The Independent Thinker
Private Colleges Serving the Public... One student at a Time
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AAICU Hosts Legislative Breakfast for House Education Committee |
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AAICU Presidents and Ambassadors were happy to share breakfast with the Alabama House of Representatives Education Ways and Means Committee chaired by Representative Danny Garrett to discuss the importance of higher education to our great State. AAICU Ambassadors from Huntingdon College, Tuskegee University, Birmingham-Southern College, Faulkner University, Miles College, and Amridge University talked with the Representatives after breakfast and thanked them for their support of the Alabama Student Grant Program. Several students shared how impactful an independent college experience has been in their lives. Thank you all for attending! |
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Pictured above: Members of the House Education Ways and Means Committee, AAICU College Presidents, and AAICU Ambassadors gather for a picture after breakfast. |
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Representative Terri Collins talks with Birmingham-Southern student ambassador Zionne McCrear. |
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Representative Alan Baker with Huntingdon College student ambassador Laiken Hussey. |
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Dr. Charlotte Morris, President of Tuskegee University and Kailyn Anderson, Tuskegee University student ambassador meet Chairman Danny Garrett. |
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Faulkner University student ambassadors Hannah Tolbert and Joslin Barlow meet Representative Terri Collins. |
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AAICU Welcomes State Finance Director Bill Poole to Board of Directors Meeting |
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Bill Poole was appointed as the director of the Alabama Department of Finance by Governor Kay Ivey on August 1, 2021, after representing the citizens of House District 63 as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives. On November 17, 2021, Gov. Ivey selected Director Poole to also serve as her senior advisor.
The AAICU Board took the opportunity to thank him for his past support of higher education and engaged him on future policy issues and items of interest to our institutions.
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Alabama Celebrates Military Appreciation Day |
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“Alabama is home to thousands of active duty members, reservists and some 400,000 veterans that play a vital role in preserving our country’s freedom and safety,” Ivey said. “As governor, it is a major priority of mine to do everything in my power to ensure Alabama remains one of the most military friendly states in America. Walker, an Alabama native who manages the daily operations of the Army’s logistics enterprise, spoke to a joint session of the Legislature. He was then presented with a flag that had flown over the state Capitol. He said legislation passed related to the military shows how much the state appreciates its service members. “The work that they do supports our military, our families, our veterans, and our retirees,” Walker said. “And that’s very, very important in terms of the quality of life that it provides them by either serving while on active duty here in Alabama, or they’ve made a life decision to retire and live in Alabama.”
Then, the House of Representatives put action to the supportive sentiments, unanimously passing all six pieces of legislation in the Military Stability Commission legislative agenda, when they passed the Senate, sending the bills on to the Governor for her signature. Among the bills was Senate Bill 119 by Sen. Will Barfoot which expands scholarships provided under the Alabama G.I. and Dependents’ Educational Benefit Act to include private colleges and universities and adds the U.S. Space Force to qualifying branches.
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Stillman College Becomes New Balance’s First HBCU Athletics Partner |
Stillman College athletics will be walking around with a little more swag soon. The small HBCU based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has become New Balance’s first-ever HBCU Athletics partner.
“To have a major brand like New Balance gives us a pedigree in the market among other schools, especially others who are already solidified in their branding,” said Stillman College Director of Athletics, Terrance Whittle as reported by Blavity. “Recruits will know what we’re wearing, what we promote, and what we’re associated with. It will help keep our student-athletes and coaches excited.”
New Balance and BSN Sports, New Balance’s supplier, will now provide the institution with gear for their basketball, softball, baseball, track, cross-country, volleyball, and bowling programs. Also, as a part of the partnership, New Balance and BSN Sports are giving out promotional products, performance incentives, and rebates.
This deal is huge for the institution because it will allow the public to see that the athletic programs have a strong backing when it comes to apparel. It will not only help bring in recruits but it will also provide even more credibility to the athletic programs at Stillman College.
The public relations benefits that Stillman College could gain from this deal are also a huge plus for the school. The historic partnership will keep people talking and create even more interest around Stillman College.
New Balance’s national team sales representative, Quinton Cole said that they are excited about the new partnership.
“We are thrilled to partner with Stillman College and their storied athletics programs,” said Cole according to Blavity. “Stillman’s DNA fits perfectly with the New Balance mission of not trying to be the biggest but being the best.”
“We look forward to many years of thinking different and changing the game,” Cole continued. “We are very excited to take this next step alongside BSN SPORTS to outfit all the school’s teams and the surrounding community.”
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Did You Know? Institutional Aid is Top Source of Aid |
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AAICU's network of providers offers goods and services to the independent higher education community. Click here for more information on business partners.
Founded in 1919, Jackson Thornton is a certified public accounting and consulting firm with more than 200 professionals and associates in six offices located in Alabama and Tennessee. In addition to accounting services, the firm offers wealth management, strategic planning, business consulting services, and specialized industry services. Our affiliate company, Jackson Thornton Technologies is a Managed IT Service Provider delivering consulting, resources, and higher quality IT services since 2000. We offer IT strategic planning and review, managed IT services, cybersecurity services, backup and disaster recovery services, Cloud computing, and hardware sales/implementation services.
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