If you’ve ever wondered how Colorado College can have a significant endowment while also facing budget challenges, you’re not alone. It’s a question many people are asking across higher education, and this session is designed to help answer it. 

Join Vice President of Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer Lori Seager and Associate Vice President for Finance Jen Smithwick for a Work of the College Series event exploring how the College’s endowment works.

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, Oct. 27
⏱️ Time: 3-4 p.m.
📍 Location: Gaylord Hall

They’ll explain how the endowment is constructed and invested, why many funds are legally restricted to specific purposes by donor intent, and how Board spending policies are designed to preserve these resources for future generations rather than use them all at once. You’ll also learn what endowment income supports and why it can’t simply be used as a general fund when budgets are tight.

As the College continues important conversations about its institutional strength, understanding how the endowment works provides valuable context. No finance background is needed, and all faculty, staff, and students are welcome. 

The Work of the College Series events offer faculty, staff, and students in-person opportunities to learn more about how the College works, engage directly with institutional leaders, and better understand the structures, processes, and considerations that shape College decisions through dialogue.

The Work of the College Series is part of the broader Work of the College ecosystem, a newly connected set of resources designed to provide greater transparency into the College’s strategic direction and evolution. Together, the event series, newsletter, and website help the Colorado College community understand where the College is headed, what is changing and why, how progress is being measured, and where they can learn more, provide input, get involved, and align their daily work for greater institutional impact.

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903