Colorado College Bulletin

203 Armstrong Hall
Dear Alumni and Friends

The close of the school year is always one of endings and beginnings, with students leaving Colorado College full of hope and excitement.  It seems that their arrival on campus was only a short time ago, yet four years have passed and remarkable changes have occurred. 

As I write these words to you, we are about to send the Class of 2001 off to their futures.  I believe these young people are ready -- ready for thinking, analyzing, writing, relating, and perpetually learning in a complex, multicultural, and rapidly changing global society.  That is what we are about at Colorado College, and we do it well. 

At this time of year we celebrate our fundamental mission, the education of the next generation of leaders for our state, nation, and world.

We are also about to celebrate the successful conclusion of the largest fundraising campaign in CC history.  These last few months have been gratifying, with alumni, parents, trustees, foundations, and other donors making significant investments in the future of Colorado College.  We are fortunate to have so many loyal friends contributing to this campaign and the legacy it will provide.  I’m delighted to summarize what these gifts have made possible:

• A stronger faculty, the heart of the institution, through six endowed professorships.  We are able to honor outstanding teacher-scholars in disciplines ranging from history to art history.

 

• Access to a CC education for students, regardless of family circumstances, through increased financial aid.  Several of these scholarship funds target groups who have historically been underrepresented in higher education -- single parents, Native Americans, and so on.  As you know, we can never have enough financial aid to meet the needs of all the students applying to the college.

• Enhanced ways for students to combine classroom experiences with hands-on learning.  Our intercultural programs have expanded dramatically, economics students have new opportunities to visit firms through the Knight chair, and political science students can engage in direct political activities because of the Manning fund.  CC students are truly members of a community of learners.

 

• State-of-the-art facilities for teaching and learning in the Tutt Science Center and the Cornerstone Arts Center.  While these buildings are not yet under construction, their prospect provides inspiration for faculty and students alike to think creatively about the academic opportunities awaiting them in the future.

 

• The Crown Teaching and Learning Center, one of our early initiatives, is now part of the fabric of the institution.  Most faculty members at CC have participated in programs and activities in some way.  I am especially pleased that the center has created an effective mentoring program for young professors, helping new members of our community become acculturated to the combination of teaching and scholarship we expect of our faculty.

 

• And of course our donors have helped to undergird the fundamentals of what we do, from keeping our library strong to supporting the administrative infrastructure that enables teaching and learning to continue in the special way that defines the college.

By the time you receive the alumni magazine, we expect the campaign will exceed $90 million.  In early April we had an all-campus picnic to celebrate reaching the $83 million goal.  It was a beautiful day, perfect for the outdoor party that included burgers and hot dogs cooked by the advancement division and senior staff.  

Of course, Colorado College’s needs do not end with this campaign.  We have always been a college on the move, ever aspiring to be better and better.  Our campaign success creates a foundation that enables us to continue in that mode and allows even more amazing things to happen.  Right now we pause to celebrate your generosity and dedication to CC before we move forward again.  And right now I want to express my appreciation for all of you -- and for the opportunity to be president of CC during this exciting time. 

Back to Index