Gann Promotes "Sustainability" Fad, Among Others

Dear CMC Students,

CMC is among the premier liberal arts colleges in the world, and we are poised to attain even greater distinction. To continue our positive trajectory, a well envisioned and executed strategic plan is a critical need for the Board of Trustees, the President and senior administrative leadership, the faculty, students, and alumni.


In 2002, the College established a strategic plan to help guide us over the ensuing decade. In that plan, we solidified our mission and the teacher-scholar model, and identified top priorities for Admission and Financial Aid, Faculty, Curriculum, Institutes, Student Life, Alumni Affairs, Public Affairs, Financial Planning and Human Resources, and various aspects of the College’s Master Plan, along with key indicators by which to measure our progress. I am pleased to say that, in following our plan, we have made significant strides. For example, our admissions rate has fallen from 25% in 2002, to 16% in 2009, establishing CMC among the top five most selective national liberal arts colleges, and as provided for in the plan, we have reduced the number of in-state students to around 35%, and increased our international enrollments substantially. Our graduation rate has increased to 94%. Our faculty recruiting has been extremely robust and successful, and we continue to make progress in many other areas.


The Board of Trustees and I believe that our 2002 strategic plan has served us well, but now it is time to review, update, and refresh our overall plan to guide us as we move into the next five years and beyond. In this updating process, we ought to examine and hone certain areas that we need to adapt to the changing environment for our students and our financial sources. This effort would not revisit, however, essential characteristics surrounding key aspects of the College, such as: our mission; CMC as a residential –student centered College; our teacher-scholar model for faculty; the balance across various aspects of the College; and our commitment to the consortium.

At its May 2009 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved proceeding with updating and refreshing our plan, and also approved a number of areas to review in this process. These include:



1. Enrollment Growth in Claremont

2. Admission and Financial Aid

3. Selected Topics in Academic Affairs as it Relates to the Faculty and the Curriculum

4. Master Planning of the Campus

5. Financial Planning

6. The Role of Athletics at the College

7. Globalization

8. Sustainability



The strategic planning work will be conducted through existing standing committees of the faculty and the Board of Trustees; therefore, we will not establish a separate set of strategic planning committees. Also, the timeline to complete the work is this academic year, with the Board’s plan to approve the new strategic plan at its May 2010 meeting.

I already appreciate the involvement of students and staff in our master planning efforts to date. As our strategic planning work continues, I will provide updates on our progress during this academic year.

Sincerely,

Pamela B. Gann

President

Eating Clubs at CMC?

Dear Charles,

It seems that the campus tray less system is here to stay. It is a form of artificial rationing. i PROPOSE A NEW EATING CLUB/SOCIETY MODELED AFTER THE FAMOUS EATING CLUBS OF HARVARD AND PRINCETON ND YALE. The name should be the" clean plate society." Its motto should be take only what you eat; eat all you take.After all you are what you eat! This should be printed on the back and top of each members' plastic{ recyclable of course- made of 100% reclaimed plastic perhaps from the dash boards of suvs or bmws} or preferably wooden naturally biodegradeable made from the discarded planking of the yachts of the pater familias. As grown ups they should monitor the behavior of their members and adhere to the lean Plate creed" waste want want not"[Ben Franklin speaking as Poore Richard}/remember the starving armenians[insert starving group du jour here} The society should hold menue tastings to ascertain what delectibles they should appropriately load onto their permanent re useable recycled trays. In the east these trays could also be used for sledding boogie boarding in the skimmable west.. People who waste food should be stripped of their treays in a publice manner in the dining halls. Work study should be encouraged to offer jobs to the food waste monitors. Make the biogas bio fuels group feel the lack of feed stock. Make em scream. Cut down so much on food consumption that the producers beg you to eat/waste more. ou get my drift. Love the chief gourmnde

Drinking Culture May Change Indefinitely Overnight

Stark,

Cameron and I went to a meeting with the Dean of Students this morning and there are several things we want to talk/warn you about regarding alcohol on campus. Last weekend was too crazy and has threatened to change the alcohol policy as we know it. For privacy reasons we are unable to speak of the specifics of one particular event, but suffice it to say CMC could have resulted in an indefinitely dry campus over night.

As of now, here are the ways we can maintain our alcohol policy while being responsible:

1. Put it in a red cup. If it’s not in a red cup, it will be confiscated.

2. No glass. If you break glass at a party there is a $200 fine.

3. If you’re in trouble or concerned, don’t be afraid to call one of the RAs on duty.

4. If you choose to drink, do so within your limits.

5. If it’s a CMC only party, all other students (and off-campus guests) will be asked to leave.

CMC Public Alcohol Policy: Alcoholic beverages may be served and consumed only at private events limited to members of the College community and their invited guests. Alcoholic beverages may not be served or consumed at events open to the public, such as intercollegiate athletic contests, or outside the confines of a registered and fenced party area. (Guide to Student Life page 32)

We are sorry that this email may sound harsh but without basic adherence to the policies, the administration will change many of the privileges we enjoy at CMC.

If you have any questions regarding this email or anything else, please come visit one of us. Our doors are always open.

We hope your third week is going well!