Alumni Council Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, June 7, 2003
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Report From President Adams Lou Richardson introduced Bro Adams, to give his annual State of the College presentation to alumni attending reunion weekend. Bro began by welcoming alumni to reunion weekend and remarked that this is already his 3rd year at Colby. He then recognized VP of College Relations Randy Helm, who will be leaving Colby to become president of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. He thanked Randy for his service to Colby and for developing a quality fund-raising program at the College. Bro reviewed the Strategic Plan for Colby and summarized its implementation process, focusing on the educational program and the campus development plan. He also announced that Colby is currently in the quiet phase of a capital campaign to fund the strategic plan initiatives. The campaign goal will be in the $200 million range. Colby will continue to be a four-year a residential college offering a broad agenda of liberal arts learning. It is the College's belief that this model is still the most powerful way to prepare students to face the challenges that exist in the world today. The culture of strong teaching continues to be one of Colby's most important major assets. Bro outlined the following particular areas of interest on the academic side:
The most important feature of the new plan is the development of a Colby Green to complete and complement the building-lined lawn that steps down from the library in terraces to Mayflower Hill Drive. It became clear, early in the planning process, that in order to preserve the open spaces and views that featured so prominently for Larson, Colby would need to expand across Mayflower Hill Drive. On the new green, buildings will be clustered around a defined but somewhat informal space perpendicular to the existing lawn. The view toward Waterville and the Camden hills beyond will remain open. A landscape design firm was hired to help with these plans. Bro pointed out that all of the plans will involve enhancements to the environmental areas around campus. In addition to the green, the plan calls for location of a music instruction and performance building east of Mayflower Hill Drive, facing the Runnels Building, home of Strider Theater. Also across Mayflower Hill will be an alumni and development center, a social sciences building, and a science building. Bro then announced a $6 million gift from Robert Diamond '73 toward the new social sciences building. The problem of the fairly high-speed streets that cut through campus—Mayflower Hill Drive and Armstrong Road—needs to be addressed. The administration is working with the city and state to develop a bypass to the north of campus, behind the Harold Alfond Athletic Center, which will connect North Street with Washington Street and significantly reduce the quantity and speed of traffic on campus, making Colby more pedestrian-friendly. Both the development and implementation of these plans are very large efforts. Things will take shape in stages, the timing of which will depend on the availability of financial resources. The two primary goals of this master plan are to preserve the beauty and integrity of the campus and to build a new infrastructure to support our academic programs. Colby Green Site Plan Phase 1 The Colby Green and the associated buildings will be constructed in phases over the coming years. The first step in the process, beginning in the fall of 2003, will be the construction of an infrastructure of utilities, drives, and paths and plantings that will serve all of the new buildings. At this time the land also will be lifted and shaped to form the character and shape of the green. At the end of this first phase, the green will be a distinct and significant new campus space, which will only grow in richness as the buildings are added. The first building to be constructed will be the proposed alumni and development building, probably beginning in the spring of 2004. Currently, 75 percent of the $7.5 million needed for the project has been raised. Colby Green Site Plan Phase 2 The second phase entails the construction of the two academic buildings that anchor the sides of the Green—The Diamond Building for social sciences and interdisciplinary studies and a science building. The construction process of these buildings will have been prepared for by the installation of services and utilities for them during Phase 1. Colby Green Site Plan Phase 3 The final phase of the Colby Green development will take place outside the space of the green proper. In this phase, the current Foss/Woodman parking lot will be replaced with a new performing arts building. New parking will be terraced into the hillside. In an unrelated project, the current tennis courts in the long run may be relocated and the area reused for additional parking that also will be terraced and integrated with the landscape. Other possible development includes reworking of the Roberts parking area to integrate it into the landscape, development of an access road from behind Dana to the chapel area, removal of the Eustis parking lot, refinement of the roads between the buildings on Miller lawn and the next layer of buildings behind them, and access to Harold Alfond Athletic Center and the Physical Plant Department buildings from the proposed bypass road. Upon completion of his presentation, Bro opened the floor for questions. Q: Are there plans for increasing the student population? A: We plan to hold the line at approximately 1,800 students. Q: What about Colby's relationship with the Waterville community? A: Colby is currently actively involved in the community in a variety of ways and will continue to be. The Colby Cares for Kids Program this year matched 225 Colby students with at-risk kids in various schools. Colby is a member of the newly developed Waterville Development Corporation, Waterville Main Street Committee, and various other organizations. Q: How is Colby pursuing the international and multi-cultural agenda? A: The International Studies Program continues to grow, including in areas such as Latin American and East Asian studies. A very large number of students study abroad, and currently 13 percent of the student body are international students. Q: What are the main goals of the campaign? A: As always, there will be a major thrust for financial aid to supplement the $13 million Colby currently uses annually for aid to needy students. Other areas of need include facilities and building projects, the Alumni Fund, and other endowed funds for academic programs. Q: What about the escalation of tuition costs? A: Colby is always seeking ways to control costs to help keep tuition reasonable. There is a major need for more endowment to cover financial aid. The average financial aid package includes $18,000 of institutional money. There are plans to slowly increase faculty positions, but there is a cap on administrative staff hiring. Q: Expand on how Colby fits into the world, based on the events of the past two years. A: World events have caused a sense of urgency in preparing our students for world challenges, and education in the liberal arts is one of the best ways to do that. Q: What's going on with NESCAC athletic policies, and how are they affecting the educational experience? A: Colby is committed to keeping athletics as part of the total educational experience. Over 30 percent of our students participate in varsity intercollegiate athletics. However, there are concerns about what is happening in collegiate athletics, particularly in Division I. Bro is working with other NESCAC presidents on athletic issues, and the group is united in their concerns and their commitment to work with the NCAA in Division III. Welcome—Lou Richardson ’67 Concluding the Q & A session, Lou commenced the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association. She began by recognizing outgoing committee chairs Karl Dornish '54, Financial Affairs Committee; Patricia Valavanis Smith '80, Athletics Committee; and Hope Palmer Bramhall '56, Awards Committee. It was moved and seconded that the by-laws be changed to reflect the reorganization of the Alumni on Campus and the Clubs committees as previously mailed to Alumni Council members. The motion passed unanimously. Lou then asked for committee reports, mentioning that some committees (the informational committees: Financial Affairs, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs) would not be reporting, as their meetings would be held later in the day. She invited everyone to attend any of those sessions, as they would be open to all alumni at reunion. Committee Reports/Updates Admissions and Financial Aid—Linda Mitchell Potter ’66 Ms. Potter '66 reported that there were 4,200 applications this year and that 40 percent of the admitted class was early decision applicants. The Posse Program was successful, and the international student population is increasing, but Colby is still challenged to get a diverse student population. The committee has been assisting with legacy and retention events. She asked that all alumni check the Web site on ways to help with admissions initiatives. Alumni Fund—Todd W. Halloran ’84 Ernie Fortin '51 gave the report for Todd Halloran. Mr. Fortin reported that the current status of the Alumni Fund is running slightly behind last year, partially due to the economy; however, there is an increase in pledges (Colby has a high payment rate), so it is believed the fund will catch up this month. Participation is also down, as are matching gifts. Ernie encouraged everyone to give, regardless of the size of the gift, so we can maintain a participation rate of over 50 percent, as we have the last four year. Athletics—Art Brennan ’68 Mr. Brennan reported some highlights for Colby athletics this year. Jim Wescott, Colby's track coach, has retired after 25 years and was recognized by his former and current track athletes this May. The Women's Crew are the Division III national champions, and the Women's Softball Team hosted the NESCAC championship at Colby this year. The next C Club dinner will be held on Oct. 10. This will be the 100th anniversary, and the Club will honor the Alfond/Levine family as the family of the century in recognition for their lifetime of support for Colby athletics. Awards—Hope Palmer Bramhall ’56 Ms. Bramhall encouraged alumni to nominate people for awards and thanked everyone for their participation in the process this year, which had culminated in the Awards Banquet the previous evening. The Awards Committee has begun initial discussion on nominees for next year's awards, but no announcement could be made at this time. Career Services—Frank Finizio ’66 Patricia Whittemore Jenkins '67 reported for Frank Finizio. Ms. Jenkins outlined a possible plan to host an alumni career-networking forum for current students during Family Homecoming Weekend. She also talked about the hope of initiating a way to support first-year student advisors to help the students think more about career possibilities early in their Colby careers. Communications—Eric F. Rolfson ’73 Mr. Rolfson thanked Chip Gavin '90 for assisting with getting committee reports out to the alumni. The new system for getting Alumni Council class representative letters out to the classes is working well. He reminded class representatives to get their letters written and delivered to the Alumni Office for distribution to their class in a timely manner. Nominating—Barry Potter ’60 Mr. Potter announced the re-election of two alumni-at-large members, Susan Jacobson Nester '88 and Michael Cuzzi '98, who will both serve another three-year term. There is currently a vacancy for a '95 class representative that will be confirmed shortly. At the fall council meeting, two alumni trustee names will be placed in nomination for re-election for terms ending in May 2004. They are Nancy Joachim '98 and Joanne Wedell Magyar '71. The committee will also be reviewing candidates for one additional alumni trustee position that will be open in May 2004. |