CIIS & ACTCM Sign Definitive Legal Agreement to Merge

California Institute of Integral Studies and American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Sign Definitive Legal Agreement to Merge

SAN FRANCISCO, August 15, 2014 — California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) jointly announced that they have signed a Definitive Legal Agreement (DLA) to merge the two institutions. The signing of the DLA is the latest step in the two institutions becoming one university, and it defines the legal terms of the merger.

Both institutions completed their due diligence work earlier this summer, and a Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed on June 16, 2014. The DLA was signed August 8, 2014 and was forwarded to the Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC).

Joseph L. Subbiondo, President of CIIS, was very pleased with the process that resulted in this agreement. “I greatly appreciated the openness of both institutions in drafting an agreement that represents our merger so clearly and accurately.”

As a result of the merger, CIIS will become a more comprehensive institution while retaining its overall mission and remaining true to the spirit of its founding. ACTCM will become part of a larger entity that shares a similar mission, vision, and values, and will also gain from a robust infrastructure of resources and regional accreditation. ACTCM would become the fourth school in CIIS.

“We are grateful to the Board members, faculty, students and staff who have assisted in bringing ACTCM and CIIS into this inspiring partnership. Their thoughtfulness and efforts have affirmed the mission our communities share,” said ACTCM President Lixin Huang.

CIIS, located in San Francisco’s South Central Market area, is a WASC-­‐accredited university that offers bachelor of arts, masters’, and doctoral degrees; and operates six award-­‐winning counseling centers citywide. ACTCM, located on top of Potrero Hill, is a leader in the education of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. The college offers master’s and doctoral level degrees as well as clinical services to the community both on and off campus.

Implementation of the merger will begin as soon as necessary approvals are granted by WASC. The process will take place over an extended period with the combined financials planned to be in place at the start of CIIS’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015.


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About American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture, massage and Chinese medicine since 1980. In addition to its graduate curriculum, ACTCM offers continuing education, public education, community outreach and clinical services in acupuncture and herbal medicine. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted “Best of the Bay” by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. ACTCM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

About CIIS
California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) is an internationally recognized leader in integral education. CIIS has an enrollment of 1,400 students pursuing degrees in a variety of academic programs in its schools of Consciousness and Transformation, Professional Psychology and Health, and Undergraduate Studies.

In addition, CIIS hosts a vibrant art exhibition program through The Arts at CIIS, as well as offering a dynamic array of events through its Public Programs & Performances division, including workshops, concerts, and conferences. The Institute provides low-­‐cost mental health services to the San Francisco Bay Area through its six award-­‐winning counseling centers. For more information about CIIS, please visit www.ciis.edu.