In Commencement’s afterglow, I find myself reflecting on how we have collectively stepped up to advance Colorado College this year amid significant change in higher education.
In August, I outlined several priorities for 2025-26 that would allow us to begin readily claiming our space in this landscape. Nearly nine months later, I’m proud that we did what we set out to do, and that we did so together. As I called you all to do at my presidential inauguration last fall, this community embraced leading from where you stand: bringing expertise, creativity, and care to your work each day.
Across the College, we saw evidence of the strength of this institution and the people who sustain it in many key areas:
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- CC received a prestigious Mellon Foundation grant supporting humanities-centered work and community partnership initiatives.
- Scholarly work across the College continued amid challenging conditions: faculty and staff managed 23 research grants totaling just over $3.4 million in funding, and at least 119 faculty and staff produced approximately 230 publications.
- CC students and alums collected national honors including four NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, two Fulbright awards, a Goldwater Scholarship, and more. We also maintained our status as the No. 1 Peace Corps Volunteer Producing Small College for the second year.
- We launched Pathways to Colorado College, our new transfer agreement with Pikes Peak State College, and the Four Corners Pledge, expanding opportunities across the Southwest and resulting in a 35% enrollment growth from the region.
- Our brand came to life with a revamped CC website, updated admission materials, new resources, and a vibrant presence at Homecoming and Inauguration, ensuring our value is expressed compellingly for prospective students, alumni, and more.
- We strengthened alumni engagement with four new regional “Pop-Up Blocks” and 40 alumni-hosted CC Day events. Twenty-four alums joined themed career nights on campus, and 194 students matched with alumni mentors on TigerLink.
- Donors invested more than $36 million in the College’s future through support for scholarships, athletics, academic programs, and strategic priorities—including our inaugural Grow the Good Week, a record-smashing Tiger ExCCelence Giving Day, and Parent & Family Giving Week, which combined saw 546 donors contribute $371,451.
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We are successfully leaning into what sets CC apart—claiming our space—even as our industry faces growing headwinds nationally.
As we move forward, we cannot ignore the environment around us. The demographic shifts long projected for higher education are no longer approaching; they are here. Colleges across the country, particularly small liberal arts institutions, are facing enrollment pressures as the number of college-aged students declines. At the same time, proposed federal budget reductions and changes to financial aid programs, combined with cuts to state support for higher education, create additional uncertainty for institutions, students, and families. News in our sector already points to select colleges not withstanding these pressures.
This moment requires more from us, so that is what I am asking for.
We are operating from a position of strength as we face these challenges head-on. It is in our sphere of control to respond intentionally and strategically to our new realities.
This summer, we will once again refine divisional strategic plans in preparation for the public launch of the College’s next strategic plan. Baker Tilly’s recommendations from our Institutional Review will inform proactive efforts to adjust our institutional goals to align with fiscal realities. We will also continue our advocacy and awareness efforts, ensuring local and national representatives and key constituents understand the value that liberal arts colleges bring to students and by extension, our economy, communities, and workforce.
In times of change, we must remember to keep our humanity at the center and lean into the practices and relationships that sustain us. Over the summer, I encourage you to stay connected to life at the College in ways that inspire you: attend campus events, connect with colleagues across divisions, welcome new Tigers, and proudly share the story of CC with your networks. Just as importantly, take the time to rest and recharge when possible.
When we come back together, we will welcome approximately 500 first-year students and 20 transfers that represent CC’s Class of 2030:
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- 23% from Colorado
- 42 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., represented
- 27% students of color
- 5% international (17 countries represented)
- 20% Pell eligible
- 10 Davis United World College Scholars, 15 QuestBridge Scholars, and 3 Boettcher Scholars
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I end this year with gratitude and conviction. I believe in the enduring value of this institution and in our capacity to proceed with honesty, clarity, and shared purpose. We have important work in the year ahead, and I am confident we will continue to rise to meet the challenges together.
Warmly,
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14 E. Cache La Poudre St. | Colorado Springs, CO 80903 US
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.
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14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
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