|
Greetings,
Campus is buzzing with end-of-the-year excitement, and I hope to capture some of that energy in this update.
Strategic Plan Progress
As I recently shared with our Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff, I’m happy to report that we are on track to have in place, by May 31, a detailed set of goals to guide the continued implementation of our Strategic Plan. Furthermore, committees will continue this work throughout the summer.
Our Board of Trustees meetings occurred last week. Here are some highlights:
- Preparation for November’s Higher Learning Commission reaffirmation of accreditation is well underway. The third draft of our Assurance Argument is under review, and the final version will be ready for the Board’s review in September.
- Academic affairs, with a newly designed advising process underway, has hired the first of two full-time advisors, who will primarily work with first-year students.
- Assessment of academic and athletic programs is progressing well, and final reports will be shared in the coming months.
- Detailed discussions regarding improving physical spaces on campus focused on renovation of student housing, creation of a Student Success Center, and remodeling the library in order to positively impact recruitment and retention of students.
- Initial steps are underway to launch a capital campaign that would provide campus upgrades, endowment growth, and increase the Annual Fund resource pool.
Engaging our Community
Clarke has a proud tradition of sharing support and resources with our community, and this spring has been no different. Here are just five recent events the Clarke community has participated in as we continue to contribute to the common good.
- Clarke hosted the annual Dubuque Area Family STEM Festival, inviting hundreds of children to campus to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with their families.
- The Cheer and Dance team held its first Dance Camp on April 22, with 86 children catching the Pride spirit through a fun day of learning and play.
- Through a partnership with the nonprofit organization Centrally Rooted, led by Clarke alumna Callie (Mescher) Fitzgerald ’07, the Clarke Theatre Department wrote a script for a new musical to be performed in the Western Dubuque-Farley and Cascade elementary schools.
- The presidents of Clarke, Loras College, Mount Mercy College, and St. Ambrose University met to explore opportunities for shared resources, for strengthening access to library resources and technology, and for collaboratively enhancing other services available to our students.
- Our third annual Clarke Fest was a huge success, welcoming not only students and employees, but many area families and visitors to our campus for an afternoon of fun and games.
These are just a few examples of the recent engagements Clarkies have had in our community.
As we look forward to our Honors Banquet on May 5 and Commencement on May 13, please join me in congratulating our graduating seniors, as well as all our students, faculty, and staff for their tremendous efforts this year.
Go Pride!
Fletch
Interim President
| 
