IV. Action Items

Priorities for Planning

1. An academic program that is rigorous, challenging, and relevant to a new generation of students
2. Student services that encourage and support personal development and responsibility
3. Financial aid that meets the demonstrated financial need of every student, and a long-term goal of being need-blind in admission
4. An inclusive community whose demographics reflect those of the coming generation of faculty and college-bound students

Core Values

1. Education for self-direction: the open curriculum challenges students to acquire a broad liberal arts education.

A. Advising and Curricular Programs, Policies, and Procedures

• Convene a task force, working with the Committee on Academic Policy, to review the following (DoF):
• A concern about disparities in advising
• A decline in the number of students taking courses with a quantitative literacy component
• A rise in average grades
• A perception that department offerings and student curricular choices favor depth over breadth
• The ability of juniors and seniors to enroll in courses outside their concentration

B. Co-Curricular Programming

• Evaluate the reallocation of existing space for the creation of a cultural education center (VPA&F, DoF, DoS, VPIT)

C. Athletics and Physical Education Program

• Pursue full integration into NESCAC for all intercollegiate athletics teams (DoF, DA&FA)
• Expand partnerships between physical education and academics (DoF)

D. Academic Facilities

• Complete construction projects already under way (VPA&F)
• Continue with planning and design for new projects (VPA&F, VPIT)
• Undertake a fuller study of campus use in the summer (All)
• Pursue summer academic workshops, seminars and institutes that make use of academic buildings, reflect institutional emphases, and take advantage of faculty strengths and expertise (DoF)

2.   Self-direction demands a self-governing community: to the extent possible, constituencies ought to be self-regulating — students regulating students, faculty governing faculty, administrators and staff self-regulating — as well as interlocking, to assure responsible, inclusive, and effective exchange and interaction.

A. Community Building

• Review the way all students are acclimated to campus (DoS)
• Reexamine the four classifications of employee groups (VPA&F)
• Continue progress toward a campus population whose diversity reflects the coming generations of employees and students (All)

B. Governance Policy and Procedures

• Evaluate the work of all committees to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and representation (DoF, VPA&F, DoS, EAP)
• Pursue new governance structures and a more inclusive governing organization (VPA&F)

C. Co-Curricular Social and Residential Facilities

• Convene a task force of faculty and students to make recommendations for increased opportunities for co-curricular faculty and student engagement (DoF, DoS)
• Pursue athletics facilities that can be completed through the plant renewal budget or through fundraising (DoF, VPA&F, VPC&D, VPIT)

D. Sustainability

• Implement the recommendations of the Green Team and fulfill the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (VPA&F, VPIT)

3.  Self-direction and self-governance require dialogue and debate: development opportunities should be provided to all students and employees, ensuring that Hamilton is an educational institution for all.

A. Effective Communication

• Increase communications vehicles that contribute to full participation in the life and functioning of the College (All)

B.  Student Development

• Establish a task force to review how students are acclimated to Hamilton (DoS, DoF)

C. Faculty and Staff Development

• Invest in new and continuing employees (All)

4.   An education centered on self-direction, self-governance, and thoughtful argument makes for effective engagement with the world.

A. Diversity and Access

• Meet the demonstrated financial need of every student (DA&FA, VPC&D)
• Become need-blind in admission (DA&FA, VPC&D, VPA&F)
• Increase the percentage of students and employees of color (All)

B. Scholarship and Creative Activity

• Compensate faculty based on teaching, research and service (DoF)
• Support faculty scholarship that leads to publication and presentation (DoF)
• Increase opportunities for student research and presentation (DoF)
• Consider the establishment of summer conferences and programs that reflect institutional priorities (DoF, VPA&F, VPIT)

C. Employee Satisfaction

• Be the employer of choice for all employees (All)
• Maintain competitive salaries for all employees
• Ensure clear processes for evaluation and compensation
• Provide support for spouses/partners of talented new hires in finding employment
• Review health insurance subsidies for retirees and long-term disability policies

D. Community Service and Outreach

• Support initiatives that encourage civic engagement (DoF, DoS, VPIT)
• Create and sustain partnerships with the Town of Kirkland and Village of Clinton (VPIT)

Next: V. Community Involvement