

- 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 experiences

Indigenous Histories, Power, and Social Justice
History 10188-01
Learners in this course develop a strong understanding of Indigenous worldviews, histories, and contemporary struggles, particularly regarding power, privilege, and social justice. They can critically analyze the systemic and structural inequalities faced by Indigenous communities, assess the impact of settler colonialism, and interpret different perspectives on sovereignty, activism, and identity. Learners will be able to engage in discussions on intersectionality, structural inequity, and historical and contemporary Indigenous issues using evidence-based reasoning. Employers partnering with these learners will benefit from their ability to: Identify and analyze systemic barriers facing Indigenous communities, both historically and today. Communicate Indigenous perspectives clearly and respectfully, drawing on reliable sources. Navigate conversations about equity, reconciliation, and social responsibility in professional settings. Provide well-researched, practical recommendations for inclusive policies and community engagement. Bring interdisciplinary thinking and cultural awareness to project work, helping organizations become more socially responsible and community-focused.

Understanding Human Behavior in Social Contexts 2025
SOWK 312
This experience provides companies and organizations with a team of upper-level social work learners who are trained to analyze and assess human development, social systems, and environmental factors impacting individuals, families, and communities. Throughout this course, learners will: Analyze how biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors shape human development. Assess individuals, families, and communities across various life stages. Apply evidence-based social work theories and research to real-world challenges. Engage in discussions on social justice, equity, and systemic barriers affecting human well-being. Evaluate interventions that support individuals at different stages of life. By collaborating with our learners, companies and organizations will receive insightful, research-based assessments of human behavior and development, with practical recommendations for interventions, policies, or program development.

Programming in C / C++ for Microcontroller
CS 350
Unlock the Power of Programming! From the 'C' programming language down to the microprocessor, our students will unravel the inner workings of computing machines. With a comprehensive understanding of program execution and data manipulation within computer systems, the students will emerge as more adept programmers and computer scientists. Learning areas include: Computer organization (hardware) 'C' and C++ programming languages Data representation ARM Processors Machine-level code Computer arithmetic Code compilation Memory optimization Runtime performance Memory organization Holy Cross College's Computer Organization program offers a platform for students to apply their programming expertise while supporting local businesses. If you have a project that resonates with our goals, submit a match request today. Let's collaborate to optimize your computing systems and explore innovative programming solutions.

Introduction to Data Science
CISC295
Elevate your organization by partnering with dedicated learners from Mercy University as your data-focused consultants in a project-based experience. Over the semester, our students will engage with your team to complete a targeted project, using virtual communication tools to collaborate effectively and ensure alignment with your goals. Through this experience, our learners apply their skills with Python libraries, including IPython, NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib , for data storage, manipulation, and analysis. They gain hands-on practice with real-world datasets, learning to clean, transform, and visualize data; conduct thorough exploratory data analysis; Partnering with our students provides your organization with fresh insights and actionable data solutions while empowering students to build professional-level experience with valuable analytical tools and techniques.