Dear members of the Colgate community,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I offer this report of our September 30 – October 1, 2016 meeting with an enormous sense of appreciation for the efforts of so many who organized and supported a truly remarkable inauguration and homecoming weekend. From the community picnic on Saturday, September 24th, through the inaugural concert yesterday afternoon, Colgate’s spirit, character and quality were very evident this past week.
Although the time the Board spent in meetings was limited due to the many activities of the weekend, we had productive conversations about a number of important topics. The Board also approved several resolutions and took a number of actions described below.
Through the course of the Board conversations several important themes emerged from the discussions. The first is the primary importance of continuing Colgate’s commitment to the elements of a residential liberal arts education by supporting a high quality academic program and the work of faculty. Concurrent with that effort is the need to sustain efforts to attract and enroll a talented and diverse student body, providing the appropriate forms of support to enhance the value and benefits of their education while also providing an environment that is supportive of all members of our community. We need to work diligently to be fiscally prudent in our operations and strategic in directing resources that enhance our extracurricular programs, while also maintaining the quality and beauty of the campus.
The Board received an update regarding the implementation of the residential commons system and the results of the first year of the operation of this program. The Board was pleased with early signs of the success of Ciccone Commons in providing students with a meaningful community in their first two years, with enhanced engagement with Colgate faculty. The Board looks forward to more input in the future on the experiences of students from the students themselves, as well as continued faculty input in the development of this residential program. The Board also endorsed the naming of “Commons Two” through the process developed by the Student Affairs Committee of the Board, the Dean of the College staff and the commons directors during the last academic year. We look forward to the continued development of the program such that it would ultimately provide residential commons for all first years and sophomores on the “Hill.”
The Board also supported a recommendation from the administration that the University Properties Committee review information about former President George Barton Cutten, so that the Board might consider a renaming of Cutten Hall. We have no desire to being merely reactive should a substantive issue exist, and look forward to being proactive should the campus community recommend a name change.
During a review of various building projects, the Board was pleased to learn about the positive campus response to the renovations of the Bryan Complex and Andrews Hall, as well as numerous other summer projects. The Board also noted the success of the construction of the Class of 1965 Arena which was completed on time and within established budget parameters. Later in the weekend at the dedication ceremony, we thanked the donors whose philanthropic support made this outstanding new facility possible.
The Board approved the allocation of funds to continue planning and site preparation for the construction of two 100-bed dormitories above Andrews and Stillman Halls. These new residence halls will allow Colgate to lower the number of students currently living in the Gate House, Cutten and Townhouse facilities, bringing the populations in these residence complexes to levels better suited to their design and capacity. The Board also approved expenditures to replace the turf on Crown Field and a donor-funded renovation project in the football locker room and study space for all student-athletes. An update regarding plans for Benton Hall was also received along with a summary of the preliminary ideas under consideration to improve parking and traffic circulation on campus.
The Board heard a presentation of the state of programs and facilities devoted to the arts at Colgate, expanding conversations that have taken place with the Board in prior meetings. We noted the extensive campus conversations that were held during the 2015-16 year regarding the location of the proposed Center for Art and Culture. We expressed support for the recommendation from the campus committee to consider one of several potential sites on campus to provide appropriate space for its programs, in lieu of the previously recommended location in downtown Hamilton. Further, the Board endorsed President Casey’s recommendation that the university take steps to develop a long-term vision for the arts at Colgate, and accepted with enthusiasm his recommendation that significant efforts be directed to considering how to deepen programs in the arts as well as plans for new arts related spaces on the campus. In addition, the Board supported the allocation of funds to advance these important discussions with the assistance of third party consultants should President Casey deem it an appropriate expenditure. This discussion enjoys a strong alignment of support from the Board, administration and faculty and we wish to advance this effort expeditiously.
During its annual open session Saturday morning a group of students representing Colgate’s sororities offered a presentation advocating the expansion of Greek Life at Colgate. Through this presentation, the Board was also presented with a resolution from the Student Government Association (SGA) which “…..supports bringing additional fraternities and sororities as well as additional multicultural organizations, various religious organizations, services, businesses and/or pre-professional organizations to the Colgate community.”
When the Board continued its meeting following the presentation the members noted that this subject required extensive, carefully considered campus conversations and deliberation. The Board wanted to acknowledge the considerable effort of the students who offered the presentation as well as the concerns and interests expressed by the students in the SGA resolution. The Board also acknowledged the significant faculty and community-wide interest in topics related to residential life, and the long history of discussions that have been held at Colgate, among many constituencies. Before any recommendations regarding changes in the student residential program can be considered, a deliberate, comprehensive review of the totality of student residential life at Colgate would be required. The process would need to permit multiple voices to be heard including faculty, students and administrators, and a variety of options would need to be considered.
The quality and nature of the student residential experience is an essential aspect of a liberal arts college education. The Board recognized that there is a new administration at Colgate, with a number of important positions currently occupied on an interim basis, but requested to have these conversations held through the engagement of appropriate faculty and campus-wide committees and offices.
Finally, we wish to report that, in accordance with a process developed last year to re-examine a prior decision to confer an honorary degree from the university – one only to be used in extraordinary circumstances – the board authorized the establishment of an ad hoc committee last spring to conduct such a review of the degree conferred to Mr. William H. Cosby, Jr. At our meeting the Board received a recommendation from the ad hoc committee regarding the degree awarded to Mr. Cosby, and voted to rescind Mr. Cosby’s honorary degree.
The Board closed its meeting Saturday morning still feeling the inspiration of President Casey’s inaugural address as well as the wonderful glow from the vitality and energy of the campus community that was clearly evident at the inauguration. Again, we thank all members of the Colgate community for the incredible effort necessary to execute such a complex and significant weekend. I look forward to providing you with my next update after our January meeting. Until then, I wish you all continued success for the remainder of the semester.
All my best,
Daniel B. Hurwitz ’86
