WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Legal Services Review Panel is the recipient of the 2014 Henry Paley Memorial Award, presented today during the Association’s 2014 Annual Meeting. The meeting is being held in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
Since 1985, the Paley Award has recognized an individual who, throughout his or her career, has unfailingly served the students and faculty of independent higher education. The recipient of this award has set an example for all who would seek to advance educational opportunity in the United States. The Paley Award is named for Henry Paley, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York from 1975 until 1984.
The NAICU Legal Services Review Panel evaluates emerging legal issues, precedent-setting litigation, and the decisions of federal regulatory bodies and advises Association leaders and members on the implications for private, nonprofit higher education. The volunteer panel is comprised of university general counsels, senior college administrators, and state association executives who also are lawyers.
“For more than 35 years, the Legal Services Review Panel has profoundly shaped American higher education and, in particular, the role of private nonprofit colleges and universities in society,” said NAICU President David L. Warren. “Collectively, panel members have donated literally thousands of hours of legal consultation and advice in service to the Association and to the students and leaders of private colleges and universities.”
At its founding in the mid-1970s, NAICU’s primary mission was to serve as a more effective voice for independent colleges and universities. At the time, the federal government’s role in higher education was becoming more assertive. Federal policy was beginning to shape a growing number of issues vital to these institutions, initially through legislation. Soon, though, NAICU leaders realized that the courts and regulatory agencies were also increasingly involved in the affairs of colleges and universities. For NAICU members, these presented new and different challenges to their essential mission and independence.
Clearly, the leaders of the new association needed help. They turned to a group of legal experts that over time became the Legal Services Review Panel. Some of the panel’s most valuable advice has been in deciding which of the multitude of legal issues the association should address, and then determining the strategy and timing of NAICU’s interventions.
The panel’s advice to NAICU has covered a broad range of issues that continues to expand today. Arguably most important were those involving academic freedom and cases that would impinge on the special status of independent institutions. Other key issues include the protection of student records and privacy; the impact of Title IX on men’s and women’s athletics; and the long battle over affirmative action as the Bakke case moved toward the Supreme Court
Philip Moot, who served as chair of the panel for more than 30 years before retiring five years ago, accepted the award on behalf of the panel’s volunteers.
NAICU serves as the unified national voice of independent higher education. With more than 1,000 member institutions and associations, NAICU reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the United States. They include traditional liberal arts colleges, major research universities, church- and faith-related institutions, historically black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, single-sex colleges, art institutions, two-year colleges, and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business, and other professions.
Previous Award Recipients
Named for Henry Paley, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York from 1975 until 1984, the award recognizes an individual who embodies his spirit of unfailing service toward the students and faculty of independent higher education. The winner of this award has set an example for all who would seek to advance educational opportunity in the United States.
2013 Bernard Fryshman, Executive Vice President, Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools
2012 Patricia A. McGuire, President, Trinity Washington University
2011 The Rev. Charles L. Currie, S.J., President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
2010 Sister Kathleen Ross, snjm, Heritage University
2009 Morgan Odell, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
2008 The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., University of Notre Dame
2007 Alexander W. (Sandy) Astin, Higher Education Research Institute, University of California
2006 Clare Cotton, The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts
2005 Robert N. Kelly, Kansas Independent College Association
2004 Michael S. McPherson, Spencer Foundation, Macalester College
2003 James C. Ross, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York
2002 Allen P. Splete, Council of Independent Colleges
2001 (Special NAICU 25th Anniversary Meeting recognizing all previous recipients – no new award was given)
2000 Sr. Mary Andrew Matesich, Ohio Dominican College
1999 David Irwin, Washington Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
1998 Rev. William J. Sullivan, Seattle University
1997 James Whalen, Ithaca College
1996 John Frazer, Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities
1995 Richard F. Rosser, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
1994 Sr. Dorothy Ann Kelly, College of New Rochelle
1993 Derek Bok, Harvard University
1992 (Special Summit Meeting – no award was given)
1991 Francis "Mike" Michelini, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania
1990 The Honorable Silvio Conte, U.S. House of Representatives
1989 The Honorable Thomas H. Kean, Governor, New Jersey
1988 The Honorable William H. Natcher, U.S. House of Representatives
1987 Frank "Sandy" Tredinnick, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts
1986 James Ream, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities
1985 Rev. Timothy S. Healy, Georgetown University