights into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of higher education.

A huge thank you to our sponsors and partners – the HESS Consortium, ScholarBuys, Deep Seas and Doctums – for making this event possible and for supporting independent colleges and universities.

Texas’ independent colleges and universities are responding to the state’s most pressing workforce challenges, producing skilled professionals in critical shortage areas and often doing so in underserved regions where access to care and qualified educators is limited. Read our latest brief to learn more --> https://ow.ly/xTAo50XH0yX

We had a great time last night hosting dinner for the ICUT delegation attending SACSCOC’s Annual Conference in Nashville! Thanks to all for joining us for an evening of food and fellowship.

Are you a graduate student ready to make an impact in higher education policy and nonprofit leadership?

ICUT is hiring a Spring 2026 ICUT Fellow — a part-time, paid position designed for current Masters or Doctoral students in the Austin area who want real-world experience at the intersection of policy, communications and higher education.

As an ICUT Fellow, you’ll help track legislation, craft communications, conduct research and support projects that amplify the voices of Texas’ 40 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. You’ll gain mentorship, professional connections and a firsthand look at how policy decisions shape the future of higher ed in Texas.

Interested? Check out our job posting below for more information and apply today!

🔗 https://tinyurl.com/2026ICUTFellow

It was an honor to take part in Trellis Strategies' Modern Learner Summit this morning alongside colleagues from the Texas Association of Community Colleges and Texas Business Leadership Council. We shared our thoughts on the 89th Legislative Session and how public and private institutions work together to serve today's students.

Did you know 17 percent of degrees awarded by ICUT member institutions are earned by those over the age of 25?

Thursday means and this week as we gather colleagues from across ICUT's membership for our annual Title IX conference. Thanks for joining us this year!

First stop on our ICUT Texas Tour: the University of St. Thomas! UST has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio? Shout out to Dr. Hans Stockton for a great meeting. Check out some photos of the beautiful campus and state of the art nursing simulation lab!

You’re invited! 🎓

On Tuesday, June 3, join ICUT President Elizabeth Puthoff and fellow Texas leaders for a timely conversation on how independent colleges are measuring and sharing their economic impact — from job creation to graduate earnings.

Hosted by Trellis Strategies, this panel will help institutions tell a more powerful story about their contributions to Texas’ economy.

🗓 Tuesday, June 3
🕐 1:00–2:00 PM CT
🎤 Featuring leaders from ICUT, Schreiner University & the Texas Business Leadership Council

📲 Save your spot now: https://ow.ly/YxnP50W14ri

📣 Big news from the ICUT Foundation!

We’ve received a Capacity-Building Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to kick off an exciting new initiative: the Data-to-Action for Parenting Students Exploration and Feasibility Initiative (D2ATX-I).

This project will help us assess how to better support the nearly 1 in 5 parenting students enrolled at ICUTF member institutions and explore new funding partnerships to expand services statewide.

We are deeply grateful to CIC for their support of this important work through their Capacity-Building Grant Program!

🎓 ICUT member schools awarded nearly 100,000 degrees in just three years—and 72% of those graduates stayed in Texas.

That’s talent retention and economic growth.

💼 These alumni earn $1.43 billion more per year thanks to their education
📈 That extra income generates $836 million in local spending

Texas students are graduating, staying, and giving back. That’s impact.

Learn more: https://icut.org/page/EconomicImpact

🏫 Students and visitors do more than fill classrooms and stadiums—they fuel our local economies.

Here’s how ICUT member institutions supported Texas in FY2022:

💸 Student spending = $3.7 billion impact
🎟️ Visitor spending = $912 million impact

From buying groceries and paying rent to attending sports games and graduation ceremonies—this activity drives growth in every corner of the state.

Private colleges are powerful community partners.

Learn more: https://icut.org/page/EconomicImpact