President Schrum has served on the Board for two years as chair-elect. Previously, R. Gerald Turner, president of SMU, served as board chair.

As chair of ICUT, Schrum will preside over meetings of the Board of Directors, which is the policy-making body of the organization. He also will work closely with the ICUT staff on the association’s legislative agenda and on the development of new services provided to member institutions.

“Jake’s election was no surprise to the members of ICUT,” said Carol L. McDonald, president of ICUT. “He has been recognized as a higher education leader for many years, and we are fortunate to have him in this leadership position.”

President Schrum has served as Southwestern University’s president since July 2000. He has been an administrator at two major research universities and three liberal arts colleges, a career spanning nearly 30 years. He is widely recognized as an author and speaker in the field of educational advancement.

ICUT, a nonprofit association, is the voice for Texas’ fully accredited private colleges and universities. For more than 30 years, it has fulfilled its mission of helping policymakers recognize the importance and value of the independent sector of higher education by successfully articulating the sector’s needs and aspirations.

For more information about ICUT, visit www.icut.org.