commission on shaping the future of Wilson College Committee Members Leslie Durgin ’69 Commission Chair, Trustee Jane Appleyard ’66, Alumnae Association Director Deborah Austin, Prof. of Chemistry Freya Burnett ’85, Assoc. Prof. of VMT Lois Collingwood ’12, Alumna Debra Collins, Dir. of Communications Michael Cornelius, Assoc. Prof. of English Brian Ecker, VP for Finance and Admin. Julie Englund, Trustee Amanda Fore ’06, Asst. Dir. of Admission John Gibb, Board Chair Cynthia Grove ’63, Alumna Richard Grove, Trustee Dana Harriger, Professor of Biology James Hay, Assist. Prof. of Accounting Mary Hendrickson, Dean of Faculty Pamela Francis Kiehl ’66, Trustee Philip Lindsey, Assoc. Prof. of Fine Arts Barbara Mistick, President of the College Mary Ann Naso, VP for Enrollment William Shoemaker Dir., M.Ed. Program Gretchen Van Ness ’80, Alumna Janelle Wills ’14, Secretary WCGA
Commission on Shaping the Positioning Wilson to Thrive Dear Wilson College Community, Early this academic year, the Board of Trustees (BOT) authorized President Barbara K. Mistick to establish the Commission on Shaping the Future of Wilson College to study and ensure Wilson’s viability for the coming decades. President Mistick announced the Commission, with Leslie Durgin, Class of 1969 and Trustee, serving as chair, in the winter issue of Wilson Magazine. All Wilson constituencies are represented on the Commission: alumnae, trustees, cabinet members, faculty, staff and students. More information about the Commission is available on the College website at www.wilson. edu/commission. The Commission’s charge is to conduct a focused strategic review to achieve Wilson College’s 2010-15 Strategic Plan enrollment goals and to determine a transformational scenario for the College to position itself to thrive and become financially sustainable. Our vision, as stated in Wilson’s Strategic Plan, is to attain recognition as a small independent college known for its academic strength, distinctive pedagogy, innovative programs and well-prepared students. Four elements guide our work: transparency, inclusiveness, confidentiality and institution-centered deliberations. To assist with data collection and analysis, the College engaged Stevens Strategy, a higher education consulting firm that has helped over 100 colleges and universities institute change and think strategically. Stevens is responsible for helping to develop and analyze the survey many alumnae completed in April. Stevens has also conducted a thorough review of Wilson’s own institutional data to help commission members understand the College’s historic financial and enrollment trends. John Stevens, Ed.D., and his colleague Christina McFarlane, Ed.M., have presented their findings to several forums: the commission, trustees, cabinet and department heads, and approximately 150 alumnae at a Town Hall meeting during Reunion weekend in June. Members of the Commission have been hard at work. Subcommittees have been formed in the following areas: Quality of Life, Programs, Pricing and Finance, Markets, and College Success Stories. Each subcommittee is conducting a focused strategic review of the data, collecting additional data and researching options. Subcommittee members have presented their work plans during the Town Hall meeting and to campus colleagues. Following the initial research phase, subcommittees will work together to develop recommendations to the President by mid-November. President Mistick in turn will present her recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval at a special meeting in December. The timeline is tight because we have critical decisions to make to enable Wilson to thrive. Commission members understand the importance of this work and know that decisions must be transformative. Above all, they agree the Commission must be institution-centered, superseding personal and professional interests. At this time no decisions have been made about the outcome of the Commission’s work. As the work of the Commission progresses, regular updates will be provided to all Wilson constituents. For those who are able to attend, the Commission will present reports during open campus meetings on Sept. 4, Oct. 17 and Nov. 1. Regional alumnae meetings may also be held. In addition, more information is available on the College’s website as noted above. Your questions and recommendations are welcome. Please send an email to commission@ wilson.edu. Receipt of your email will be recognized promptly and be answered or shared with the Commission as is appropriate. Communications subcommittee members Cynthia Dimmick Grove ’63, Trustee Emerita; Pamela Francis Kiehl ’66, Trustee; Jane Appleyard ’66, Alumnae Association; or Debra Collins, Wilson Director of Communications, will respond.
20 l Wilson Magazine l Summer 2012
— Leslie Durgin ’69, Commission Chair, Trustee