Intercollegiate Studies Institute

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) is a United States nonprofit educational organization focused on developing conservative, classical-liberal, and traditionalist intellectual networks in higher education. Founded in 1953 by Frank Chodorov as the Intercollegiate Society of Individualists, the organization initially operated under the leadership of William F. Buckley Jr., who became its first president while still a young Yale graduate. ISI subsequently developed a broad set of educational and publishing activities intended to expose college students to ideas that it argues are underrepresented on American campuses. ISI's work has included campus lectures, debates, conferences, student societies, book distribution, periodical publishing, graduate fellowships, and financial or editorial support for conservative and libertarian student newspapers. Through the Collegiate Network, it has helped provide resources, training, and organizational assistance to student journalists and publications. The institute also produces or distributes educational guides, including the Student's Guide series, which addresses liberal learning, Western intellectual traditions, American history, and related subjects. The organization's stated intellectual framework emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, the rule of law, free-market economics, and traditional Judeo-Christian values. Its programs are therefore aimed not only at political advocacy but also at curriculum, debate, reading, and leadership formation. ISI has sponsored events featuring conservative scholars, writers, and public figures and has helped students attend conferences and other intellectual programs. E. Victor Milione, who followed Chodorov, played a major role in building ISI's institutional infrastructure, including publications, membership networks, lectures, conferences, and graduate fellowships. T. Kenneth Cribb, a former Reagan administration official, served as president from 1989 to 2011 and oversaw a substantial expansion of the institute's financial resources and program scale. Christopher G. Long succeeded Cribb in 2011. John A. Burtka IV became president in September 2020. ISI has also been associated with politically contentious debates about conservatism and higher education. During the 1980s, its journal Continuity was criticized for featuring neo-Confederate perspectives. In 2006, the institute published the results of a survey arguing that American higher education faced a serious decline in civic and historical knowledge, presenting the issue as a crisis in citizenship. ISI has also participated in the broader conservative policy ecosystem, including an advisory-board role connected with Project 2025. The institute formerly operated ISI Books, a publishing and distribution arm specializing in conservative political thought, American history, the humanities, and the foundations of Western culture. ISI Books was acquired by Regnery Publishing in 2023. The broader ISI organization remains an active nonprofit focused on intellectual formation, campus programming, publications, fellowships, and support for conservative and libertarian student initiatives.

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute began in 1953 when Frank Chodorov founded the Intercollegiate Society of Individualists. William F. Buckley Jr., then a recent Yale graduate, became the organization's first president. The original mission was to cultivate student interest in individualist and conservative ideas at a time when many American campuses offered limited institutional support for those perspectives. E. Victor Milione, one of the organization's early leaders and its longest-serving president, expanded ISI beyond a small ideological association. Under his direction, the institute developed publications, a membership network, lecture and conference programs, and graduate fellowships. These activities established the operating model that has defined ISI for much of its history: combining intellectual content with direct relationships among students, faculty members, writers, and public speakers. ISI's educational approach has included both in-person and publishing programs. It has sponsored lectures and debates on college campuses, organized conferences, supported student societies, and helped students participate in conservative educational events. Its publications have included The Intercollegiate Review, The Academic Reviewer, and The Political Science Reviewer. It has also published student-oriented guides on liberal learning, Western culture, American history, and related fields. Through the Collegiate Network, ISI has provided financial and editorial assistance to conservative and libertarian college newspapers and student journalists. The institute's history has also included controversy. In the 1980s, ISI and its journal Continuity were associated with viewpoints critics characterized as neo-Confederate. The organization's broader role in conservative campus politics has periodically made it part of disputes over ideological diversity, academic freedom, and the direction of higher education. In 2006, ISI released a survey of how American history and institutions were taught in higher education. The report warned of a coming crisis in citizenship, reflecting the institute's longstanding argument that universities should devote more attention to civic knowledge and the intellectual foundations of the American constitutional order. T. Kenneth Cribb, a former Reagan administration official, became president in 1989 and led ISI until 2011. During his tenure, the institute expanded its programs and financial resources. Christopher G. Long succeeded Cribb in 2011 and served until 2020, when John A. Burtka IV became president. The leadership transition preserved ISI's emphasis on conservative intellectual formation, campus engagement, fellowships, and publishing. ISI also developed a publishing business known as ISI Books. The imprint focused on conservative political themes, the humanities, American history, and the foundations of Western culture. It published original titles and distributed books from other publishers. One notable title was Rick Santorum's It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good, released in 2005. The book became politically contentious when passages were discussed during Santorum's 2006 reelection campaign and his 2012 presidential campaign. Until its 2023 sale, ISI Books was part of the institute's publishing activities. Regnery Publishing acquired the business in 2023. ISI itself continues as a nonprofit educational organization, maintaining campus programs, publications, fellowships, conferences, student networks, and support for conservative and libertarian journalism. Its stated principles include limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, the rule of law, free-market economics, and traditional Judeo-Christian values. The institute has also participated in wider conservative policy networks, including an advisory-board role associated with Project 2025.

• 2023

  ISI Books acquired by Regnery Publishing

  [1]Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Regnery Publishing acquired the institute's book-publishing operation.

• 2020

  John A. Burtka IV becomes president

  [1]Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Burtka assumed the presidency in September 2020.

• 2011

  Christopher G. Long becomes president

  [1]Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Long succeeded T. Kenneth Cribb as president.

• 2006

  Citizenship survey released

  [1]Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  ISI published a survey warning that higher education was inadequately teaching American history and institutions.

• 2005

  ISI Books publishes It Takes a Family

  [1]Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The imprint published Rick Santorum's book on conservatism and the common good.

• 1989

  T. Kenneth Cribb becomes president

  [1]Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Cribb began a presidency that lasted until 2011 and was associated with significant institutional expansion.

• 1953

  Organization founded

  [1]Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Frank Chodorov founded the Intercollegiate Society of Individualists, with William F. Buckley Jr. as its first president.

A nonprofit intellectual and educational network that advances conservative, classical-liberal, and traditionalist ideas through campus programming, publications, fellowships, and support for student journalism.

• Student journalism support

  Collegiate Network

  A support program associated with ISI that provides financial, editorial, and organizational assistance to conservative and libertarian college newspapers and student journalists. It extends the institute's campus presence beyond lectures and fellowships by helping students produce publications and participate in an organized intellectual network.

• Book publishing and distribution

  ISI Books

  A former publishing and distribution arm focused on conservative political thought, American history, the humanities, and the intellectual foundations of Western culture. It published selected original works and distributed titles from other publishers. The business was acquired by Regnery Publishing in 2023.

• Educational books

  Student's Guide series

  A series of student-oriented books addressing liberal learning, Western intellectual traditions, American history, and related subjects. The guides reflect ISI's effort to provide structured reading and educational materials for students seeking conservative or classical-liberal approaches to higher education.

• Periodical

  The Intercollegiate Review

  An ISI periodical associated with conservative intellectual and political commentary. It forms part of the institute's broader publishing program, which aims to connect students and academics with arguments concerning politics, culture, education, and Western civilization.

• Academic fellowship

  Graduate fellowships

  Funding programs for graduate students that support advanced study and help build a long-term network of scholars sympathetic to ISI's intellectual priorities. The fellowships complement the organization's undergraduate campus activities and publication work.

• 1980

  Association with neo-Confederate views in Continuity

  During the 1980s, ISI and its journal Continuity were described as featuring neo-Confederate views. The association contributed to criticism of the institute's role in conservative intellectual and campus networks.

  Source

Read more

• 2006Crisis in Citizenship survey

  United States

  ISI publicized survey findings on the teaching of American history and institutions in higher education, arguing that universities were not adequately preparing students for civic participation.

  Outcome. The report became part of ISI's continuing critique of higher education and its campaign for stronger civic and historical education.

  Source

• 2023

  Sale of ISI Books to Regnery PublishingM&A

  Background

  ISI had operated a book-publishing and distribution business focused on conservative ideas, the humanities, American history, and Western culture.

  Action taken

  Regnery Publishing acquired ISI Books, separating the book business from the institute's continuing nonprofit educational activities.

  Aftermath

  ISI Books ceased to be operated by the institute, while ISI continued its campus, fellowship, conference, publication, and student-network programs.

  Source

1. 1Intercollegiate Studies Instituteen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Intercollegiate Studies Institute official websitehome.isi.org
3. 3Intercollegiate Studies Institute filingsprojects.propublica.org