Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
|
|
|
Welcome to the 2025-26 academic year! Back-to-school energy is my favorite — there’s so much hope and excitement for what can be accomplished in the year ahead. The summer months offered time for rest, preparation, and anticipation. For senior leadership at CC, it also offered the chance to dedicate time to short- and long-term strategic planning.
Last year, we laid important groundwork. This year, we move forward, advancing the priorities that reflect our mission and broader aspirations.
This fall marks the start of implementation for our five-year strategic priorities, designed to claim our space in higher education. I go into more detail in my recent State of the College video, which you can view here if you missed it last week.
We are not starting from scratch; we are building on what’s working and aligning our practices across the institution. With that said, you’ll start to see the following priorities in action this year:
|
- Brand Refresh: We will begin a phased rollout of our refreshed brand this semester. Updated messaging and visuals will empower us to tell the CC story in an authentic and compelling way that enhances recruitment, engagement, and national visibility in a competitive landscape.
- Science Building Planning: We’re leveling up CC’s science infrastructure. The building design process is underway to ensure we are ready to break ground on this important project in the coming years.
- Campus Master Planning: We will continue to implement recommendations from the space utilization study, as we assess housing capacity and long-term campus needs.
- Shared Governance: In keeping with my leadership style, we will maintain and deepen a culture where decision-making is informed by the perspectives of those who live and work within CC.
- Institutional Review: We’re preparing to commission an external institutional review, the goal of which is to improve operational efficiency by better understanding where our resources — time, money, and talent — are currently directed.
- AI Policy Development: With input from the CC community via workshops, panels, and operational governance groups over the last two years, a draft AI philosophy statement has been developed that will ultimately inform policy, guidelines, and an implementation plan.
- Transition to an All-Funds Budgeting Model: A new approach that will offer a clearer, more strategic view of how we allocate resources across the institution. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Lori Seager and I will co-present a Work of the College roadshow to share more about the All-Funds model and what it means for your division.
- Implementation of the Four Corners Pledge: We’re getting ready to expand the Colorado Pledge to include Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, making a CC education affordable for talented students across the Southwest.
- First-Year Programming: You’ll see the return of CC Elevate, our adjunct course focused on building community and easing the transition to college for our first-year students — as well as a pilot “design your life” course for sophomores.
- Alumni Engagement: Our “Alumni Block Break” travel program is expanding. This year’s program includes trips to Turkey; Italy; Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam; New Zealand; Cuba; Scotland and Norway; and Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.
|
Of course, there will be opportunities throughout the year for our community to come together in CC spirit. Be sure to mark these fall dates on your calendars:
|
Lastly, I encourage you to stay informed and involved through the following channels:
|
- Attend Work of the College Series events to learn how college priorities connect to your division or department.
- Read our upcoming annual report, to be released later this fall, to see how last year’s work positioned us for this moment.
- Watch for opportunities to share your voice and provide feedback on key initiatives through operational governance groups, skip-level meetings, focus groups, and staff and faculty forums.
- Keep an eye out for updates in the “Map of Manya,” where I let you know how I’m spending my time advancing CC’s priorities off-campus.
|
As we enter this next chapter, I’m reminded that vision alone does not transform institutions; people do. I believe in leading where we stand, and I ask that of you this year. This means each of us brings our best ideas, compassion, and integrity to the roles we hold. No matter your position on this campus, you have the ability to not only move CC forward but also model the kind of humanity the world needs.
Thank you for bringing your passion and commitment to another academic year. I look forward to advancing CC alongside all of you!
Warmly,
|
|
|
You are receiving this email because you are a member of the Colorado College community. Thank you for the important work you do each day.
View this email online.
14 E. Cache La Poudre St. | Colorado Springs, CO 80903 US
|
|
|
|
|
