ºÚÁϳԹÏ

November 28, 2023

Dear CC Community,

The CC Board of Trustees gathered on campus for our annual fall meeting from Nov. 9-11.

We had the fantastic opportunity to hear from Debo Adegbile, Partner and Chair of the Anti-Discrimination Practice at WilmerHale, and a key member of the team representing Harvard in the recent U.S. Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc., v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. Debo shared his insights about what the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action means for CC and our path forward. The Board discussed evolving admission strategies at CC, which will enable us to continue upholding our commitments to academic excellence and access while following the law. 

For the last several months, a dedicated group of CC students has advocated for the college to divest from carbon industries and fossil fuels. The Board’s Investment Committee carefully considered the students’ research and recommendations and continues to do so. At this meeting, the Board agreed to prioritize selling all directly owned oil and natural gas wells and two legacy investment partnerships in fossil fuels. We also voted to establish a special committee of Trustees, students, and campus leadership to vote by proxy on directly held securities related to fossil fuel matters. At our Spring meeting, we will discuss working with Partners Capital to invest in renewable or transformational energy.

During our time on campus, we also witnessed student demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas war and were made aware of specific demands made to the college from student groups. We continue to take student activism seriously. The Board had an in-depth, thoughtful discussion with President Richardson and her Cabinet surrounding freedom of expression and the importance of fostering a campus environment in which all students are safe and supported.

The Board spent significant time discussing the college’s vision, mission, and priorities, including strategies to support and engage with the alumni community. Megan Nicklaus, Director of the Career Center, shared some of the amazing work the college has been doing focused on post-graduate success and student outcomes. In particular, we were thrilled to hear about the Career Center’s collaboration with faculty and the Advising Hub to integrate career readiness competencies into the curriculum. We also heard from Professor of Education Mike Taber ’86, MAT ‘87, P’12, P’17, and Ed Bowditch ’86, Trustee and Alumni Association Council past president, about plans for CC’s 150th anniversary celebrations next fall.

We toured a newly renovated near-campus apartment and visited the repurposed Honnen Arena as it transforms into the new home for 3D Arts. Several Trustees also sat in on classroom sessions, sharing afterwards how inspiring it was to watch CC faculty and students in action. On Friday night, we enjoyed cheering on the Tiger women’s basketball team as they defeated Nebraska Wesleyan.

As always, The Keller Family Venture Grants student presentations were a major highlight of our time on campus. Every year, many board members share that this glimpse into students’ self-driven research projects is their favorite CC event.

Thank you to all who spent time with us, shared updates from across the college, and helped us to understand and contextualize key priorities during this meeting.

If you missed this week’s virtual town hall discussion, you can .

I wish our students, faculty, and staff a restful and rejuvenating holiday season, and I look forward to our next meeting on campus in February.

Sincerely,

Jeff Keller ’91, P’23

CC Board of Trustees Chair

June 28, 2023

Dear CC Community,

The CC Board of Trustees met for our annual retreat on June 7-9. This regular gathering is a wonderful chance for us to think about the many opportunities ahead and to advance our strategic planning in pursuit of outstanding outcomes for our students.

Among the highlights, we heard from President Richardson as she approaches the end of her second year at CC and learned about different approaches to the financial aid process from Dan Porterfield, CEO of the Aspen Institute.

As we all know, mental health and wellness remain a top priority within the higher education sphere. Margaret Sabin of Children’s Hospital Colorado shared with us the results of ºÚÁϳԹϒs student-athlete resilience survey and offered recommendations of how to best support this student population.

We welcomed incoming Alumni Association Council President Jen Hoglin and thanked outgoing trustees Sue Allon, Sam Bronfman, Manuel Martinez, Andy Stenovec, Brian Thomson, and student trustee Vicente Taijeron.

Congratulations to five faculty members who will be promoted to full professor as of July 1: Associate Professor/Associate Chair of English Jared Richman; Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Equity and Inclusion/Associate Professor of General Studies Peony Fhagen; Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese Carrie Ruiz; Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Shawn Womack; and new senior hire in Mathematics and Computer Science Rebecca Garcia.

Thanks to everyone who made the Commencement festivities unforgettable. It was our second year holding our graduation ceremony inside Ed Robson Arena, which was the perfect space to celebrate our graduates and honorary degree recipients. It was a day filled with emotion and pride. I’m sure all who attended or watched virtually came away with an even greater appreciation for the tremendous impact of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï on our brilliant graduates, and the positive mark they will make in the world.

Sincerely,

Jeff Keller ’91, P’23

CC Board of Trustees Chair

Mar. 1, 2023

Dear CC Community,

The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees met on campus Feb. 16-18 for its regular spring meeting, which was filled with many inspiring and courageous conversations. 

As the college approaches its 150th year, it was clear that the boldness and “leaning forward” that has been emblematic of CC throughout its history continues to this day. We heard from Professor Susan Ashley about Project 2024 and discussed the resulting strategic priorities and goals that fuel the college’s vision, and the three “lenses” – antiracism, sustainability, and mental health and wellness – that we apply to make decisions.

As you know, this week President Richardson announced that the college will no longer participate in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Before making that decision, and while surveying faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents, she asked for our input. It was a classic “courageous conversation” – pros, cons, changing minds, and pride for ºÚÁϳԹÏ. We support President Richardson. We know that this bold action is true to CC’s values and goals.

We engaged with Staff Council and extended leadership; had lunch with students in Blue Key and President’s Council; enjoyed a very moving gathering for the naming of the basketball and volleyball courts for Senior Vice President Mike Edmonds; and cheered for the Tigers basketball teams.

Since our last visit we heard a much different tone already from students about mental health and wellness, which speaks to the effectiveness of the many programs, services, and actions implemented. Kudos to all for this important work.

At the business meeting the board:

• Approved a comprehensive fee increase, largely to improve salaries, maintain the discount rate, and fund mandated increases for insurance, utilities, taxes, rising costs of food and dining-operations labor, and federal financial aid requirements for more meal capacity. The Campus Budget Committee asked the Cabinet to come up with $750,000 in savings, which they exceeded. That helped us make a smaller comprehensive fee increase than otherwise would have been needed.

• Approved tenure and promotion to associate professor as of July 1 for four professors:

• • Eli Fahrenkrug, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry
  • Sylvan Goldberg, assistant professor of English
  • Natalie Gosnell, assistant professor of physics
  • Flavia Sancier-Barbosa, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science

• Approved emeritus status for five faculty members:

• • Dan Brink, lecturer of music
  • Joan Ericson, professor of Japanese and Asian studies
  • Michael Grace, professor of music
  • Lisa Hughes, adjunct associate professor of comparative literature
  • Robert Jacobs, professor of psychology

Congratulations to these faculty members and thank you for your dedication to academic excellence and transformative educational experiences for our students.

• Approved renewed terms for trustees Sam Bronfman P'10, P'19 and Carolyn Cullen '91, P'20, P'22.

• Approved renewed terms for board officers Ryan Haygood, Heather Carroll, and me.

If you missed the virtual town hall discussion, . 

Thanks to all who made this visit so powerful and inspiring for the board.

Best regards,

Jeff Keller ’91, P’23

CC Board of Trustees Chair

Nov. 29, 2022

Dear CC Community,

The CC Board of Trustees gathered on campus for our annual fall meeting on Nov. 3-5.

A central issue of concern, brought to us by students, faculty, staff, and college leadership, was mental health. Students came to us to be heard and to urge action to help create a more thriving learning, living, and working environment at CC. Members of the board also shared time with students to hear about their experiences and ideas.

We met virtually with mental health experts from Children’s Hospital Colorado, who framed the mental health crisis for us nationally, in Colorado, and here on our own campus. This is not something we can “fix” without long-term strategy and work, but I am optimistic. The CC community is one of compassion and innovation. We are committed to the mental health and wellbeing of our people, and already many changes are being implemented. Much more is to come.

Additional highlights of our meeting included a tour of Barnes and Olin halls and Tutt Science Center, to help our board members think about a future building that would help us innovate in science; a presentation from the ADEI team on the LACRELA Student Racial Climate Survey; and an update from Professor Susan Ashley on Project 2024.

The Keller Family Venture Grants student presentations were exciting, wide-ranging, and inspiring. Every year many of our board members remark that this taste of students’ self-driven research projects is their favorite CC event. Now that most of the world is no longer restricted due to the pandemic, I hope many more students will pursue their own discoveries and research through the program. 

If you missed the .

Thanks to everyone who enriched our experience and understanding of key priorities during this meeting. I look forward to our next meeting on campus in February.

Sincerely,

Jeff Keller ’91, P’23

CC Board of Trustees Chair

June 16, 2022

Dear CC Community,

The CC Board of Trustees met for our annual retreat on June 8-10. This regular gathering is a wonderful chance for us to think about the many opportunities ahead and to advance our strategic planning in pursuit of outstanding outcomes for our students.

Among the highlights, we heard from President Richardson as she approaches the end of her first year at CC and learned from Professor Susan Ashley the primary themes that have come forward through the Project 2024 meetings with the campus community this year.

As we all know, mental wellness is a concern globally, particularly since the pandemic began. Senior Director of Student Health and Wellbeing Heather Horton and Professor of Psychology Kristi Erdal talked to us about student mental health and the resources and services available to our campus community.

We welcomed incoming young alumni trustee Lilly Chen ’19 and thanked outgoing student trustee (now a Class of 2022 alum!) Gaby Jadotte. Incoming student trustee Vicente Taijeron ’24 and newly elected alumni trustee Jena Graber Hausmann ’93 will join us at our fall meeting in November.

Congratulations to three faculty members who will be promoted to full professor as of July 1: Dean of the College/Associate Professor of Economics Pedro de Araujo; Associate Professor of Art Scott Johnson; and Associate Professor of Classics Sanjaya Thakur.

Congratulations also to Adjunct Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Gypsy Ames and Professor of Sociology Kathy Giuffre, both of whom retired from CC at the end of the 2021-22 academic year. They were granted emerita status.

Thanks to everyone who made the Commencement festivities unforgettable. I was a little reluctant to see us move our traditional outdoors graduation ceremony on beautiful Tava Quad indoors to the new Ed Robson Arena, but a foot of snow the day before certainly showcased the wisdom of that decision! It was a day filled with emotion and pride, and I’m sure all who attended or watched virtually came away with an even greater appreciation for the tremendous impact of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï on our brilliant graduates, and the positive mark they will make in the world. 

Sincerely,

Jeff Keller ’91, P’23

CC Board of Trustees Chair

April 2022 Trustee Update

Dear CC Community,

Our board members visited campus for three beautiful days during our spring meeting April 7-9. It was great to experience CC at the same time as the second Admitted Student Open House and see the enthusiasm of future students and their families.

On April 11 we held our second virtual town hall for the campus community to share more about the board and its efforts. Board Secretary Heather Carroll joined me in a discussion with President L. Song Richardson. We hope these virtual updates are informative, and that you’ll plan to attend and ask questions at future virtual town halls.

During our campus visits we always try to have time with students. The board took in “Reframing Birds of America: Conversations on Audubon” at the Fine Arts Center. The students in Professor Rebecca Tucker’s Museum Studies Practicum class shared about the exhibit they curated, questioning traditional practices and power structures. It is a fine example of the depth of learning and exploration at CC, and the real-world experience that our students gain. We also enjoyed conversations over lunch with student leaders from the CC Student Government Association.

We celebrated the successful conclusion of the Building on Originality campaign, which raised $478 million – the largest amount in CC’s history, and a very significant achievement among liberal arts colleges nationwide. Among the key achievements of the campaign: Increasing access to students by funding more scholarships; the expansion and renovation of Tutt Library to be the largest carbon net-zero academic library in the country; the completion of Ed Robson Arena; and the tremendous gift of the Fine Arts Center to the college, enabling both the college and the community to benefit for years to come.

The board discussed strategic priorities and transformative change, how to fix a financial model that is challenged while increasing access, and how to leverage our many strengths. The Block Plan, our physical location, the antiracism commitment, sustainability, our commitment to the arts, creativity and innovation, athletics, science, and more are elements we can build on.

If you missed the .

We are grateful to the many staff, faculty, and students whose commitment and dedication to ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï make it a truly distinctive and life-changing place of learning.

Sincerely,

Jeff Keller ’91, P’23

CC Board of Trustees Chair

November 2021 Trustee Update

Dear CC Community,

It was wonderful for our board members to gather safely on campus again for our fall meeting Nov. 4-6.

On Nov. 8 we held a virtual town hall for the campus community to get to know the board and its work better. For this first one, Board Vice Chair Ryan Haygood and Secretary Heather Carroll joined me in a discussion with President L. Song Richardson. We intend to follow up each board meeting in this manner, including taking questions in the online chat section, as a way to foster greater transparency, openness, collaboration, and community.

Among the board’s overall priorities are hiring the president and making sound financial management decisions regarding the endowment to ensure a strong future for the college.

Our standing committees, Executive; Budget & Finance; Buildings, Grounds & Infrastructure; Governance; Investment; and Student Success, focus on overall direction for each of those areas, but we stay out of the operating aspects – those are led by President Richardson and the college’s leadership team.

At our fall meeting we spent time at the Fine Arts Center and met members of the FAC leadership team, advisory board, and foundation board; we toured campus facilities; and we cheered on the Tigers at the new arena. We also delved into interesting conversations around trends and challenges in higher education, looked at the meaning of the liberal arts, and talked about CC’s purpose and place as it prepares students for the future. These conversations help prepare us for upcoming Project 2024 work. 

If you missed the .

As a board we are grateful to the campus community for all you are doing in this time as we manage and move forward through COVID. Thank you for your dedication to the college and one another.

We look forward to connecting again after our next meeting in February.

Sincerely,

Jeff Keller ’91, P’22

CC Board of Trustees Chair

June 2021 Board of Trustees Retreat Update

Dear Campus Community,

The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees met last week, June 9-11, for their annual summer retreat. They had exciting and energizing conversations about CC, the Block Plan, and the college’s future, learned about plans for the return to campus for students, faculty, and staff this fall, and had the opportunity to engage in conversation and ideas with President-Elect L. Song Richardson.

Our board members were engaged, invested, committed, and determined that CC will emerge better after this year of COVID-19 and transition.

The board was especially grateful for the tremendous commitment and effort put forth by faculty, staff, students, the Scientific Advisory Group, and leadership over the past year. This was a year like no other, and our campus community members rose to the challenge, collaborated, innovated, cared for one another, and proved CC’s strength.

Despite the challenges, the college is financially sound and stable, and that could not have been achieved without sacrifices and hard work. Everyone adjusted, pivoted, and stretched, and the board was impressed at the level of dedication that came from all of you.

We welcomed new charter trustee Justin “Chester” White ’15, alumni trustee Ed Bowditch ’86, and student trustee Gaby Jadotte ’22. New charter trustee Tony Rosendo ’02, who previously served as an alumni trustee, will join the board in 2022. 

The board shared gratitude for the outstanding service, commitment, and generosity of Susie Burghart ’77, outgoing chair, and celebrated the dedication of outgoing trustee Eben Moulton ’68, alumni trustee Jesse Horn ’07, and student trustee Elliott Williams ’21.

New board officers for 2021-22 will be Jeff Keller ’91 P’22, chair; Ryan Haygood ’97, vice chair; and Heather Carroll ’89, secretary.  

Professor of Creativity and Innovation Jane Hilberry led retreat participants in a wonderful creativity exercise to start Thursday’s activities, and professors Susan Ashley and Steve Hayward facilitated interesting discussion and idea sharing on “The Block Plan’s Next 50 Years.”

The conversations we started last week will continue. How do we reimagine the Block Plan for the next 50 years? How do we execute an antiracism plan while being mindful of our past, our present and our future — and one that welcomes all? How do we continue to mitigate COVID-19, and offer the finest residential liberal arts experience in the country?

During their business meeting on Friday, the board approved:

• Promotion of the following faculty members to full professor in recognition of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service:
  • Kristina Acri, Economics and Business
  • Emily Chan, Psychology
  • Regula Evitt, English
  • Steven Hayward, English
  • Miro Kummel, Environmental Science
• Promotion of Jean Gumpper to senior lecturer in Art and Art Studio
• Faculty Handbook amendments

Congratulations to the above teacher-scholars, and we thank them for their great commitment to the college, our students, and student learning.

And thanks to all of you for making CC even better through this year of challenge, rethinking, working together, and care. 

The next meeting of the full board is November 4-6, 2021.

Best regards,

Mike Edmonds
Acting Co-President

Robert G. Moore
Acting Co-President

February 2021 Trustee Update

Dear Campus Community

Last week, the Board of Trustees held its regular February meeting virtually. Among their decisions and activities:  

Trustees received reports from Dean of the Faculty Claire Oberon Garcia; Associate Professor Dennis McEnnerney, chair of the Faculty Executive Committee; and Sakina Bhatti ’22, president of the CCSGA. An update was provided on the progress of the Ed Robson Arena construction. 

The board also took the following actions:

• Tenure and promotion was granted to nine faculty members: 
  • Richard Buxton (Classics)
  • Lynne Gratz (Environmental Studies)
  • Olivia Hatton (Molecular Biology)
  • Jessica Hoel (Economics and Business)
  • Scott Ingram (Anthropology)
  • Jean Lee (Environmental Studies)
  • Katrina Miller-Stevens (Economics and Business)
  • Christina Rader (Economics and Business)
  • Tina Valtierra (Education)
     
• Emeriti status was approved for seven faculty members who will retire at the end of the 2020-21 academic year:
  • Barry Sarchett (English)
  • Tom Lindblade (Theatre and Dance)
  • Marlow Anderson (Mathematics and Computer Science)
  • Stephanie DiCenzo (Physics)
  • Mario Montaño (Anthropology) 
  • Marc Snyder (Organismal Biology and Ecology)
  • Ralph Garcia-Bertrand (Molecular Biology) 

Congratulations to all of these dedicated professors. We thank them for the wonderful  impact they have in the lives and education of generations of students and alumni, and for the commitment they show every day to CC.

• The board approved new charter trustees: Justin “Chester” White ’15 will join the board this summer; and Tony Rosendo ’02, who served as an alumni trustee in the past, will join as a charter member in 2022.  
• Tutt Library’s east entrance and third-floor study lounge will be named after former President Jill Tiefenthaler in honor of her service to the college. 
• Candidates for honorary degrees to be awarded at Commencement and Opening Convocation were approved. 
• The board approved candidates to participate in the student trustee election conducted by the CCSGA.
• The Buildings, Grounds, and Infrastructure Committee agreed to update cost estimates for a new science building. The update will include, at a minimum, the identification of the academic departments that will occupy the building and a recommendation on whether individual research laboratories should be constructed separately from shared teaching laboratories. 
• The Audit Committee approved changes to the code of ethics to specifically incorporate the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï into the code. 

The board's next meeting is its annual retreat, June 9-11, 2021.

Sincerely,

Susie Burghart '77

Chair, Board of Trustees

November 2020 Trustee Update

The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees recently met virtually for the Fall 2020 board meetings. Here is a recap of actions and discussions that took place.
  
During the business meeting on Friday, Nov. 6, the board approved the naming of the Mike and Barbara Yalich Student Services Center. We are very grateful to the Inasmuch Foundation for their grant to name the Yalich Student Services Center, which will be connected to Ed Robson Arena. The center will house the student wellness center, health services, bookstore, and mail center, as well as an art studio, café, and pub. It will honor the legacy and contributions of Barbara Neeley Yalich ’53 and her late husband Milo “Mike” 
Yalich ’50.  
 
The Inasmuch Foundation has been a key supporter of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï for decades. Stay tuned for a full announcement about this most recent grant. 
 
On Nov. 6, the board’s Executive Committee also approved a 2020 bond resolution, which will allow the college to recoup $1.1 million through refinancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
The board also discussed the work of the Special Nominating Committee, which has developed a plan for board input on nominations for the next slate of board officers. These positions include board chair, vice chair, and secretary. The terms of current Board Chair Susie Burghart ’77, Vice Chair Jeff Keller ’91, and Jerome DeHerrera ’97 will expire on June 30, 2021. The new slate of officers will begin their roles July 1, 2021.
 
We join the board in expressing our gratitude and appreciation for faculty and staff who have put in many extra hours to operate the college during the extraordinary and often demanding circumstances that are required as we respond to the pandemic. 
 
We are also very grateful to our students. You are setting an example for all of us by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, participating in testing and contact tracing, and finding new ways to connect safely with one another. We know this is not easy work and you are doing a wonderful job! 
 
As we head into Fall Break, please remain vigilant with your efforts to protect yourselves and one another.

June 2020 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees met virtually last week (June 10-12) for their annual summer retreat. We wish we had been able to meet in person, but appreciated spending time with each other and the college's leadership through our computer screens.

Eight new trustees participated in our meetings, and will begin their terms on the board on July 1. We were excited to welcome Onyx Bengston '18; Eric Duran '91, Doctor of Humane Letters '15; Frieda Ekotto '86, Doctor of Letters '18; Jane Franke '84, P'17; So Yong Park '87; France Winddance Twine, Doctor of Humane Letters '19; Elliott Williams '21; and Alan Woo '71, Doctor of Humane Letters '17. More information on our new trustees can be found on CC's website.

Trustees participated in a Title IX training session and learned about the new regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education. As you might expect, we also spent considerable time discussing CC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As you now know, the board also decided to appoint Mike Edmonds and Robert Moore as CC's acting co-presidents until a new president arrives at the college. We are very grateful to Mike and Robert for agreeing to take on these important roles.

During our business meeting, the board heard updates on the presidential search, the construction of Ed Robson Arena, and CC's Building on Originality Campaign. We also approved the promotion of Kristine Lang (Physics) to full professor, and amendments to the Faculty Handbook that were approved previously by the faculty.

The board retreat also marked the end of the terms of several trustees. We recognized and thanked Antonio (Tony) Rosendo '02; Jarod Rutledge '17; Marc St. John '80, P'17; Lily Weissgold '20; and Jack Wold '75, P'06, P'10 for their service on the board.

This was also Jill Tiefenthaler's last board meeting, and we thanked her for her outstanding leadership as CC's president. To recognize her formally, the board will award Jill an honorary degree at Commencement 2021. We look forward to celebrating her accomplishments with you then, when we are back together on CC's beautiful campus.

February 2020 Trustee Update

Last week, the Board of Trustees held their regular February meeting. I am happy to provide you with a summary of their discussions, decisions, and activities.

During their meetings, the board learned about the concerns that have been raised about the Antiracism Implementation Plan. Trustees understand and fully support CC's goal to become an antiracist institution. I explained to the board that we will do more to listen to the community's ideas and concerns as we refine the implementation plan.

Trustees had the opportunity to meet members of the Parents Council, the Fine Arts Center Advisory Board, and the FAC's director-elect, Idris Goodwin. Trustees also attended a meeting of the Climate Change Task Force during which trustee John Troubh, chair of the board's Investment Committee, gave a presentation on CC's endowment. Many trustees also attended Professor David Hendrickson's "last lecture," and the State of the Rockies symposium.

As you know from , the board elected Provost Alan Townsend to serve as interim president, effective August 1, 2020. They also launched a presidential search process with the goal of having a new president join CC in the summer of 2021.

Trustees received reports from Dean of the Faculty Claire Oberon Garcia; Provost Alan Townsend; Professor Wade Roberts, chair of the Faculty Executive Committee; and Ethan Greenberg '20, president of the CCSGA. The board also approved several items, including:

• Tuition for the 2020-21 academic year at $60,390 and the comprehensive fee for students living on campus at $74,256. The 2020-21 budget includes a significant increase in financial aid and increases in the salary pools for faculty and staff.
• Tenure and promotion to six faculty members: Rebecca Barnes (Environmental Studies), Amanda Bowman (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Elizabeth Coggins (Political Science), Kevin Holmes (Psychology), Pamela Reaves (Religion), and Christiane Steckenbiller (German, Russian, and East Asian Languages).
• Emeriti status for faculty members who will retire at the end of the 2019-20 academic year: Professors Victoria Levine (Music), David Hendrickson (Political Science), Jeff Noblett (Geology), and Dave Mason (English).
• New Charter Trustees who will join the board in June 2020: Eric Duran '91, D.H.L.'15, Frieda Ekotto '86, D. Litt.'18, Jane Franke '84, P'17, and France Winddance Twine D.H.L'19.
• Honorary trustee status for U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette '79, congresswoman for the 1^st District of Colorado, and a CC charter trustee from 1988-94.
• Candidates for honorary degrees to be awarded at Commencement and Opening Convocation, 2020.
• Candidates to participate in the student trustee election conducted by the CCSGA.

The board's next meeting is its annual retreat, June 10-12, 2020.

November 2019 Trustee Update

CC's Board of Trustees was on campus last week (November 6-9) for its regular fall meeting. I am happy to provide you with a summary of the board's meetings.

During their time on campus, trustees attended the Keller Family Venture Grant Forum. After the forum, trustees held a reception with students and faculty involved with Venture Grants and members of the President's Council. On Friday, trustee Ryan Haygood '97, president and CEO of the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice, and Professor Dana Wolfe gave a fascinating lunch presentation on "100 Years of Women's Suffrage: Consequences and Next Steps," which was attended by trustees, students, and faculty. The board also had the opportunity to meet with faculty serving on the Faculty Executive Committee, and staff who serve on Staff Council. Trustees welcome these opportunities to get to know students, faculty, and staff, and I thank those of you who attended these events and met with the board.

The Student Success Committee held its inaugural meeting. The committee, whose members include student trustee Lily Weissgold '20 and Professor and Curriculum Executive Committee Chair Genevieve Love (advisory member), is charged with monitoring student success and educational quality. This committee will work closely with the board's new Strategic Project Team focusing on Size and Makeup of the Student Body. This team is considering how CC's student population should evolve over the next decades.

The board's other standing committees (Buildings, Grounds, and Infrastructure, Budget and Finance, Audit, and Governance) and SPTs (Athletics, Campaign Steering, and the Financial Model) also met. Of note:

• The Buildings, Grounds, and Infrastructure Committee went on a tour of campus, and met with the architects designing Robson Arena and the architects helping conceptualize a building for Innovation at CC.
• The Audit Subcommittee met with the college's auditors and accepted the college's annual audit. The auditors were very complimentary about the cooperation and transparency of CC's finance staff.

During the board's business meeting, I gave an update on CC's anti-racism efforts, our new access initiatives (Colorado Pledge, Stroud Scholars and the test-optional policy), and the Edge Internship program. Vice President for Enrollment Mark Hatch provided an update on Admission, and trustee Jeff Keller announced that the Building on Originality Campaign total now stands at $374 million, toward the goal of $435 million. Provost Alan Townsend spoke about his work with Dean Claire Oberon Garcia and faculty members to envision the future of the humanities and sciences at CC. He also described the work of the climate change task force, which includes faculty, students, staff, and trustees. Professor Wade Roberts, chair of the FEC, described the faculty's anti-racism efforts, the implementation of new general education requirements, and the FEC's work to evaluate and restructure faculty governance. Ethan Greenberg '20, president of CC's Student Government Association, spoke about CCSGA's involvement in anti-racism work, the climate change task force, the general education revisions, and increasing student participation in CC governance and local and national elections.

The board approved several items, including:

• Re-election of board officers Susie Burghart (chair), Jeff Keller (vice-chair) and Marc St. John (secretary) to additional two-year terms in these positions.
• Approval of the scope of Robson Arena (as presented by the architects and provisionally approved by the city's Downtown Review Board) with acknowledgement that the current volatility in construction costs nationwide will impact the final cost of the project.
• Amendments to the college's Gender-based Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy and Procedures (Title IX Policy) and the Anti-discrimination Policy and Procedures. The amendments update the final decision-makers for student and staff cases and the appeals decision-maker for faculty and staff cases.
• Candidates for honorary degrees to be awarded at Commencement 2020. Names of the candidates for honorary degrees will be announced in the spring.

The next board meeting will be February 20-22, 2020.

June 2019 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees met last week (June 12-14) for their annual summer retreat. It was a substantive and energizing meeting, with excellent discussions about CC's present and future direction.

I was pleased to welcome new trustees Heather Carroll '89, Lisa Hastings '91, Kyle Samuel '92, Lauren Watel '07 and Lily Weissgold '20 to the board. More information about our new trustees can be found on CC's website.

We kicked off the retreat on Wednesday evening with the annual "Legends of ºÚÁϳԹÏ" dinner, which honors retired and long-serving CC faculty and administrators. In addition to recognizing CC's legends, we honored trustee John Troubh '79 and his wife Louisa, and the John E. and Margaret L. Lane Foundation (represented by trustee Tony Rosendo '02) as new inductees to the William Jackson Palmer Founders Society.

On Thursday, the board engaged in discussions about how to position the college to thrive during a time of significant disruption in higher education.

During their business meeting on Friday, the board heard an update on CC's Building on Originality Campaign. Consultants Joe Bosack & Co. presented options for a revised athletics logo and the board endorsed moving forward with the campus committee's recommendation. The board also approved the following items:

• Four candidates for promotion to full professor: William Davis in Comparative Literature and German, Marion Hourdequin in Philosophy, Mike Taber in Education, and Tricia Waters in Psychology;
• Authorized borrowing the funds necessary to complete arena-associated projects including the parking garage, the Tejon Street building and the relocation of the 3D Arts program;
• Updates to the Faculty Handbook that were previously approved by the faculty in Block 8;
• Updates to the Title IX policies;
• Procedures for complying with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

In addition to welcoming new trustees, we also recognized and thanked outgoing trustees Eric Mellum '90 and Eyner Roman '19 whose terms ended with this meeting. We also acknowledged the service of Neal Baer '78 and Adam Press '84, whose terms on the board have also ended, but who have been elected to life trusteeship.

The next meeting of the full Board is November 7-9, 2019. Please let me know if you have any questions.

February 2019 Trustee Update

November 2018 Trustee Update

• The Athletics SPT is continuing its work by focusing this year on CC's support of the women's soccer program and our Division III varsity sports.
• The Audit Subcommittee met with the college's auditors and accepted the college's annual audit. The auditors reported no findings and were very complimentary about the transparency and cooperation of CC's finance and financial aid staffs.

• Authorization for the construction of Robson Arena, use of bond funding, the site for the facility, and the hiring of JLG Architects to work on the design of the arena. The board also charged me with putting together a committee of faculty, staff, students, and trustees to advise on the design of Robson Arena.
• Changes to the Gender-Based Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Violence Policy and Procedure and its Anti-Discrimination Policy and Procedures. These changes, while relatively minor, enhance the college's handling of cases covered by the policy.
• Modifications to the Retirement Plan Fiduciary Responsibility Delegation Charter (as recommended by the campus Retirement Plan Committee).
• Candidates for honorary degrees to be awarded at Commencement, 2019. The campus community will be updated as soon as those to be recognized are informed.
• The granting of Honorary Trustee status to former trustee Lynne V. Cheney '63.

June 2018 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees met last week for its annual summer retreat. It was a productive and exciting meeting. I was pleased to welcome new trustees Joe Ellis '80, Tafari Lumumba '05, Natalie Pham '99, Eyner Roman-Lopez '19, and Jarod Rutledge '17 to the board. More information on our new trustees can be found on CC's website.

We kicked off the retreat with the annual "Legends of ºÚÁϳԹÏ" dinner, which honors retired and long-serving CC faculty and administrators.

During the retreat, the trustees participated in an inclusion and anti-bias workshop led by Dr. Devona Williams. Dr. Williams also conducted workshops last week with the staffs of Student Life, Campus Safety, Admission, and Financial Aid.

I gave a presentation on "Trends in Higher Education" to the trustees that focused on demographic and other trends that will affect ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï in the coming years. The trustees discussed the implications of these trends and decided to form strategic project teams to consider how CC can best prepare for the future.

VP for Enrollment Management Mark Hatch summarized the board's year-long series of admission and financial aid workshops and presented a five-year enrollment management plan. The board also heard an update on the campaign from VP for Advancement Sean Pieri.

During the Friday business meeting, the board heard updates from the Athletics, Innovation, and Transition SPTs and approved three items:

• An update to the Faculty Handbook to recognize the role of the provost and clarify personnel review policies;
• Four candidates for promotion to full professor: Tamara Bentley in Art, Genevieve Love in English, Gail Murphy-Geiss in Sociology, and Rebecca Tucker in Art;
• Amendments to the board bylaws to clarify the terms of service of alumni trustees and to recognize the role of the provost.

In addition to welcoming new trustees, we also recognized and thanked outgoing trustees Heather Carroll '89, John Chalik '67, Ben Kieklak '18, Bob Selig '61,and Martha Wolday '14, whose terms ended with this meeting.

The next meeting of the full board is November 1-3, 2018. Please let me know if you have any questions.

February 2018 Trustee Update

Last week, the Board of Trustees was on campus for its regular February meeting.

On Thursday, the board met with students who participated in Professor Mark Smith's Block 3 course on the economics of international climate change policy. The students described their experience attending the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) in Bonn, Germany and invited trustees to attend the COP meeting next year in Poland.

That evening, the board joined faculty and students from the Music Department, members of the Fine Arts Center Advisory Board and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic for dinner and a conversation with Jamie Bernstein in celebration of her father, Leonard Bernstein's, 100^th birthday.

On Friday, the board considered whether to remove former President Slocum's name from Slocum Hall, as requested in petitions from CC alumni, faculty, staff and students. The board will issue a statement on its decision by the end of Block 6. Additionally, the board discussed options for Robson Hockey Arena, which will be CC's next major capital project.

As part of their ongoing commitment to learning about admission and financial aid, trustees engaged in an exercise that illustrated the difficult decisions made in admitting a class each year. Faculty members of the Committee on Admission and Financial Aid and the admissions staff also participated in the exercise.

During the board's plenary session on Saturday, noted scholar and author Jean Twenge discussed the findings she describes in her book "iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy-and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood."

During their Saturday business meeting, the board approved several items including:

• Tuition for the 2018-19 academic year at $54,996 and the comprehensive fee at $67,982. The 2018-19 budget will include a 3% increase in the salary pool for faculty and staff;
• Tenure and promotion to associate professor for faculty members Ryan Bañagale (Music), Amy Dounay (Chemistry), Heidi Lewis (Feminist and Gender Studies) and Matthew Whitehead (Mathematics and Computer Science);
• Emeritus status for Professors of History Doug Monroy and Dennis Showalter;
• Candidates for honorary degrees to be awarded at Commencement and Opening Convocation 2018 (information about the honorees will be sent to the campus community soon); and
• New charter trustees who will join the board in June 2018.

The board also heard reports from Dean Sandi Wong, Faculty Executive Committee Chair Professor Carol Neel, CCSGA President Dorsa Djalilzadeh, and me. Additionally, Vice President for Advancement Sean Pieri provided an update on our Building on Originality campaign progress.

The board will next meet during its annual retreat, June 13-15, 2018.

November 2017 Trustee Update

Last week, the Board of Trustees was on campus for its regular November meeting. Several trustees attended the Keller Venture Grant Forum on Wednesday, which is always an inspiring display of our students' curiosity and creativity.

On Thursday, the board was joined by Fine Arts Center staff and President's Council members for a dinner at the FAC. The dinner was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate CC's alliance with the Fine Arts Center and our progress in implementing the "Excellence, Access, and Collaboration" strategic plan.

On Friday, VP for Enrollment Mark Hatch and Director of Financial Aid Shannon Amundson presented on admission and financial aid in relation to our strategic goals. Additionally, the board's Strategic Project Teams (Athletics, Innovation, and Transitions) and standing committees (Investment, Governance, Buildings, Grounds, & Infrastructure, and Budget & Finance) met.

In the plenary session Saturday, Susan Edmondson of the Downtown Partnership and Hannah Parsons of the CS Chamber of Commerce presented on the economic development and future of Colorado Springs. Beka Adair '16 and current CC student Rachael Maxwell '18 also took part in the plenary session presentation.

During their Saturday business meeting, the board approved several items including:

• Revisions to the Campus Master Plan
• Candidates for honorary degrees to be awarded at Commencement. The campus community will be updated as soon as those to be recognized are informed.
• An addendum to the strategic plan that extends our workplace excellence initiative, incorporates the Fine Arts Center into our strategy and includes a new recommendation to enrich and integrate the parts of the student experience and connect the CC experience to our students' next steps.

The board also heard reports from Dean Sandi Wong, Faculty Executive Committee Chair Professor Carol Neel, CCSGA President Dorsa Djalilzadeh, and me. VP for Advancement Sean Pieri provided the board with an update on the comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The trustees are excited about the progress we've made on campus this fall: the completion of the Tutt Library Renovation, East Campus Community and the Ahlberg Annex, our successful alliance with the Fine Arts Center, and the launch of our Building on Originality campaign. They are eager to build on this momentum in the months and years ahead!

The next board meeting will be February 22-24, 2018.

June 2017 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees met last week for their annual summer retreat. It was a productive and exciting meeting. I was pleased to welcome new trustees Sam Bronfman P '11, '19, Carolyn Cullen '91, P '20, 21, Jesse Horn '07, Jenny Love Meyer '88 and Ben Kieklak '18 to the Board. We kicked off the retreat with the annual "CC Legends" dinner, which honors retired and long-serving CC faculty and administrators.

During the retreat, the trustees began a yearlong study of admission and financial aid. In addition, they celebrated the exciting news that the Joint Board Oversight Committee for the Fine Arts Center approved the strategic plan for the FAC. They reviewed the plan and an update on the July 1, 2017 transition.

The trustees also heard an update on our progress on the comprehensive campaign. As part of the report, they previewed a campaign video and discussed the many activities planned for the campaign launch, scheduled for October 6-15, 2017.

The highlight of the retreat was a tour of the East Campus residential village and Tutt Library. After many years of planning and preparation, they enjoyed seeing these dream projects come to fruition.

Several trustees arrived early to participate in Strategic Planning Teams (SPTs) on athletics and innovation, and when the full Board gathered, they heard reports from those SPTs. There is good progress in these areas, and I look forward to sharing more news on these initiatives in the fall.

During their Friday business meeting, the board approved several items:

• An update to the Faculty Handbook on split position hiring, spousal hiring, and position descriptions for adjuncts and lecturers;
• Five candidates for promotion to Full Professor: Lori Driscoll in Psychology, Henry Fricke in Geology, Dan Johnson in Economics, Eric Perramond in Southwest Studies and Environmental Science, and Andrew Price-Smith in Political Science;
• Updates to the Title IX policy; and
• A campaign goal, which will be shared this fall.

In addition to welcoming new trustees, we also recognized and thanked outgoing trustees Mayss Al Alami '17, Bob Manning '69, Chris Schluter Moon '65 and Nancy Woodrow '68 P '11, whose terms ended with this meeting.

Our trustees continue to be pleased with our progress. They are convinced that the renovation of Tutt Library, construction of new student housing, campaign progress, and alliance with the Fine Arts Center make this an historic time at ºÚÁϳԹÏ.

The next meeting of the full Board is November 2-4, 2017.

February 2017 Trustee Update

The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees was on campus this past week for their annual February meeting. Trustees on the Innovation Strategic Project Team arrived early to attend The Big Idea and participate in a special planning workshop on Thursday. Other trustees participated in a student-networking luncheon organized by trustee Sue Allon '81 and Career Center Director Megan Nicklaus. They also toured the ongoing construction work at Tutt Library and the East Campus residential complex and attended a forum on wayfinding concepts for the campus.

During their Saturday business meeting, the board approved:

• Tuition and fees for 2017-18 at $52,818. For students living on campus, the comprehensive fee was set at $64,894, with a standard double room rate of $7,240 and meal plan C rate of $4,836.
• The allocation of the incremental revenue in the 2017-2018 budget to financial aid, faculty and staff compensation, inflationary and other required increases, and strategic initiatives.
• Tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor (effective July 1, 2017) for:
• • Helen Daly, philosophy
  • Scott Krzych, film and media studies
  • Christina Leza, anthropology
  • Corina McKendry, political science
  • Habiba Vaghoo, chemistry and biochemistry
  • Dana Wolfe, political science
  • Naomi Wood, Spanish and Portuguese
• Emeritus status (effective July 1, 2017) for:
• • Nathan Bower, professor of chemistry and biochemistry
  • Tom Cronin, professor of political science
  • John Simons, professor of English
  • Fred Tinsley, professor of mathematics
  • Alex Vargo, professor of biology (retired 2011)
  • Barbara Whitten, professor of physics
• The renewal of charter trustees Manuel Martinez '74, Andy Stenovec '85, and Brian Thomson '85 to an additional term, and the election of new charter trustees Sam Bronfman and Carolyn Colket Cullen '91.

In addition, the board heard reports from Dean Sandra Wong, FEC Chair Professor John Gould, CCSGA President Annika Kastetter, and me. The board also heard reports from the standing committees and strategic project teams that met on Friday.

Standing Committee agendas:

Budget and Finance - Trustees discussed and recommended approval of the 2017-18 budget and tuition and comprehensive fee. The audit subcommittee also met, reviewing a draft of the college's 2015 Form 990.

Investment - Trustees heard from the college's investment manager, Bristol and Associates.

Governance - Trustees discussed and recommended approval of renewing and new charter trustees. They also received feedback from the student trustee interviews.

Buildings, Grounds and Infrastructure - Trustees heard from Studio/lab on the campus wayfinding project and also heard from the architects and landscape architects, Atkin Olshin Schade and OLIN, on recommended changes to incorporate the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center into the Campus Master Plan, and a process for guiding the adoption of ongoing changes to the plan.

Strategic Project Team agendas:

Campaign Planning - Trustees discussed campaign messaging and also received an update on progress to date.

Innovation - Trustees discussed the outcomes of the planning workshop and next steps for the innovation program, which includes a strategic plan to be announced in approximately six months.

Fine Arts Center - Trustees received the draft plans for each of the three program areas (museum, Bemis Art School, and performing arts) and heard an update on the operational transition.

The trustees continue to be impressed with our progress and are deeply engaged with the ongoing work of the college. Their next meeting is their June retreat, but many trustees will be on campus for Commencement.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the February meeting a success!

The next Trustee Meeting will be in June.

November 2016 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees were on campus this past week for their regular November meeting. Several trustees arrived early to participate in the Keller Venture Grants Forum and to hear Speaker Newt Gingrich as part of the Sondermann Presidential Symposium. Both events gave them a sense of the excitement that we've enjoyed across campus this fall.

On Thursday, the Board attended a dinner featuring Professor Tim Fuller discussing the importance of the liberal arts, and Professor Fuller shared recollections from his long career. The trustees received copies of the festschrift "Philosophy, Politics and the Conversation of Mankind: Essays in Honor of Tim Fuller" compiled by a number of Tim's former students who have gone on to academic careers.

The Board also heard an update on the potential of the Fine Arts Center alliance from museum director and chief curator of the Colby College Museum of Art, Sharon Corwin. Sharon was joined by FAC museum director Rebecca Tucker, who moderated a panel of CC faculty and staff who are playing important roles in the integration of the FAC with the college: Professors Eric Perramond and Mario Montano, Kris Stanec, Jessica Hunter-Larsen and Joy Armstrong.

During their Saturday business meeting, the board approved several items:

• Former charter trustees David van Diest Skilling and Colburn Wilbur as life trustees.
• Candidates for honorary degrees to be awarded at Commencement. The campus community will be updated as soon as those to be recognized are informed.
• A proposal for naming residential buildings as part of the East Campus housing project. Again, the campus community will be updated as soon as those to be recognized are informed.

In addition to the business meeting, the Board's standing committees (Investment, Governance, Budget and Finance, and Buildings, Grounds and Infrastructure) and strategic project teams (Innovation, Campaign Planning, and Fine Arts Center Alliance) met.

The board members enjoyed sharing in the excitement that has been bubbling on campus. Clearly, the renovation of Tutt Library, construction of new student housing, campaign progress, and alliance with the Fine Arts Center make this an historic time at ºÚÁϳԹÏ.

The next Trustee meeting will be in late February.

June 2016 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees met for its annual summer retreat this past weekend.

New trustees (Mayss Al Alami '17; Martha Wolday '14; Kishen Mangat '96; Liza Malott Pohle '85; and Amy Louis '84) were welcomed and sworn in, and outgoing trustees were recognized for their service to CC (Van Skilling '55, P '79, P '82; Karen Pope '70, P '04; James Lonergan '16; Cole Wilbur; and Kalen Acquisto '13).

The retreat's agenda focused on our students and our mission of providing the finest liberal arts education. The trustees were deeply engaged in important conversations, including the alliance with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, possible revisions to the student code of conduct, and campaign messaging.

I shared with the trustees updates on the continued implementation of our strategic plan and success in fundraising. Over the past year, the college received more than $40 million in new cash and pledges with approximately 6,000 alumni contributing.

The board approved several items during its Saturday business meeting, including:

• Faculty promotions of four associate professors to full professors.
• Several revisions to the faculty handbook (approved by the faculty this past spring).
• Endorsed the alliance with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and empowered the Executive Committee to approve final details on the agreement.

The trustees are excited about our continued success. Their next meeting will be on campus in November.

February 2016 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees was on campus this past weekend for their regular February meeting. The trustees began their meeting with dinner at the Fine Arts Center, which included tours of the facility and an introduction to special guest Myrlie Evers-Williams.

The board approved several items during its Saturday business meeting, including:

• Tuition and fees for the 2016-17 academic year were set at $50,892. For those living on campus, the comprehensive fee will be $62,560, with a standard double room rate of $6,902 and the meal plan C rate of $4,766.
• Tenure and promotion to full professor for Jim Parco, Economics and Business, and tenure and promotion to associate professor for Andrea Bruder, Mathematics and Computer Science; Daniel Arroyo-Rodriguez, Spanish and Portuguese; Carrie Ruiz, Spanish and Portuguese; Darrell Killian, Molecular Biology; and Ryan Platt, Theater and Dance.
• The election of new charter trustees Elizabeth Pohle '85 and Jennifer Love Meyer '88 (term to commence in 2017-2018).
• Life trustee designation for William Campbell '67 and Jane Rawlings '70.
• The approval of the student trustee elected by the student body.
• The approval of a bylaw change that incorporates the Life Trustee Criteria.
• The continued discussions between the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees and the Fine Arts Center Board of Trustees directed toward a new partnership.

In addition to reports from Dean Wong and President Tiefenthaler, the board heard reports from Lori Driscoll, chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, and CCSGA President Jake Walden.

On Friday, the board's three Strategic Project Teams and four Standing Committees met.

Strategic Project Team Agendas:

Campaign Planning - Trustees discussed the campaign timeline and volunteer structure.

Library Planning - Trustees reviewed construction documents and also the library transition plan.

Campus Master Plan/Communications Master Plan - Trustees heard about the success of the launch of the Communications Master Plan roll-out, and enjoyed the roll-out video. They also discussed the process for amendments to the Campus Master Plan.

Standing Committee Agendas:

Buildings, Grounds, & Infrastructure - Trustees received reports on campus carbon reduction efforts and IT network improvements. They also heard a presentation on the East Campus housing design by architects MASS Design Group and Hanbury, Evans, Wright, Vlattas + Company.

Investment - Trustees reviewed the current portfolio with J.W. Bristol, and Monticello Associates gave an update on the quarterly market review.

Governance -Trustees recommended approval of the new charter trustees and life trustees. They also received nominations for student trustee.

Budget & Finance - Trustees discussed and recommended approval of the 2016-17 comprehensive fee and budget. The Audit subcommittee heard from the auditors and met KRCC director, Tammy Telwerp.

The trustees remain very pleased with our progress. Their next meeting is a retreat in June, but many board members look forward to joining us for Commencement festivities.

November 2015 Trustee Update

The Trustees were on campus this past weekend for their regular November meeting. They began their meeting by attending the Keller Venture Grants Forum, celebrating the program's 10^th anniversary with very exciting news from Trustee Jeff Keller and the Keller family, who have supported our Venture Grant program for the past decade. The Keller Family has made a $4 million gift to endow and expand the program.

On Friday, the Board attended the dedication of the theater in Armstrong Hall, unveiling the new signage which identifies that the space as the Kathryn Mohrman Theatre. Current and retired faculty and staff joined the Board in honoring ºÚÁϳԹÏ's 11^th president.

The Board heard an update from Patrick Bultema and Emily Chan on progress being made as part of the college's innovation initiative.

The board approved several items during its Saturday business meeting:

• The Board voted to accept changes to the college's Title IX Policy, allowing for external investigators to be used in special circumstances.

• The Board approved a change to the Naming Policy that outlines a process for gathering community input.

• The Board approved criteria for Life Trustees.

In addition to the Business Meeting, the board's Standing Committees and Strategic Project Teams met.

Standing Committees

• Buildings, Grounds, & Infrastructure - Trustees discussed the East Campus Housing project and were also introduced to Maggie Santos, director of campus safety and emergency management.
• Investment - The Trustees heard from a group of student presenters on the topic of sustainable investing and also received updates on the asset allocation model and the quarterly market review from Monticello Associates.
• Governance - The committee reviewed the slate of trustee nominees and recommended criteria for Life Trustees.
• Budget & Finance - Trustees received year-end financial updates and a notification of expenditure against the quasi endowment. They also received an update from the Audit Committee, a subcommittee of Budget & Finance. There were no significant findings in the annual audit.

Strategic Project Teams (SPT's)

• Campaign Planning - Trustees reviewed the campaign's progress to date. They also viewed the newly developed campaign messaging materials and discussed volunteer engagement.
• Library Planning - Trustees discussed the results of the design development phase with library architects Pfeiffer Partners, which helps prepare the way for a May 2016 ground-breaking should fundraising goals for the project be met.
• Communications Master Plan - Trustees discussed and viewed a presentation by Studio/lab about the Communications Master Plan that included viewing the proposed logo.

Overall, it was a great meeting. The next trustee meeting will be in February 2016.

June 2015 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees had its annual retreat. The retreat's agenda was focused on our mission of "providing the finest liberal arts education," the continued implementation of the strategic plan, and the comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The board approved several items during its Friday business meeting, including:

• ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Bylaw changes pertaining to goverance (Section 1.1 C) and the Buildings, Grounds, and Infrastructure Committee (Section 1.4 G.5).
• Title IX required policy changes.
• Promotion from associate professor to full professor for Tracy Coleman, Religion; Aju Fenn, Economics and Business, and Esther Redmount, Economics and Business.
• Changes to Part Two of the Faculty Handbook pertaining to recruitment procedures for hiring candidates with tenure (IV.C and D); criteria for tenure (VII.A.2) and changes to unpaid non-medical leave policy (XII.C); Changes to Part Three of the Faculty Handbook pertaining to faculty executive committee (V.A.1) (All changes were approved at the Block 6 and 7 faculty meetings).
• Approval of Mass Design Group as the architect for the East Campus Housing project.
• Approval of the Tutt Library schematic design and continued construction phase by Pfeiffer Partners.
• Approval of a new Peer Group, eliminating the Aspirant peer group of colleges.

The trustees are enthused about our continued progress. Their next meeting is in November on campus.

February 2015 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees was on campus for the regular February meeting. The trustees began their meeting with dinner and a talk by inaugural Journalist in Residence and CC parent Hampton Sides.

The board approved several items during its Saturday business meeting, including:

• Tuition for the 2015-16 academic year at $48,576, with a mandatory student activities fee of $420. For students living on campus, the comprehensive fee will be $60,210, with a standard double room rate of $6,547 and the meal plan C rate of $4,668.
• The election of new charter trustees Jerome DeHerrera '97; Ian Griffis '85; Ryan Haygood '97; Jeff Keller '91; John Troubh '79; and Amy Louis '84 (term to commence in 2016-17).
• The election of new student trustee James Lonergan '16.
• Tenure and promotion to associate professor for Marie Davis-Green, Theatre and Dance; Emilie Gray, Organismal Biology and Ecology; Andreea Marinescu, Spanish; Jared Richman, English; and Sanjaya Thakur, Classics.
• Emeritus status for Richard Storey, retired dean of the college and professor of biology.
• Changes to Part Two of the Faculty Handbook pertaining to tenure procedure (VII. B), recruitment procedures (IV. A), denial of tenure (XIII. D. 2) and dismissal of tenured faculty (XIII. D.3). (All changes were approved at the Block 3 and 4 faculty meetings.)
• Adoption of the Campus Master Plan.

In addition to reports from Dean Wong and President Tiefenthaler, the board heard reports from Gail Murphy-Geiss, outgoing chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, and CCSGA President Alejandro Salazar. The board thanked both of them for their work and dedication.

On Friday, the board's three Strategic Project Teams and Standing Committees met.

Strategic Project Team Agendas:

• Campaign Planning - Trustees discussed the campaign timeline and also received an update on the feasibility study.
• Library Planning - Trustees heard from the schematic design architect, Pfeiffer Partners, on next steps for the library renovation.
• Campus Master Plan/Communications Master Plan - Trustees heard the final presentation on the Campus Master Plan by consultants Atkin Olshin Schade Architects and OLIN Landscape Architects. They also received an update on the Communications Master Plan.

Standing Committee Agendas:

• Buildings, Grounds, & Infrastructure - Trustees discussed next steps toward campus carbon reduction. In addition, they received reports on hail damage repairs and IT network improvements.
• Investment - Trustees reviewed the asset allocation model and portfolio liquidity. Monticello Associates gave an update on the quarterly market review. Governance - The committee met with students in a question-and-answer session. They also discussed and recommended approval of the new charter trustees and student trustee.
• Budget & Finance - Trustees discussed and recommended approval of the 2015-16 comprehensive fee and budget. In addition, the committee discussed financing options to bridge campaign giving and initiate strategic projects.

The trustees are impressed with our progress. Their next meeting is a retreat in June, but many board members look forward to joining us for Commencement festivities.

November 2014 Trustee Update

The Board of Trustees was on campus for their regular November meeting. The trustees began their meeting with dinner and a panel discussion on climate change with Matt Banks '97, of the World Wildlife Fund, and Katherine Neebe '97, of the Walmart Sustainability Group, moderated by Professor of Economics Mark Smith.

The board approved several items during its Saturday business meeting, including:

• Emeritus status for Heinz Geppert - Lecturer of German
• The college's statement of commitment to diversity and inclusion, which was recommended and developed by faculty, staff and student strategic action teams, and previously shared with the faculty and the Cabinet. Diversity Statement
• A document, outlining the responsibilities and expectations of CC trustees. Trustee Responsibilities and Expectations
• A new committee - the Diversity and Equity Advisory Board (DEAB) - to the faculty handbook. This change was recommended by the FEC and approved by the faculty during the Block 2 faculty meeting. DEAB Faculty Handbook
• Life trustee status for Dan Cooper.

In addition, on Friday, the board's three Strategic Project Teams (SPT's) and Standing Committees met.

Strategic Project Teams (SPT's) SPT Agendas

• Campaign Planning - Trustees discussed campaign messaging and a feasibility study. In addition, the SPT approved Gift Policies and Campaign Counting Guidelines.
• Library Planning - Trustees discussed the schematic design architect finalists (Sasaki, Pfeiffer Partners, Will Bruder Architects and Michael Graves and Associates). In the coming weeks, a final decision will be made and announced.
• Campus Master Plan/Communications Master Plan - Trustees received updates from the Campus Master Plan consultants Atkin, Olshin Schade and the Communications Master Plan team Victors and Spoils.

Standing Committees Standing Committee Agendas

• Buildings, Grounds, & Infrastructure - Trustees reviewed the Extended Facility Condition Index and received an overview of the IT Infrastructure.
• Investment - Trustees reviewed the asset allocation model and portfolio liquidity. Monticello Associates gave an update on the quarterly market review.
• Governance - The committee recommended a new document outlining trustee responsibilities and expectations and discussed a transparency proposal submitted by the Progressive Student Alliance.
• Budget & Finance - Trustees reviewed the debt portfolio and also received an update from the Audit Committee, which is a subcommittee of Budget & Finance. There were no significant findings in the annual audit.

On Saturday during the board plenary session, Professor of Psychology Tricia Waters, Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students Mike Edmonds, and Director of the Wellness Resource Center Heather Horton gave a presentation to the board on student life.

The next trustee meeting will be in February 2015.

May 2014 Trustee Update

During their visit, the trustees approved several items.

• The election of new trustees:
• • Student Trustee - Elliot Mamet '15
  • Young Alumni Trustee - Kalen Acquisto '13
  • Alumni Trustee - Tony Rosendo '02
  • Charter Trustee - Marc St John '80
• The renewal of current charter trustees:
• • Neal Baer '78
  • John Chalik '67
  • Eben Moulton '68
  • Adam Press '84
  • Jane Rawlings '70
  • Bob Selig '61
  • Mike Slade '79
• Emeritus status for six retiring faculty:
• • Walter Hecox, Professor of Environmental Science
  • Richard Koc, Professor of German
  • Paul Maruyama, Lecturer in Japanese
  • Stephen Scott, Professor of Music
  • David Weddle, Professor of Religion
  • Armin Wishard, Professor of German
• The promotion to full professor for three faculty members:
• • Neena Grover, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Sarah Hautzinger, Associate Professor of Anthropology
  • Corinne Scheiner, Associate Professor of Comparative Literature
• Updates to the Faculty Handbook:
• • Part 4: V. B.10. Committee on Instruction and Part 4: V. B. 19. General Education Oversight Committee. Merging of these two committees into the Committee on Instruction. Approved during the Block 5 faculty meeting.
  • Part 2: XIII. D. Dismissal and Procedures for Appeal. Approved during the Block 6 faculty meeting.

In addition to the meetings of their standing committees and special project teams, the trustees received an update on pilot projects funded by the Center for Immersive Learning and Engaged Teaching. The trustees also heard a beautiful performance by the Bowed Piano Ensemble.

The trustees continue to be impressed with our progress and look forward to further engagement with the campus community at their fall meeting.

February 2014 Trustee Update

During the annual February Board of Trustees meeting there was much enthusiasm about the progress being made at ºÚÁϳԹÏ. The board approved several items including:

• The 2014-15 budget, setting tuition and fees at $46,410. For students living on the campus, the comprehensive fee will be $57,162, with a standard double room rate of $6,176 and the meal plan C rate of $4,576.
• Tenure and promotion for four faculty members.
• • Pedro de Araujo, Assistant Professor of Economics and Business
  • Peggy Daugherty, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
  • Stefan Erickson, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
  • Peter Wright, Assistant Professor of Religion
• Tenure for one faculty member: Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Shawn Womack.
• Emeritus status for retired Professor of Political Science Curtis Cook.
• The installation of solar panels on top of Cornerstone and El Pomar Sports Center.

In addition to the work done on the four standing committees of Audit; Governance; Investment; and Budget, Buildings and Grounds, the trustees worked with campus leaders on strategic projects. This year's strategic project teams are Campaign Planning; Library Renovation; Campus Master Plan/Communication Plan; and Environmental Stewardship and Innovation.

The board also heard presentations on campus safety, our newly-revised Half Block, and faculty-student research collaboration and enjoyed dinner with members of the Faculty Executive Committee.

November 2013 Trustee Update

The trustees had a very productive fall meeting. The board approved the following:

• Emeritus status for several retired faculty members. Congratulations!
• • Donna Arnink- Professor Emerita, Drama and Dance
  • Margaret Duncombe - Professor Emerita, Sociology
  • Ronald Hathaway - Professor Emeritus, Biology
  • Bruce Kola - Lecturer Emeritus, Sport Science
  • Libby Rittenberg - Professor Emerita, Economics and Business
  • Adrienne Seward - Professor Emerita, English
  • Yun Yu Wang - Professor Emerita, Theatre and Dance
  • William Weida - Professor Emeritus, Economics and Business
• A naming policy that will help guide the college in the naming of campus spaces and programs.
• The external audit was approved. Because of the good work of many staff and faculty, there were no major findings.

In addition, the trustees worked on their Strategic Project Teams (SPTs). This year's SPTs are: (1) campaign planning, (2) library planning, (3) campus master plan/master communications plan, and (4) environmental stewardship and innovation. These teams are closely tied to the implementation of the strategic plan and the work of our campus-based action and knowledge-development teams.

Finally, the trustees recognized the contributions of four individuals who are transitioning from voting charter trustees to life trustees. These individuals - Bill Hybl, Mike Lampton, Doug Norberg, and Sue Woolsey - have generously shared their time, talents, and treasure with CC.

May 2013 Trustee Update

There were two main presentations during this meeting. Members from the Student Divestment Committee (SDC) gave the Investment Committee a presentation on the reasons the college should divest from fossil fuels. The president also presented the emerging themes and draft of the college's strategic plan. There was much excitement about this draft.

During the board's business meeting, trustees approved several key items:

1. New Trustees - Two charter trustees, Andy Stenovec and Thayer Tutt; President-Elect of the Alumni Association Board Christine Schluter; and 2013-14 Student Trustee Joel Begay. Three trustees received life trustee status: Bill Hybl, Doug Norberg, and Sue Woolsey.
2. Two college-wide policies (required for compliance) - (1)The Policy on Gift Administration and (2) The Code of Ethical Conduct/Conflict of Interest.
3. Emeritus Status to Professor Paul Kuerbis. Congratulations Paul!
4. New Board Officers - Eben Moulton (chair), Phil Swan (vice-chair), Susie Burghart (secretary)

Additionally, the board joined the campus community for the public opening of the newly renovated El Pomar Sports Center and Adam F. Press Fitness Center. The trustees will meet again in July for their retreat, when they will approve the college's strategic plan.

February 2013 Trustee Update

The February 2013 Board of Trustees meeting began on Thursday, February 21. There were several presentations given by the president and the president's cabinet. Among many things, the president gave the board updates on our Year of Planning and the dean of students/vp for student life updated the trustees on new activities in the Career Center and the upcoming Slocum renovations.

At the business meeting, which was held on Saturday, February 23, the board also approved several key items, which include:

1. The 2013-2014 budget that includes next year's tuition and fees
2. The president's tenure recommendations for Megan Anderson, Geology; Steven Hayward, English; Miro Kummel, Environmental Science; and Jane Murphy, History
3. Honorary degrees
4. Emerita Status to Laurel Watkins

Currently, the board is finalizing bylaw changes, and will be heavily engaged in the selection of their next chairperson. The next board meeting is May 2-4.

September 2012 Trustee Update

The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees arrived on campus on Thursday, September 20, and began their meeting with committee business. On Friday, trustees received an update on the strategic planning process and heard a presentation from students and faculty who completed benchmarking research over the summer. The business portion of their meeting concluded Saturday morning, September 22, with the full Board voting to approve professor emeritus status for Bob Loevy. New trustee Lynne Cheney '63 was sworn in at this time as well.

Much of the trustees' time on campus was devoted to participating in inaugural events including: the campus-wide community service project; a dinner with the president and special guests; the installation ceremony; and the reception, dinner, and ball following the inauguration.

July 2012 Trustee Update

The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees met in mid-July for a retreat, during which most of their time was spent completing visioning exercises in preparation for the upcoming year of strategic planning. In addition, they conducted a business session where the following items were approved:

1. Swearing in of new trustees:
   • Samantha Barlow '13 (student trustee)
   • Angela Cobian '11 (young alumni trustee)
   • Heather Carroll '89 (alumni trustee)
2. Election of new standing committee chairs and vice-chairs
   • Governance - Phil Swan (chair)
   • Audit - Sue Allon (chair), Bill Campbell (vice-chair)
   • Investment - Eben Moulton (chair), Adam Press (vice-chair)
   • Budget and Finance - Amy Louis (chair)
3. Resolution charging the president to complete a strategic plan for the college during the coming year.
4. Review of athletics programs (See Trustee Statement on Athletics Programs)

May 2012 Trustee Update

The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Board of Trustees kicked off their recent on-campus meeting Thursday evening, May 17, with a celebratory dinner to thank key divisional staff for their efforts in making the 2011-12 year a success. They participated in the dedication of the Richard F. Celeste Theatre on Friday, May 18. Former President Dick Celeste returned for the ceremony and lunch that followed.

Trustees interacted with faculty while on campus, learning more about the arts within the liberal arts from Professors Scott Johnson, Susan Grace, and David Mason. They also dined with CC endowed professors and listened to Professor Anne Hyde as she spoke about her Bancroft Prize-winning book, "Empires, Nations and Families: A History of the North American West, 1800-1860."

Board members spent much of their time on campus discussing committee business, voting to approve emeritus status for Professor Peggy Berg; Samantha Barlow as the first student trustee; re-election to new four-year terms for trustees Van Skilling, Cole Wilbur, Brian Williamson, and Jack Wold; and re-election for the 2012-13 year for Board officers Sue Woolsey, chair; Bob Manning, co-vice-chair; Nancy Woodrow, co-vice-chair; and Mike Lampton, secretary. Their meeting concluded on Saturday, May 19.