Dr. Chris Domes has been elected vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP). His leadership role with the organization began on July 1, 2026.
AICUP’s mission is to educate policymakers and civic and corporate leaders about the value and quality of education available at Pennsylvania’s independent, nonprofit colleges and universities. The organization conducts research to illustrate the value of its member institutions and sponsors advocacy events to deliver student success stories to legislators and media outlets.
Its research shows that AICUP’s more than 80 independent nonprofit colleges, embedded in 58 communities across the state, provide a significant service. According to a 2025 Economic Impact Report, independent colleges educate 53% of all four-year degree-seeking students in Pennsylvania.
AICUP’s annual advocacy event, Day on the Hill, generates participation by scores of students, who travel to the State Capitol in Harrisburg to urge legislators to support funding for Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) grants. PHEAA grants provide need-based financial assistance to eligible Pennsylvanians and help them afford the costs of higher education at the undergraduate level.
In April, ten Neumann students were among dozens from across the state who met with their representatives to explain how the grants made higher education accessible and affordable for them. Just days later, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Board of Directors approved increasing the maximum award to $6,000, up from $5,750. It was the first increase in four years.
Dr. Domes has been an outspoken advocate for AICUP and Pennsylvania’s independent colleges for years. A strong proponent of Catholic Franciscan education, he has more than 40 years of experience in the field. At Neumann, he has led initiatives in strategic planning, fundraising, academic program expansion, enrollment management, community relations, technology access, and campus growth.