From Academic Affairs

New name for the Grants Office

The Office of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations (headed by Susan Ferrari) has been renamed, for clarity. The new name is the Office of Grants and Research. Along with this name change, Norm Braaten, our research compliance officer, is joining the office staff.

From Academic Affairs and Community Partnerships, Planning, and Research

Consolidating Institutional Research Efforts

To better collaborate and support data-driven decision-making across the college, three previously separate functions — Analytics and Institutional Research, Strategic Research, and Assessment — are being brought together into a single Office of Institutional Effectiveness, in the division of Academic Affairs. Anna Gjoleka, Graham Miller, Vanessa Preast, and Carlie VanWilligen will be working together to provide data and analysis to drive organizational effectiveness initiatives. The office’s functions will include regular external reporting requirements (IPEDS data, accreditation); support of faculty in their ongoing assessment of student learning; and a wide range of projects, both big and small, contributing to enhanced institutional effectiveness, strategic planning, and mission fulfillment.

As a corollary to this merger, the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment will now become the Center for Teaching and Learning.

From the Business Office: Supporting Employees

Human Resources
As Human Resources joins the Business Office under the leadership of Talinda Pettigrew, associate vice president for people and culture, we want to bring three programs to your attention and encourage you to keep an eye out for messages in the Campus Memo regarding how to participate. 

• Staff Leadership Development Program (Currently being piloted)
  This program, designed to build and strengthen leadership readiness and support professional growth for eligible staff providing a breadth of learning opportunities, including self-paced, hybrid, and in-person programs.
• Supervisors of Students Retreat (Fall 2026)
  Human Resources will host an annual Supervisors of Students Retreat to strengthen student employment practices and support consistency and UGSDW contract compliance.  
• New Employee Connections Program (Spring 2027)
  During the spring semester, Human Resources will launch this program to provide new employees with opportunities to regularly connect with other new employees, build cross-campus connections, and develop a broader understanding of the campus community, programs, and resources.

Dining Services

Dining Services is expanding hours in the Marketplace, located in the JRC. The Marketplace will be open until 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. You will also notice new menu selections including breakfast (overnight oats), new wraps and expanded healthy hot and cold menu items, and additional beverage offerings. There will also be a new sustainability initiative, allowing students, faculty, and staff to use reusable containers and cups for takeout meals in the Marketplace. QR codes will be available to scan a reusable container or cup, which you can return within three days at any of eight campus dropoff locations. Please watch the campus memo for additional details.

From the Office of Communications and Marketing

New Brand Expression

Grinnell is a place where curiosity is a shared force that drives research, shapes community, and challenges convention. At Grinnell, inquiry leads to transformation and curiosity is taken seriously. You’ll see this deeply held value expressed in how we talk about academics, career paths, community, and Grinnell’s scale, setting, and incredible global alumni networks. We’re excited to show you the early work at an all-campus launch celebration this fall – please watch the Campus Memo for details!

Trademark Registration

As this effort gains momentum, you’ll also see a new TM on many of Grinnell’s familiar logos, including the seal. The College filed for trademark protection for all of its marks last year, and we’re pleased to share that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has officially recognized the College’s ownership of these marks. For more information on Grinnell’s trademarks and how to license their use (at no charge for internal giveaways), please visit the Trademarks and Licensing website.

From the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)

Accessibility and Disability Resources
Beginning this fall, we are pleased to offer new testing center hours and will be open late on Tuesdays and Thursdays to accommodate students’ schedules and commitments. ADR is excited to welcome two new team members, Mikaela Yoder and Fred Wierschke. Mikaela joins the team as the operations coordinator overseeing the accommodated testing center and Fred will work closely with her as the testing center assistant.

Community, Training, Education, and Belonging (CTEB)

The CTEB team now offers learning and development opportunities designed to foster cultural competence, strengthen belonging, and promote inclusive practices across campus. All trainings are voluntary and encouraged for faculty, staff, students, and campus partners and are designed to support both personal and professional growth by helping participants:

• Increase self-awareness and recognize personal biases.
• Develop cultural competence and intercultural skills.
• Strengthen leadership, communication, and teaching through an equity-minded framework.
• Build more inclusive and welcoming environments across campus.

Current training includes Bias Mitigation, Active Bystander Intervention, and a Cultural Competency Series. Please look for registration information in the Campus Memo.

From Information Technology Services: Colleague Modernization

Building the Foundation for What's Next

Grinnell College continues its multi-year effort to strengthen the administrative systems that support key campus operations, including student records, registration, and financial processes in Ellucian Colleague. While much of this work is happening behind the scenes, we seek to keep the community updated, as this work continues to help prepare the College for future improvements in reporting, automation, system integration, and other new capabilities.

The current Readiness Phase focuses on strengthening this foundation by reviewing system customizations, improving data quality, streamlining manual processes, and ensuring compatibility with future cloud-based capabilities. Working closely with campus offices, project team members are identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and overall experience for faculty, staff, and students. Once this phase is complete, recommendations will help guide future systems improvements and technology investments. Please watch your email and the Campus Memo for ongoing updates!

From the Division of Student Affairs

Focus on Wellness

The Division of Student Affairs and Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) have begun a partnership with The Jed Foundation (JED) to become a JED Campus! This four-year initiative will help us evaluate and enhance our mental wellness programs and policies. During the 2026 –27 academic year, we will initiate an interdisciplinary team from across campus to assess our student mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention resources.

Developing Safety Resources

Campus Safety is partnering with across campus to train staff instructors on the R.A.D. System of Self Defense. Once certified, instructors will offer classes and opportunities for our community. More information will be provided during the spring semester.

Immigration Working Group

As an international education community with extensive global connections, Grinnell is directly impacted by recent changes in immigration policy and regulation. To ensure the College is well positioned to respond, an Immigration Working Group will be formed this fall with representation from across the campus community. The group will focus on three related areas: monitoring emerging issues; reviewing available support resources and their limitations; and coordinating communication, response, and advocacy efforts. It will be co-chaired by Brad Lindberg and Karen Edwards.