When the CC “mappers” outlined Vision 2010 in 2002-03, they were responding to President Richard Celeste’s challenge to “find ways to make Colorado College — already a very good enterprise — even better between now and 2010.”
They updated the Colorado College mission statement and set in place three tenets that provided both a framework for Vision 2010 and an action agenda spanning the next seven years:
- Rigorous intellectual experience
- Diverse, respectful community
- Next-generation campus
Taking Stock and Looking Forward
So where do we stand as we reach the halfway point on the journey to 2010?
Some highlights:
- Rigorous intellectual experience: The faculty have filled 18 of the 20 new tenure-track positions planned for 2010, adding rich breadth to our unique curriculum;
- Diverse, respectful community: Admissions has made quick progress toward greater selectivity, with applications already surpassing the 2010 goal of 4,200, and with alumni helping to find and recruit diverse and intellectually engaged students;
- Next-generation campus: Starting with the renovations of Palmer, Packard, and Cossitt halls, we broke ground for the bold new Cornerstone Arts Center, soon to be a benchmark for innovative teaching of the arts. For more information, see www.ColoradoCollege.edu/news_events/Cornerstone/.
Vision 2010 continues to provide the framework for our actions as both a liberal arts college and as a community, while allowing considerable flexibility to adapt and learn as we go. Some projects in the initial plan have been dropped and others added, all within the three tenets that underpin our mission. Of particular interest:
- The faculty has completed an extensive review of international programs to ensure high quality and ready accessibility for those students who seek to study beyond our campus;
- Advancement continues to champion funding for experiential learning, from Priddy Challenge experiences for first-year students and scholarships for overseas study, to the exciting increase in venture grant opportunities detailed in this issue of the Bulletin;
- Our unconventional development campaign has revealed key insights into the importance of legacy gifts in providing a sustainable future for the college, in sharp contrast to the orientation of traditional campaigns.
Having reached the midpoint between 2003 and 2010, we can anticipate increased momentum as we move rapidly toward what was once a distant point in the future. The ambitious thinking and goals of 2002-03 continue to drive us in laying the groundwork for the future of CC, while our dialogue and learning around our mission have added robustness to our endeavors. With three years to go, we now dig deep for the sprint to the line.
Of special note, 2010 will be the Year of the Tiger — one of the power signs in the Chinese zodiac, and an auspicious time for celebration.
Roll on 2010!