Elaine T. White, assistant vice president of institutional compliance and student success and Title IX coordinator, Kelli Smith, vice president of student affairs, and Michael Harrington, assistant vice president of human resources, attended the Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities (CICU) member services affinity group meeting at the Culinary Institute of Fine Arts in Hyde Park, NY. The event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with peers from across New York’s independent sector to discuss artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and risk management.

The afternoon sessions discussed how conversational AI can help institutions understand their students’ journey and help promote student wellness. Smith and White highlighted their work with EdSights on the College’s chatbox, Casey, and how Casey helps supports student wellness. The CICU is a statewide association representing policy interests of the chief executives of New York’s more than 100 independent colleges and universities. It aims to provide opportunity and access to higher education through fairness, equity and humanity. The CICU helps ensure as a small and private college, Vaughn has representation among colleges and universities in the state.

“Our active engagement with the CICU is incredibly important particularly because we are a small private college in New York State (NYS),” said White. “Most federal and state policies and compliance regulations have been implemented and targeted for government-resourced public colleges and universities, with NYS having unique and complex compliance mandates both for students and employees. CICU serves as an advocacy body for colleges like Vaughn.”