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Campus News
The new academic year quickly approaches, and as students arrive on campus in a few short weeks, they will be greeted by an invigorated Clarke community, including our recently restructured Academic Affairs team. The new Director of Academic Advising, Heidi Rhinehart ’09, is already collaborating with others to create pathways that lead students to academic, personal, and professional success throughout their time at Clarke. Learn more about the advising team. The new Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Yvonne Zimmerman, will also join the Clarke family just in time to greet our new and returning students.
Strategic Plan
We continue to make impressive progress!
Phases I and II (January-July 2023)
- Enrollment: Our first-year enrollment numbers are substantial, and we are on pace to bring a near-record incoming class to campus this fall!
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Retention: We recently launched the Black Male Leadership Society. This initiative seeks to improve the retention rates, graduation rates, and engagement of these young men who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Learn more about the Black Male Leadership Society.
- Academic Advising: Our three advisors for first-year students have begun to meet with department chairs to facilitate enhancements of advising processes.
- Academic and Athletic Assessment: Both academic and athletic assessments have been completed, and the results are being reviewed and melded into the strategic plan.
- Strategic Plan: A complete draft will be shared with the Board, faculty, and staff in early August, so it can be refined by the time we gather to celebrate the completion of Phase II.
Phase III (August-December 2023)
- HLC Reaffirmation: We are on schedule with our HLC visit preparation. The preliminary full draft of the Assurance Argument is undergoing revision after gathering input from Clarke community constituents. The Cabinet will review it in July, the Board will review it in August, and the rest of the Clarke community will review it in September. We will submit the final draft to the HLC in mid-October, and the site visit is scheduled for November 13 and 14.
- Fundraising/Capital Campaign: Since our strategic planning work dovetails with our capital campaign planning, we are in the process of preparing campaign materials and look to begin the silent phase of the campaign early this fall.
- Financial Review/Facilities Modernization Projects: Clarke’s rich history of fiscally responsible decision-making continues. The $5.5 million project to create a Student Success Center will begin when sufficient funds have been raised via the capital campaign. Revisions to our construction plans have moved the decision point on starting the project from July to December 2023. If our capital campaign indicates in December that sufficient funds have been raised to complete the project, then we will begin construction in March 2024. If sufficient funds were not raised by December 2023, we would defer the decision until December 2024, beginning construction in March 2025. Beth McGrath, Vice President for Business and Finance, continues to meet with all impacted offices.
I am grateful for all you do to move Clarke into a successful future. I am also thankful to the Board for extending my contract to continue our forward momentum through the end of 2024.
Go Pride!
Fletch
Interim President
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