A Promising Future
by President John E. Jones III '77, P'11
Our beautiful and tradition-filled Commencement ceremony signals the completion of another academic year. For some, it’s a time to reflect on the last nine months. For others like me, since I’m generally not one to dwell on the past and prefer to look forward, it’s a period to recalibrate and plan for Dickinson’s future. That said, I hope you’ll indulge me with respect to one initiative that is now in the history books, because it also serves to tee up where we’re headed.
When I began my service as president in the summer of 2021, I quickly understood that Dickinson needed a plan to boldly move us into the future. Under the auspices of the Dickinson Forward initiative, we announced the Campaign for Scholarships: Change a Life—Change the World. In planning for the campaign and its announcement, I worked closely with our phenomenal Vice President for Advancement Carlo Robustelli. To say that Carlo is an ambitious and big thinker doesn’t do justice to my good friend and partner. Carlo suggested what seemed at first blush to be an absurdly high goal of $75 million for the campaign. After all, I was a new and untested president, and we were just emerging from COVID-19. Still, as we discussed and considered the goal, Carlo’s enthusiasm rubbed off on me.
You of course know how the campaign fared. Our alumni, parents and friends generously met the challenge with remarkable passion. In May, we celebrated the success of the campaign, which is integral to our ability to serve students of need and ensure that they continue to have access to our life-changing education. It is that goal that helps us chart the future.
I’m a believer that past success, properly harnessed, can breed even more accomplishments in the future. With the campaign’s goal achieved, we are moving to its natural successor—the Dickinson Promise.
The Dickinson Promise is hallmarked by an aggressive goal, but it is simply described. Starting with the class of 2030, incoming domestic students from families earning $75,000 or less with typical assets will have their packaged student loans replaced with grant aid, thus eliminating the need for those loans. Those students will be able to graduate loan free.
To be sure, this is not the end but rather the beginning. In the coming years, we will work to move that $75,000 threshold higher to enable more students to graduate loan free, with the eventual goal that one day all Dickinson students are able to graduate without student loan debt. That means the Dickinson Promise will require us to continue to count on your philanthropy. Given the enthusiasm you’ve shown since I began my tenure, I am utterly confident that this reliance is not a bit misplaced.
Here’s a news flash: Higher education is a tough business these days. If you’re a chronic doom-scroller, you can have a field day learning all about the headwinds facing colleges and universities. For my part, I simply reject the notion that we cannot overcome the existential forces that confront us. Dickinsonians never duck a challenge. They lead, meet the moment and prevail. And so we shall, and in the process make our college even more accessible to those who will continue to use their Dickinson education to change the world.
When I accepted the presidency, I told the board of trustees I would never be a placeholder and I intended to take us determinedly forward. Your continued support will ensure that Dickinson’s best days lie ahead. I am excited to watch that future unfold from the best seat in the house.
Read more from the spring 2025 issue of Dickinson Magazine.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published June 10, 2025