Alan Harris ’77

This is the last time I will write in the Bulletin as president of the Alumni Association Board. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve. Chris Schluter ’65 will take over on July 1, 2013, and lead AAB in exciting times as CC establishes itself as the premier liberal arts institution for engaged teaching and learning.

During my term as president I have seen many changes and developments at CC: a new president, Jill Tiefenthaler; strategic planning and deep thinking about possible innovations to the Block Plan; a revamped and vibrant Career Center benefitting students and alumni; the new Adam F. Press ’84 Fitness Center; a new vice president of advancement, Sean Pieri; and, most recently, a new director of alumni relations, Anita Pariseau. I am proud of the involvement and accomplishments of AAB members and many other alumni during my term, especially for the funding of a student activities room named for the Colorado College Alumni Association in the new Fitness Center, active involvement in strategic planning, increased participation in programs sponsored by the Admission Office, Student Life, Career Center, and Office of Alumni Relations, and engagement of alumni across the country. During this same time, I said goodbye to several dear friends who left CC, and I wish them well.

One change I had hoped for during my term as AAB president was an increase in alumni participation in annual giving to CC. Surveys and anecdotal evidence show that CC alumni have strong, positive feelings about CC. And while some alumni contribute very generously to CC, in 2012, only 18.7 percent of alumni participated in annual giving. This low level of participation creates the perception that alumni do not hold the college in high regard and it seriously affects CC’s standing. I encourage all alumni to help fix this problem and contribute annually to CC in accordance with their means. A gift to the college serves as a vote of confidence in our alma mater and increasing participation by alumni in annual giving is key for the continued success of CC. I hope you will meet this challenge.

It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as AAB president. I hope I served alumni and CC well.