Strategic Discussions
Students from the class of 2016 were invited to join board members for a Cider Social in Rector Atrium on Friday evening. Photo by Joe O'Neill.
Board of Trustees discusses future and aspirations at fall meeting
Dickinson’s Board of Trustees discussed the future of Dickinson and the trustees’ aspirations for the college during their fall meeting the weekend of Oct. 24.
Led by the Strategic Planning Committee co-chairs Stefanie Niles, vice president for enrollment, marketing & communications, and Helen Takacs, associate professor of international business & management, the board gathered in small groups during its plenary session to discuss questions such as:
- What are Dickinson’s guiding principles? What do we stand for?
- To what do we aspire and how can we differentiate ourselves?
- What is Dickinson’s primary purpose?
The conversation, which was similar to the on-campus constituency meetings that took place in October for faculty, administrators and students, allowed trustees to provide direct input into the college’s yearlong strategic planning initiative. Board members said they wanted admissions staff to continue to recruit the best and brightest students with the goal of one day having an incoming class made up entirely of students for whom Dickinson is their first choice. Trustees were encouraged to contact the committee co-chairs or email planning@dickinson.edu with additional thoughts and suggestions. More information on the strategic planning process is available at www.dickinson.edu/strategicplaninfo.
The board also welcomed three new members:
- Michael Donnelly ’02, ex officio; president, Alumni Council; principal, Willow Dale Elementary School
- Kayla Muirhead ’15, young alumni trustee; intramural research training awardee, National Institutes of Health
- Robert Symington ’86, senior advisor, Avenue Capital Group (has been serving as a non-trustee member of the board’s Committee on Investments since 2011)
The meeting also generated significant discussion on the challenges and opportunities presented by the large class of 2019. Niles and Director of Institutional Research Jason Rivera shared information regarding the factors that led to such a strong yield from the current first-year class and how we are approaching recruitment of the class of 2020 and beyond. The Committee on Enrollment, Marketing & Communications also reviewed national data on trends in higher education and liberal-arts colleges, as well as the opportunities that exist for Dickinson within that framework.
Trustees also took advantage of their time on campus to hear from students. They had lunch with students serving on all-college committees as well as the co-editors of The Dickinsonian. President Nancy Roseman moderated a panel discussion for students to air their views on the importance of the student voice on committees and how they can ensure that they are communicating governance issues effectively with their peers. Panelists included: Ian Hower ’16, Student Senate president; Natalie Ferris ’18, Strategic Planning Committee member; and Robert Hill ’17, All-College Committee on Enrollment and Student Life member.
Students from the class of 2016 were invited to join board members for a Cider Social in the Rector Science Complex Atrium on Friday evening. Board Chair Jennifer Reynolds welcomed the seniors in attendance, and Margot Cardamone ’14 and Kayla Muirhead ’15, both young alumni trustees, encouraged them to make the most of this opportunity to get to know trustees and to remain engaged with and supportive of the college as they graduate and embark on their careers. The reception was followed by a dinner honoring the members of the faculty who recently received tenure and/or a promotion.
Trustee committees also: reviewed the latest plans for the new residence hall; approved the report of the independent auditors for the 2014-15 fiscal year; endorsed the Division of College Advancement’s plan for the current fiscal year; reviewed Pre-Orientation and Orientation programs including survey data from the class of 2019; heard a presentation by Hower on the recent restructuring within Senate to increase visibility, communication and collaboration among all students; and heard a report from Donnelly on how the Alumni Council will be assisting the Division of College Advancement in meeting its goals for this fiscal year.
Trustees meet again Jan. 28 through 30 and will participate in the all-campus strategic planning session that will take place Jan. 30.
Published October 30, 2015