Get Involved

As a member-owned organization, we strive to be better together. We accomplish this by connecting and collaborating with
our members to leverage your insight, passion, and expertise to realize the full potential of our Cooperative.

Stronger Together

It’s the very nature of a Cooperative organization. Here’s how you can join in:

  • Become a member of E&I – it’s easier than you might think with no minimum annual usage requirements.
  • Leverage the purchasing power of your fellow members when you utilize our extensive contract portfolio – the more usage our portfolio gets, the stronger it becomes for future negotiations.
  • Conduct a free Strategic Spend Assessment and let E&I identify which contracts can help consolidate your off-contract spend and fill in gaps to bring the most value to your institution.
  • Easily shop or request quotes through VERVE, our no-cost online eProcurement marketplace.
  • Visit our RFP Roadmap to stay up to date on upcoming solicitations and RFP schedules that line up with your institution’s needs.
  • Reach out to your E&I Representative to share how a contract is performing for your institution, suggest ways it can be improved, or offer ideas for future RFPs.
  • Share success stories with your peers to encourage more institutions to take advantage of E&I.
Volunteer

You can help fuel the direction of E&I. Volunteer your time or lend your voice and experiences to areas that matter most to you and your institution.

RFP Teams

Member input into our sourcing and evaluation process is critical. Join an RFP team to collaborate with E&I and your fellow members on the business solutions you need.

Key Duties: Reviewing RFP drafts and providing feedback, attending remote pre-proposal meetings, evaluate proposals, make recommendations for Letter of Intents and subsequent awards, and provide feedback to E&I’s Contract Managers

Working Groups

Join a Working Group alongside other subject matter experts to provide guidance and feedback on specific projects and initiatives that fuel improvements for the Cooperative. Groups may meet regularly, on a by-need basis, or reoccurring on various timelines.

Examples of Working Groups: Contract Templates, Data Analytics, Sustainability

Vote

Our annual Board of Directors election relies on participation from the designated individual at each E&I member institution. This election is an excellent opportunity to express the voice of your institution, validate the candidates that have been nominated via our Nominating Committee, or utilize the write-in option to vote for someone you feel would be a valuable addition to our Board.

Information on how to join the Nominating Committee, submit your name for consideration for the Board, and vote in the election is distributed via email on an annual basis.

Join an Advisory Board

Interested in participating on an Advisory Board? Contact Casey Laurienzo, Vice President, Strategy, for more information.

Strategic Advisory Board

Comprised of leaders in higher education procurement, each SAB provides advice and guidance on high-level strategy and specific programs and services. E&I currently hosts three SAB groups to ensure the needs of all sizes of member institutions are recognized: Large Campus, Mid-Market, and Small Campus.

Category Advisory Boards

Do you have subject matter expertise in a certain area? Our CABs discuss everything from new developments in healthcare to trends in technology, member needs in facilities, and more. The goal of each CAB is to bring together procurement leaders to drive discussions and work towards creating a positive impact in the industry.

Apply for a Board Position

E&I’s Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated professionals who volunteer their time to provide strategic oversight of the Cooperative and uphold our rigorous governing principles on the membership’s behalf.

Any eligible E&I member who is an advocate of cooperative purchasing and meets the nomination criteria can submit their application to be reviewed and considered by the Nominating Committee when submissions open each year – subscribe to E&I emails to ensure you’re notified.

Give Feedback

Your feedback matters! Your experience as a member is critically important to us, and we encourage you to send us your questions, comments, or ideas so we can continue to serve you to the best of our ability. Please contact Mary Mellett, Manager, Membership and K-12 Success, with any and all feedback.

Browse our Frequently Asked Questions to find answers to the questions your fellow members have asked the most.

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