Student Affairs Division Events
Student AffairsStudent life at Colby is centered on the notion that learning extends beyond the classroom into all aspects of the college experience. As shaped by the College’s mission and precepts, a Colby education is characterized by academic rigor, a strong community, a friendly campus atmosphere, global reach, and active engagement with diversity of thought and human difference. Student Affairs Mission StatementColby’s Student Affairs Division exists to support and enhance the College’s mission to provide students a broad acquaintance with human knowledge designed to enable each student to fulfill his or her own unique potential. The student affairs staff provides instruction, advice, and support to help students become critical thinkers, effective communicators, ethical leaders, engaged citizens, and creators of knowledge with broad exposure to and understanding of human difference and diversity. Updates To All Colby Students: I hope you are well and enjoying the summer break. With much of July already behind us and the start of August fast approaching I am writing to update you on the latest news from Colby and some items of particular interest to students. This message is a bit longer than usual - but that's just because there is so much to report. Out With the Old: Congratulations and Good Luck Class of '13. A little - okay a lot - of rain couldn't dampen the spirits of the Class of 2013 when they graduated on May 26th. Throngs of Class of '13 family and friends crowded into Wadsworth Gymnasium and the field house along with faculty, staff, trustees, and 8 prominent Colby graduates who received honorary degrees as part of the Bicentennial celebration to cheer on the 502 seniors as they received their diplomas. Despite the week long deluge that would have prompted Noah to build another boat and start rounding up animals again, '13ers had a terrific Senior Week and made the most of their valedictory tour of Mayflower Hill as undergraduates. They're Off to Great Places...Speaking of the Class of '13, 441 graduates (88%) completed the annual Baccalaureate Survey over graduation weekend and the results are very exciting. 55% of respondents are already employed, 13% are headed to graduate school, 3% have secured post-graduate fellowships, and 4% report "other" plans for the coming year. These numbers are consistent with last year so if the pattern holds by September we would expect to see the employment number climb another 7-8%, the grad school number another 3-5%, and the fellowship number another 1-2%. All this adds up to the fact that there really is life, opportunity, and success after Colby. In With the New: Welcome Class of '17. While most of you are scattered across the country and around the world doing your summer thing, those of us on campus are busily preparing for the arrival of the Class of 2017. Drawn from a record number of applicants (5,407) the entering first-year class is the most selective in Colby history (with an admit rate of 26%). Other Class of '17 items of note include:
Affirming Accountability. Inspired by student-led efforts to consider the state of student accountability at Colby, last year a task force made up of students, trustees, faculty, and administrators engaged in a year-long comprehensive review of this important topic. The task force concluded that Colby would benefit from a heightened commitment to promoting and advancing a "long-term, sustained effort to create a meaningful and durable culture of integrity and accountability," (Report of the Task Force on Student Accountability). At the center of this effort is a statement about academic integrity and social accountability dubbed The Colby Affirmation which states: Colby College is a community dedicated to learning and committed to the growth and well-being of all its members. As a community devoted to intellectual growth, we value academic integrity. We agree to take ownership of our academic work, to submit only work that is our own, to fully acknowledge the research and ideas of others in our work, and to abide by the instructions and regulations governing academic work established by the faculty. As a community built on respect for ourselves, each other, and our physical environment, we recognize the diversity of people that have gathered here and that genuine inclusivity requires active, honest, and compassionate engagement with one another. We agree to respect each other, to honor community expectations, and to comply with college policies. As a member of this community, I pledge to hold myself and others accountable to these values. Throughout the coming academic year, we will be having many on-campus conversations about The Colby Affirmation - and about accountability and integrity at Colby. We hope you'll become familiar with The Colby Affirmation and that you will participate actively in these conversations. If You Build It They Will Come. Okay, they'll come anyway, but as usual there is a lot of building and construction work going on all over campus this summer. In no particular order projects of keen interest to students include:
New Faces on the Hill. We are excited to be welcoming a number of new staff members in a variety of positions of particular interest to students. Specifically:
Best, Jim Terhune Dean of Students |