Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association is a Nashville-based non-profit association founded in 1956 that represents 34 private colleges and universities in Tennessee, providing legislative advocacy, collaborative procurement, professional development, and shared retirement plan services to its member institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association does
The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA), founded in 1956 and headquartered at 555 Marriott Drive, Suite 315 in Nashville, Tennessee, is a private non-profit association representing 34 private, not-for-profit colleges and universities across Tennessee. Across these member institutions, TICUA reports an aggregate footprint of approximately 79,000 enrolled students, 21,000 employees, and 20,000 degrees awarded annually. Its mission is to engage these institutions in collaborative work across public policy, cost containment, and professional development to serve the state and its citizens.
TICUA operates as a membership-based association rather than a product or technology company. Its core service lines are organized around four pillars: Advocate (legislative activity tracking, policy publications, data collection, surveys), Collaborate (group purchasing through partnerships with the Coalition for College Cost Savings, Educational and Institutional Cooperative, and OMNIA Partners; the Multiple Employer Plan 403(b) retirement program; campus mental health resources; the Drive to 55 academic collaboration; and CHASCo safety partnership), Connect (meetings, retreats, and the Social Link member-only networking platform), and Lead (the Executive Leadership Institute, Advancing Leaders, legislative awards, and the Hall of Fame). The underlying technology is conventional membership management software (YourMembership) with social login via Facebook and LinkedIn, supporting events, directories, and member engagement; no proprietary AI or differentiated technology platform is disclosed.
TICUA generates revenue through membership dues and assessments from its 34 member institutions, supplemented by modest administrative support from procurement vendor agreements. Distribution is direct and regional, focused exclusively on Tennessee's private higher education sector. Key external relationships include regulatory and accreditation bodies (NC-SARA, SACSCOC), procurement cooperatives (Coalition for College Cost Savings, E&I, OMNIA Partners), and retirement plan service providers (TIAA, Pentegra, SageView, Millennium Advisory Services). Leadership is provided by President Cameron Conn, who also serves as Secretary on the Multiple Employer Plan Governing Committee.
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
- Legal name
- Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
- Website
- https://ticua.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association is a Nashville-based non-profit association founded in 1956 that represents 34 private colleges and universities in Tennessee, providing legislative advocacy, collaborative procurement, professional development, and shared retirement plan services to its member institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership dues and services: TICUA generates revenue through membership fees and assessments from its 34 member private colleges and universities in Tennessee. The association also receives modest administrative support from certain procurement agreements with vendors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TICUA is a membership association that engages Tennessee's 34 private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in public policy advocacy, cost containment through collaborative purchasing programs, and professional development for institutional leadership. It represents member institutions before state and federal government, negotiates group procurement agreements through partners such as the Coalition for College Cost Savings, E&I Cooperative, and OMNIA Partners, and operates the Multiple Employer Plan (403(b) retirement plan) for participating institutions.
Product overview
TICUA is a membership-based association for private higher education institutions in Tennessee, not a product company. It provides advocacy, data collection, collaborative cost-savings programs, and professional development services to its 34 member institutions. Services include legislative advocacy, enrollment and completions data collection, group procurement agreements, the Multiple Employer Plan (403(b) retirement plan), leadership development programs (Executive Leadership Institute and Advancing Leaders), mental health resources, and the Social Link member networking platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Leadership Institute A flagship professional development program designed for current and emerging leaders at TICUA's 34 member institutions, with annual cohorts (Class of 2017 through Class of 2026 evidenced).
- Advancing Leaders A leadership development program for emerging leaders at TICUA member institutions, complementing the Executive Leadership Institute.
- Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) A 403(b) Multiple Employer Plan offered to TICUA member institutions as a shared retirement plan solution, with Pentegra as ERISA 402(a) Named Fiduciary and 3(16) plan administrator, SageView as ERISA 3(38) investment manager, TIAA as plan recordkeeper, and Millennium Advisory Services providing on-campus education.
- TICUA Procurement Agreements Direct collaborative purchasing agreements negotiated by TICUA that leverage the combined buying power of 34 member institutions to reduce operating costs on goods and services.
- Social Link Member Portal A dedicated member-only online platform that enables collaboration, communication, and resource sharing among TICUA's 34 member institutions.
- Tennessee Smart Shop A cost-savings purchasing program offered as part of TICUA's Ways to Save initiatives, providing member institutions access to competitively priced goods and services.
Companies that use Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
Customer profileNamed customers34 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Coalition for College Cost SavingscoreTICUA is a member of the Coalition for College Cost Savings, a group purchasing organization comprised of 33 non-profit higher education member organizations dedicated to helping nearly 900 non-profit higher education institutions improve processes and reduce costs through collaboration.
- Educational and Institutional Cooperative (E&I)coreE&I is a not-for-profit buying cooperative established in 1934 that provides goods and services to members at competitive pricing. TICUA member institutions access nearly 100 contracts through this partnership.
- OMNIA PartnerscoreOMNIA Partners is the largest cooperative purchasing organization driving excellence in higher education procurement, providing best value contracts from industry-leading suppliers.
- Millennium Advisory Services, Inc.coreProvides on-campus education services for participating institutions in the Multiple Employer Plan, including group education sessions, individual financial planning meetings, and ongoing help for plan participants.
- PentegracoreServes as the ERISA 402(a) Named Fiduciary and the ERISA 3(16) plan administrator, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Multiple Employer Plan.
- SageView Advisory Group, LLCcoreServes as the ERISA 3(38) investment manager, responsible for the selection and monitoring of the funds in the Multiple Employer Plan investment menu.
- TIAAcorePlan recordkeeper for the Multiple Employer Plan, bringing over 100 years of experience in financial reporting and plan sponsor and participant services for the not-for-profit community.
- NC-SARA (National Council - State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements)coreNC-SARA allows institutions to offer certain academic programs in other states without seeking authorization in each member state. TICUA members participate in NC-SARA through state authorization.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)coreAccreditation body to which complaints relating to quality of education or accreditation requirements can be referred for TICUA member institutions.
- CHASCominorCHASCo is a private-public partnership of higher education institutions, funded by the State of Tennessee, working to ensure the health and safety of campus communities through collaboration and shared best practices.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU): National umbrella organization representing private nonprofit colleges and universities in Washington, D.C. NAICU is the federal-level analog to TICUA, which is itself a member of the broader NAICU network and addresses the same advocacy and policy agenda at the national level.
Direct peers
- Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC): Ohio's nonprofit association representing the state's independent colleges and universities, with a focus on cost savings, scholarship programs, and advocacy. Directly comparable to TICUA in mission and member institution profile.
- Georgia Independent College Association (GICA): Georgia's association for private nonprofit colleges and universities, focused on legislative advocacy, cost-saving programs, and professional development. Closely analogous to TICUA in scope and member profile within a neighboring Southeastern state.
- Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI): Indiana's state-level association of independent nonprofit colleges and universities, providing advocacy, shared services, and collaborative programs. Closely analogous to TICUA in mission and service portfolio.
- Connecticut Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU): Connecticut's state-level association for private nonprofit colleges and universities, providing advocacy, cooperative purchasing, and shared services. Closely comparable to TICUA in mission, governance structure, and member institution profile.
- Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU): California state-level association of independent nonprofit colleges and universities. Direct analog to TICUA in mission (advocacy, cost containment, professional development) and structure, differing only by serving California's private higher ed sector.
Others
- Coalition for College Cost Savings: A group purchasing organization comprised of 33 nonprofit higher-education member organizations serving nearly 900 institutions. TICUA is itself a member, so Coalition is a partner-up rather than direct competitor but operates in adjacent procurement space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association social profiles
Digital presenceTennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
What does Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association do?
TICUA is a membership association that engages Tennessee's 34 private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in public policy advocacy, cost containment through collaborative purchasing programs, and professional development for institutional leadership. It represents member institutions before state and federal government, negotiates group procurement agreements through partners such as the Coalition for College Cost Savings, E&I Cooperative, and OMNIA Partners, and operates the Multiple Employer Plan (403(b) retirement plan) for participating institutions.
Is Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association a public or private company?
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association founded?
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association was founded in 1956. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association based?
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership dues and services.
Who are Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association's main competitors?
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC), Georgia Independent College Association (GICA), Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), Connecticut Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU). Coalition for College Cost Savings is listed as an others.
Does Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.