Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Colorado College:

In a recent memoir about the genesis of the Colorado College Block Plan nearly 35 years ago, Professor Emeritus Glenn Brooks wrote:

“…the college community had no reason to change its central purpose of liberal education, that is, to educate students to be free and to make responsible choices. Quoting the college motto, Scientia et Disciplina, I noted that the college provided knowledge (scientia) and discipline of thought (disciplina), engendered commitment, provided leisure for students to develop perspective, and sought to enhance community….The prescription was ‘Unified Learning: a restoration of the classical triangle between a teacher, a subject, and a small group of students, working in one place without major distractions for a period of time sufficient for genuine learning to take place.’”

Unified learning. Unity of purpose. Coherence and connectedness of experience infused with intellectual adventure. These notions underlie the three components of Vision 2010, the strategic action agenda for Colorado College: Rigorous Intellectual Experience, Diverse Respectful Community, and Next-Generation Campus.

What we are trying to do here is to make our already-fine college the finest. We are simultaneously developing the best faculty, best students, and best environment. The action agenda strengthens and enhances the interconnected facets of student experience and growth:

• Intellectual – by focusing on faculty, student selectivity, facilities, the Block Plan, signature programs
• Social and emotional – through improvements to student life, civic engagement, diversity, global perspective
• Physical – through athletics, intramurals, wilderness opportunities
• Spiritual – encouraging development of “a personal moral compass” and self-awareness

At this time last year, our annual report gave you a broad-brush outline of our strategic action agenda for Colorado College Vision 2010. “Action” is the operative word, and we have made concrete progress on all fronts, which you can read about on the following pages.

We are building upon the tradition of CC’s founders 131 years ago and CC’s Block Plan innovators 35 years ago, and our central purpose remains the same: “to educate students to be free and to make responsible choices.” We are convinced these students leave CC especially well prepared for graduate and professional study, for the globally competitive workplace, and for civic leadership.

Sincerely,

Richard F. Celeste