

- Description
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Founded in 1956, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.
CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.
CIC and Riipen have joined forces in a multi-year work-based learning initiative to benefit 25 member institutions. This collaboration will integrate work-based learning opportunities into up to 375 courses led by 125 faculty members and impacting up to 11,250 students.
- Portal website
- https://learn.riipen.com/cic-wbl
Subportals programs

Developing Customer Insights
MKT 421
Looking to learn more about your customers? Need insights on customer behavior to inform your marketing decisions? Bring on learners from Point University to be your learner-consultants, in a project-based experience. Learners will work on one main project over the experience of the semester, connecting with you as needed with virtual communication tools. Learners in this program/experience are learning how to: 1. Understand the internal processes underlying individual customer behavior; 2. Understand how individual consumption choices are influenced by external forces; and 3. Apply this understanding to make effective and ethical marketing decisions. What can our learners do for your company? Learners in groups of 2-3 will work with your company to analyze your research question and provide actionable recommendations, based on their collection of empirical data. Students will collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to answer research question(s) related to your customers' preferences, attitudes, and/or path to purchase. Research activities will culminate by writing a research report that describes the research and the resulting insights into consumer behavior. In addition, students will prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation of the report and any notable recommendations.

Advanced Rhetoric Collaboration
ENGL 313W
Centenary College of Louisiana’s Advanced Rhetoric course offers employers a unique opportunity to collaborate with learners who are refining their rhetorical and writing skills through real-world applications. These students are skilled in research, critical analysis, and adaptable writing, and are focused on exploring effective communication strategies that align with professional standards. Through this course, learners aim to build skills in persuasive writing, audience engagement, and genre-specific content creation. Employers are expected to provide regular communication and guidance throughout the project, supply necessary information for project completion, and offer constructive feedback on project outcomes via the Riipen platform.

Using Persuasive Speech for Brand Impact
Project Summary: Looking to elevate your organization and cultivate engagement with your brand? Bring on learners from Brenau University to be your learner-consultants, in a project-based experience, to determine how to reach your desired audiences with persuasive messaging. Learners will work on one main project over the experience of the semester, connecting with you as needed with virtual communication tools. Learners in this program/experience will conduct research on your organization and goals through an initial informative speech project. Their work will culminate in a persuasive speech project that explores how to best identify with and reach your intended audiences through channels of communication such as social media and email. What can our learners do for your company? Learners in groups of 3-5 will work with your company to identify your needs and provide actionable recommendations for achieving your communication goals, based on their in-depth research and analysis.

Sales Management - Spring 2025
MKGT 333
Do you want to improve your company's sales strategy with fresh ideas from the Sales Managers of tomorrow? Partner with students from Holy Cross College in a project-based experience. Students will work on one main project over the course of the semester, connecting with you as needed with virtual communication tools. Our Sales Management program focuses on the elements required to excel in a sales-focused environment. The course will equip students with the knowledge and skills to acquire customers.